Seven short videos on the wayang and the Ramayana are available:
The Journey of the Wayang
The Journey of the Wayang is an introduction to the traditional context of the wayang shadow puppets in Indonesia and an interview with the donor about the wayang and the donation of the puppets to Simon Fraser University. The 2006 performance is shown as part of SFU's Open House celebration. Sutrisno Hartana and Chris Dagg discuss the balance of good and evil in wayang plays.
Ramayana - The Kidnapping of Sita
The kidnapping of Sita portion of the Ramayana is reported in a Hitchcock-style docu-news format.
The reporter asks us how we would act when faced with a moral dilemma, “Was Sita right in trying to help who she thought was just a poor man in need of assistance. She only wanted to give him a bowl of food. I am sure without knowing the outcome like we do now, we'd never be able to decide if it was the right decision. It happens to the best of us, an impossible situation, where no matter what you choose, a right and a wrong is being done. Maybe you can think of a time when this happened to you. What was the consequence of your choice?”
Drama of the Shadow World
The Drama of the Shadow World interviews Dr. Richard Toews, an anthropologist, Sharad Chandra, a Hindu pandit or priest and Sutrisno Hartana, an Indonesian dalang puppet master to explore the meanings of myth, dramatic retelling of well known stories, and the meaning of good and evil.
Oral Tradition into Written Tradition
This video is a retelling of creation of the Ramayana through Valmiki's vision of Brahma. The traditional epic is brought into modern Canada through a discussion of re-mixes, mash-ups, copyright and intellectual property rights.
Ravana
Opening with a shadow clown sequence, this video is an exploration of the meaning of evil as personified in Ravana, the ultimate villain in the Ramayana. A stage performance of the banishment of Rama introduces animated puppets that tell the story of the kidnapping of Sita, Hanuman's journey to rescue her and Rama's fight with Ravana.
Wayang Kulit - Respect for the Puppets
This animated video introduces the characters of the Ramayana and discusses the idea of Dharma, with commentary by Sharad Chandra, a Hindu Pandit or priest. Dr. Barbara Winter, the curator of the museum, explains how the puppets were made and their essence as living beings.
SNN - Why we fight
Using a news broadcast format this video brings us reports of the battle at the end of the Ramayana, when Rama's army defeats Ravana's troops and allows Sita and Rama return to Kosala. Hanuman, the general of Rama's monkey army is interviewed on the strategies he followed in trying to end the conflict and how he was forced to fight. SFU Political Science professor Dr. James Busumtwi-Sam discusses why we fight and the concept of a just war.
