Cornucopia - Vol.III - Cover Design

Dee cee's creativity unplugged

Training for BEC - Reg.

Training for the Business English Certificate (BEC)  starts today, Thursday, 30 August 2012 at 2 pm in the Selaiyur Hall Room No. 2 (III BA English Classroom). Classes will be held on all working days between 2 and 3:30 pm.

With warm regards, 

The Co-ordinators, 

BEC Training@MCC,

Dept of English

Release of Third Issues of Eclectic Representations/Cornucopia: A Report

It was a red letter day in the annals of the Department of English, by all means. The third issue of Eclectic Representations was released with much fanfare by Mr.T.Radhakrishnan, Addl. Director General of Police, Chennai. In the same vein, Dr.S.Armstrong, Head, Department of English, University of Madras, released Cornucopia, a student publication, in the Anderson Hall today, at 11:30 am. 

Mr.T.Radhakrishnan, who did his MA in English Literature, was a student of Dr.Francis Sounderraj. He has authored six books on literature to his credit. Speaking on the occasion, he said that his passion of literature is something that keeps him going even today. He was all praise for the research initiatives of the Department. The Principal was greatly appreciative of the

Release of Eclectic Representations & Cornucopia:

The English Association (TEA)

Department of English

Madras Christian College (Autonomous)

invites you for the release of

Eclectic Representations Vol. 2, Issue 1

[Peer-reviewed Biannual Journal]

and

Cornucopia Vol. 3

[Satura Lanx:  Fruition of Artistic Dreams]

on

Wednesday, 29 August 2012 at 11 am

in the Anderson Hall.

MR. T. RADHAKRISHNAN, IPS.,

[Addl. Director General of Police, Chennai]

Govt. of Tamil Nadu

will deliver the key-note address,

and release the Journal.

Shortlisted Entries for Cornucopia

Based on the unanimous choice of the adjudicators, The English Association [TEA@MCC] has shortlisted the following eleven entries (given in alphabetical order, and not in order of prizes) for publication in Cornucopia - [Satura Lanx], Volume III, from among the entries in the Creative Writing Competition held on Tuesday 31 July 2012, at Selaiyur Hall. 

This 200- page issue is scheduled for a grand release on Wednesday, 29 August 2012 at the Anderson Hall.

Abisha Selva Sharon
Aditya
Daya Subramanian
Fiona Kezia Winston
Janakaseeni
Kaveri Murthy
Radha, K. S
Roseline Victoria
S. Venkateswaran
S. Nikhila
Saurabh Kaushik

Congratulations to all of you who've been shortlisted. And, special kudos to all the participants who gave their best. It was indeed a close finish, as the adjudicators tell me, and it was indeed very difficult to make up their mind on shortlisting the entries (leave alone selecting the winning entries!), they add.

Five among them get prizes on D-day. (29 Aug 2012) Keep your fingers crossed till then!
[The First place and the third place are shared by two students each.]

View the Pre-final Copy of Cornucopia

Dear students, 

A pre-final copy of the third issue of Cornucopia will be made available in the Department of English on Thursday, 23 August, 2012 from 9 am to 3 pm. 

All contributors are welcome to browse through the same and notify the Editorial team of changes/corrections, if any, straightaway. 

Contributors from outside Chennai will be given a pdf version of Cornucopia, to check for changes/corrections, if any.  
In the meantime, please find below the indexing of your articles in Cornucopia (Vol III)

Index (with page no's)

Aanusha Ghosh – 103, 108, 114

Aarthi Christeen – 117, 119

Abisha Selva Sharon – 191

Aditya – 11, 12, 61, 62

Ajin Mathew Varghese – 96, 116

Andrew Veda – 63, 64, 66

Angeline Prem Kumar – 194

Anila Maria Mathew – 170

Arul Jothi – 81

Ben Geoffrey – 83

Catherine – (Photos)

Cesili Jenifer (Painting)

Christina Mary George – (Pencil Sketching)

Christopher Poshin David – 133, 134, 137

Daya Subramanian – 188

Debashree Mishra – 163

Divya – 40, 70

Evangeline - Painting

Fiona Kezia Winston – 172, 173, 179

Janakaseeni – 25, 27, 68

Jeba Malar (Pencil Sketching)

Joanna Shalom John – 175

Joan – (Pencil Sketching)

Dr. Sivaraman, our illustrious alumnus, and currently, Asst Professor of English, Presidency College, gave the third guest lecture of this academic year, on Post-independence Indian Theatre in Selaiyur Hall Indoor Theatre, at 10:45 am.  Dr. S. Stephen Jebanesan welcomed the I & II yr PG students of English Litt for the lecture. Dr. K. Ganesh introduced the guest of the day. Dr. Sivaraman then proceeded to give incisive and scholarly insights into Post-independence Indian Theatre. 

Excerpts from his lecture:

“there’s not even a single language in India that all Indians can understand. That describes the essential plurality of our country. Indeed, India, unlike other countries, is known for its plurality – a plurality that is a peculiarity. If we don’t understand this plurality, then, that’s necessarily a weakness. 

So, there’s no theatrical concept that can be applied to all theatrical groups in India. Hence the label ‘Indian Theatre’ in singular form is irrelevant in our pluralistic set up. 

PhD Viva voce of Prof. Sivaraman

Prof. Sivaraman defending his thesis

It was a day of enlightenment for the audience who had gathered to listen to Prof. Sivaraman defend his thesis "Metadrama in Girish Karnad's Hayavadana, Nagamandala and The Fire and the Rain" at Nortan Hall, Pachaiyappa’s College, today, 13 August 2012 at 11 am.

The Supervisor and Convenor of the Viva-Voce Dr. U. Sundararajan praising his ward and doctor-designate V. Sivaraman, said, “Sivaraman submitted his thesis one day in advance of the scheduled date of submission, and he was very particular about that. His Guru Dr. Vishnu Bhatt, (a great role-model for English professors), introduced Mr. Sivaraman to me. Even though I was skeptical about the topic of the thesis, Mr. Sivaraman convinced me about the scope of the thesis, and from then on, it was no turning back for him”, he added. 

The External Examiner Dr. Felix Moses was equally enthusiastic in showering praise on his proud student. Excerpts from his observations:

“It is indeed a privilege to be the external examiner for one of my best students. It is a very well-written thesis. In short, it is a model thesis. There are many candidates who might be doing your MPhil or PhD. I request that you go through this thesis to get ideas. Everything has been clearly outlined by Sivaraman. The reasons why it is a model thesis are:

Release of the third issue of Ecletic Representations - Reg.

The eagerly awaited third issue of Eclectic Representations, the peer-reviewed biannual journal published by the Department of English, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), is ready for release. The exact date of release will be announced shortly, as we are finalising on the dates and the dignitaries for the occasion. 

The next issue is scheduled for a January 2013 release, and original, unpublished research articles are invited. The Journal follows certain guidelines on which there remains no compromise. For details of the guidelines, please follow the link below: http://mcc.edu.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=566&Itemid=864

Back issues of Eclectic Representations are available with the Department of English.

Horn of Plenty

In Pic: Front Cover design of Cornucopia's first issue

Dear Students (past and present), 

This is the last call for sending in your creative writings/paintings for Cornucopia. You’re welcome to send in your creative vibes of all hues and colours. The third issue is being designed on a much larger/grander scale, if present indications are to be believed, and indeed, all of us @ TEA are literally overwhelmed by the creative inputs we’ve received thus far. The last date for receipt of your creative writings/paintings is Tuesday, 31 July2012. You may send in your creative articles/paintings/pencil sketchings to cornucopiamcc@gmail.com or to rufusmcc@gmail.com

Who can contribute: All students of MCC (past and present)

Guidelines:  Cornucopia welcomes any original unpublished work that can spark human consciousness - appropriate, elegant, innovative & original. Kindly avoid sending in overtly/harshly critical articles/cartoons that violate the ethos and decorum of the College. Don’t forget to key-in both your full name (and/or your pen name(s) if any), and mention specifically how you’d wish to be acknowledged in the name-line.

Viewing the Pre-final Copy: A pre-final copy of the third issue will be made available in the Department of English on Monday, 06 August, 2012 from 10.20 am to 3 pm. All contributors are welcome to browse through the same and notify the Editorial team of changes/corrections, if any, straightaway.

Creative Artists/Student Editors Wanted: Students who’ve got exposure to pagemaker/coreldraw, with highly creative cum aesthetic vibes, to do the Front/back page Cover design of Cornucopia.

Cornucopia requires Student-editors who are good at typewriting/proof-reading, for speedy typewriting and proof-reading of the first draft of all the articles. You will be responsible for scanning through each and every article, word by word, for errors in spelling/grammar etc.

Cover Page Photograph: Students are welcome to send in their photographs with good picture resolutions (with MCC Campus as the setting, obviously!) for adorning the front and the back covers of Cornucopia.

Release Date: The current Issue of Cornucopia is scheduled for release on Tuesday, 14 August 2012 (date is tentative) at a gala function befitting the event. Cash Prizes for winners of the Quiz and the Creative Writing Competitions will be given on the occasion.

Ludic on a roll...:

Ludic had its first screening for the new academic year on Friday, 27 July 2012, at 2 pm to a grand response from film buffs, critics and audience alike. Dr. K. Ganesh welcome the gathering, and Prof. Monsingh then spoke on the art of film appreciation. Prof. Luke spoke next on the importance of theatre for literature students. The film Instinct that was screened today, drew an instinctive critical/ecocritical response from the enthusiastic gathering. The lines of Anthony Hopkins, (as the anthropologist) with the young psychiatrist throw light on the true nature of being and the true value of existence, like for instance, 

Did they think of me?

I thought of them, and l missed them. I liked them. I even needed them.

Each day they seemed to allow me to step closer. I was excited by my slow journey toward them.                

I felt privileged.

I had lost long ago

and was only now remembering.

Suddenly, just like that,

Ludic Invites You...

Ludic, the Film club of The English Association, will screen the film ‘Instinct’ on Friday, 27 July 2012 at 2 pm in the Seminar Hall/MPhil classroom. Students interested in film appreciation are welcome to participate. For more details, contact Dr. K. Ganesh / Prof. Monsingh / Prof. Luke of the Department of English. A short talk on Film Appreciation by an expert, will precede the screening. The screening will be followed by discussion time and tea.

The Writing Experience...

The Writing Express…

Come… be a part of the Creative Writing Experience…

A Creative Writing Competition will be held

 under the aegis of The English Association

on Tuesday, the 31^st of July 2012

at Selaiyur Hall Indoor Theatre at 12: 35 pm.

Interested students can take part in this competition by writing a short story, poem or an essay based on the settings, pictures and objects given.

The best three will be awarded prizes and all shortlisted entries

will feature in the next edition of Cornucopia.

Guest Lecture by Dr. D. E. Benet

Dr. Benet, addressing our PG students

“Although there are lots of concerns about Higher Education, I desire that, our students here at MCC get the highest form of education. And, for that, you need to be getting into more and more challenging situations” said Dr. Stephen Jebanesan, even as he welcomed the guest lecturer of the day, Dr. D. E. Benet, to deliver a lecture on “Cracking the NET/SLET: Panoramic Perspective of English Literature”.

Dr. Benet gave a bird’s eye view of the nuances of English literature, followed by a glimpse into Australian/American/New Literatures. Then, in the afternoon session, he gave an introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory.

Emphasising the need for an aesthetic appreciation of literature, Dr. Benet said that, “for effective understanding of literature, a historical sense with a chronological perspective is very important. Instead of playing truant, if a student is regular to classes, he/she can answer 40% of the questions easily. Moreover, the new format of Paper III is meant to test one’s analytical skills, and hence a familiarity with the literary devices and the various movements in literature is very important,” he added. [Excerpts from his lecture, to follow]

Announcements..: