I've never been a big fan of video games. To the contrary, I've always been a bit skeptical towards their use to be honest. I suppose it goes back to my childhood and remembering the endless frustrations I had with my brother trying to communicate with him yet achieving nothing because his head was allways in the video game; leaving him completely numb every time he played a game it was as if he was in a paralel universe.
From then I'm simply unable to understand why people would rather stay indoors completely numbed by a screen than go out and actually experience life and interact with real people rather than man generated characters.
Having said this, I had no problem however trying out a video game for the assignment. I didn't however try the typical crazytaxi, grand-theft auto games, because I've played them before and gotten bored too quickly. So although some people may argue that its not an "actual" video game, I choose to try out the xbox kinect dance.
The question is would I consider this particular game to have a narrative? Not really, although it may have a backstory and somewhat of a goal in the game, which would be to win the trophy or the most amount of points. I feel that for it to have a narrative there would need to be somewhat of a conflict and resolution stage which I don't feel it has.
It may be argued that other games like counterstrike or world of warcraft do have somewhat of a narrative. I feel it depends a lot on the particular game however the one I chose to play serves two purposes, and that is for the person to learn the steps shown on the screen, and have fun none other.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Mind and Media : The brain in a vat
When we started talking in class about the relationship between mind and body, and the influence of media over the human mind, automatically the first image that came into my mind was of a brain being manipulated somehow, and Descartes theory of the brain in a vat.
Descartes theory of the mind-body dualism is an aspect that can be linked very closely to this modern issue of media-mind discussion. Descartes believed that the brain and the mind were two completely separate entities, as opposed to a single entity or one dependent from the other. His theory of "The brain in a vat" consists of the notion that our minds are in fact a brain that is being manipulated by an "evil scientist" who administers all the information that goes in and what we perceive to be the "real" or "tactile" world.
Having this in mind, I found it interesting to discuss in class how this idea may be applied to media vs mind as well; where the evil scientist is in fact the media, manipulating our way of viewing reality, and to an extent distorting it to a point where we cannot tell real from unreal anymore.
It's not to say that I believe or agree with this theory, I feel that to an extent although we are exposed to the influences of media, we as human beings still have free will to choose what we believe, as difficult as it may be to grow out of that mindset, it's still possible. However I thought it was an interesting analogy to make as to how the media vs mind relates to the mind vs body and vice versa; and how this image although satirical is quite accurate towards how we as humans are starting to feel towards our own realities illustrated by our surrounding media.
Descartes theory of the mind-body dualism is an aspect that can be linked very closely to this modern issue of media-mind discussion. Descartes believed that the brain and the mind were two completely separate entities, as opposed to a single entity or one dependent from the other. His theory of "The brain in a vat" consists of the notion that our minds are in fact a brain that is being manipulated by an "evil scientist" who administers all the information that goes in and what we perceive to be the "real" or "tactile" world.Having this in mind, I found it interesting to discuss in class how this idea may be applied to media vs mind as well; where the evil scientist is in fact the media, manipulating our way of viewing reality, and to an extent distorting it to a point where we cannot tell real from unreal anymore.
It's not to say that I believe or agree with this theory, I feel that to an extent although we are exposed to the influences of media, we as human beings still have free will to choose what we believe, as difficult as it may be to grow out of that mindset, it's still possible. However I thought it was an interesting analogy to make as to how the media vs mind relates to the mind vs body and vice versa; and how this image although satirical is quite accurate towards how we as humans are starting to feel towards our own realities illustrated by our surrounding media.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Oct 31st Player One
Player One by Douglas Coupland The book is set in a cocktail lounge, with four main characters,
Karen a 40 year old woman who's waiting for her online date. Rick the bar tender a recovering alcoholic in a falling down life. Luke, a pastor who stole 20,000$ from the church. Rachel a beautiful 18 year old Canadian who suffers from autistic disorder.
All hell breaks loose, when they announce that oil prices skyrocketed and with it all kinds of consequences come in. The story is about four strangers, who as the novel goes by, we notice are not so different, that they all to some extent suffer from some type of autistic or social disorder which has brought them to be at this place in this particular time.
As the book goes by you start realizing its a very claustrophobic book, because it drags you into feeling like you're running against the clock. "What will become of us" the subtitle of the book itself expresses the general stressful feel throughout the story.
It's a very thought provoking book, forcing you to realize what is actually happening around you, and how society needs to step in and do something about it or else everything will be completely lost.
Coupland is known to be a very thought provoking novelist, and it's no surprise that "Player One" falls under this category, he himself admits that he wants people to feel uncomfortable with this novel, he wants them to think and not only read. An aspect of his that I love, because I myself crave these novels for their intellectual ingredients, and although there are always aspects of it you don't enjoy because of how they make you feel; when it comes to the end you realize how rich and filling the story truly is.
Karen a 40 year old woman who's waiting for her online date. Rick the bar tender a recovering alcoholic in a falling down life. Luke, a pastor who stole 20,000$ from the church. Rachel a beautiful 18 year old Canadian who suffers from autistic disorder.
All hell breaks loose, when they announce that oil prices skyrocketed and with it all kinds of consequences come in. The story is about four strangers, who as the novel goes by, we notice are not so different, that they all to some extent suffer from some type of autistic or social disorder which has brought them to be at this place in this particular time.
As the book goes by you start realizing its a very claustrophobic book, because it drags you into feeling like you're running against the clock. "What will become of us" the subtitle of the book itself expresses the general stressful feel throughout the story.
It's a very thought provoking book, forcing you to realize what is actually happening around you, and how society needs to step in and do something about it or else everything will be completely lost.
Coupland is known to be a very thought provoking novelist, and it's no surprise that "Player One" falls under this category, he himself admits that he wants people to feel uncomfortable with this novel, he wants them to think and not only read. An aspect of his that I love, because I myself crave these novels for their intellectual ingredients, and although there are always aspects of it you don't enjoy because of how they make you feel; when it comes to the end you realize how rich and filling the story truly is.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Oct 24th The Medium is the Message
The medium is the massage, is a book co-created by Marshal Mcluhan in conjunction with Quentin Fiore, a graphic designer.
I have to say the name itself is what dragged me into wanting to know more about the book. It is Mcluhan's play on words to describe the effect the media has on society, and how in effect it has become a form of massage as to how it is portrayed. Our heads and minds are massaged by these forms of communication to an extent where we no longer realize what is being told to how, and where what is being told no longer matter because it is the "how" that we are in the end concentrated on.
The book although a somewhat difficult read for me, was very interesting in the way it approached the issue and Mc Luhan's philosophy on today's media. Although I don't necessarily agree with all of his arguments. The medium is the massage shows how we are so affected and attached to todays media, that to some extent it has become part of us, part of our senses. Mc luhan argues how according to the way in which a message is portrayed, the message itself changes. Which I think is an aspect that we all can relate to here at Ringling, especially because we come to realize the effect design (the media) has on modern society and the responsibility we will carry as designer towards what is said, because we're the ones that choose how it's said.
I have to say the name itself is what dragged me into wanting to know more about the book. It is Mcluhan's play on words to describe the effect the media has on society, and how in effect it has become a form of massage as to how it is portrayed. Our heads and minds are massaged by these forms of communication to an extent where we no longer realize what is being told to how, and where what is being told no longer matter because it is the "how" that we are in the end concentrated on.
The book although a somewhat difficult read for me, was very interesting in the way it approached the issue and Mc Luhan's philosophy on today's media. Although I don't necessarily agree with all of his arguments. The medium is the massage shows how we are so affected and attached to todays media, that to some extent it has become part of us, part of our senses. Mc luhan argues how according to the way in which a message is portrayed, the message itself changes. Which I think is an aspect that we all can relate to here at Ringling, especially because we come to realize the effect design (the media) has on modern society and the responsibility we will carry as designer towards what is said, because we're the ones that choose how it's said.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Analysis
Lolita, a novel first written in english by Vladimir Nabokov in 1955. Is a very famous novel known world-wide for its incredible writing yet controversial plot. A story about a 40 year old widow, Humbert Humbert, who becomes obsessed and at the same time sexually involved with a 12 year old girl.
A novel built on the basis of trickery and manipulation; the narrator leads us into his personal intellectual game, and it’s up to us to play along or refuse to do so.
He makes us believe that the story is a romance novel. Though the truth is, it’s only a romance novel in narrator's head. A narrator who’s unable to see that what he calls romance, is actually obsession. Thus it may classify as a romantic novel but only through one side of the story. I consider it to be a crime novel, because the act that he committed out of "love" was actually a crime committed out of obsession.
"Did I deprive her of her flower? Sensitive gentlewomen of the jury, I was not even her first lover" We see a clear example of Humbert's mindset and attempt to influence our perception of him, in quotes throughout the book such as this. Where he tries to excuse his actions by putting the blame on others. In this case he's telling us that he actually was not Lolita's first, and hence he could not be blamed for taking the girl's innocence from her; giving us an idea of how he sees the situation, and his act being out of simple passion rather than egoism and rage for the young girl.
"Suddenly her hand slipped into mine and without our chaperon's seeing, I held, and stroked, and squeezed that little hot paw, all the way to the store."
This is yet another example where we see how Humbert attempts to misguide us in order to cover for the blame. It's difficult to be able to judge a situation like this because of the behavior of the narrator towards us, the reader, or as he sees it "the jury".
Throughout the novel, we as the reader feel unease as to what to believe or not believe about what Humbert is telling us. He's a very manipulating narrator, to the extent where he wants us to like him so much that we excuse or cease to see what he's really doing. A clear example of this is the scene in the hotel room the morning after he tried to drug Lolita, where he explains how she woke up and seduced him.
These type of situations make us wonder as a reader where the line between manipulation and truth lies with this narrator. Although we have come to like him because of his writing, a moral side of us pops up every now and again, realizing that theres something wrong with the way the story is being told; and how somehow Humbert always manages to get his way without purposely doing anything. Situations that make us think that the narrator is not being honest about how the story actually goes.
The novel is incredibly engaging yet incredibly frustrating as well. Personally this is how I felt throughout the entire read. You want to hate Humbert's character, but are somehow dragged into his spell by his innovative choice of words. A moral battle that you face from beginning to end. Realizing at the end, that you have actually fallen into his trap, and left wondering if what you have just read, was in fact a true story, or a creation of his imagination.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Sept 26th Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
The film version of the story will be based in the 1990's
It would continue to be in Las Vegas, though this time, with a modern twist. Concentrating on the rock and roll society that still is very related to the drug culture during that time.
Like the original story, the only consistent part of the story is the existence of the two main characters. Everything else, varies and constantly changes throughout the story. The key themes, and motifs for the story that I personally would choose to emphasize, would be drugs and it's influence over people's behavior in particular situations, also music would play an essential role as for the general feel of the movie.
The tone of the movie created by a young American production designer, aside from being given by the music would also be given by the color scheme used throughout, which in my opinion would be using the combination of both cool and warm colors.
Las but not least, the music and soundtrack of the film would be fast paced punk rock music.Mon Sept 19th Nathaniel West, The Day of the Locus
Nathaniel West,
"Miss Lonely hearts" considered one of West's best stories.
"The Day of the Locus" is recognized as Nathaneal West's best known story. At the time, he wasn't a well known novellist. Just enough for him to pay the bills. When "The day of the Locus" is released, he began to sell a couple of copus and success in his life started to arise.
Along with this success he gets married to Eileen Mckenney. Unfortunately not far after that, they're both involved in a car accident and meet their death, only a couple of days after the play opened in NY. An unfortunate event.
A particular aspect about the story itself is the fact that it doesn't have a "story structure". A begining middle and end, that we expect to have almost every time we read a story now. Because we relate to stories and put our personal experiences into the stories we read, we expect them to be the way we experience life itself. Linear, and sequential, one event after the other, with a beginning and an end. When this doesn't happen, the reader notices and feels uncomfortable to some extent, because we're caught off guard.
We could say the book is more like a painting, where there is no story structure, but rather a canvas covered by elements that make up a story, with no beginning and no ending.
"Miss Lonely hearts" considered one of West's best stories.
"The Day of the Locus" is recognized as Nathaneal West's best known story. At the time, he wasn't a well known novellist. Just enough for him to pay the bills. When "The day of the Locus" is released, he began to sell a couple of copus and success in his life started to arise.
Along with this success he gets married to Eileen Mckenney. Unfortunately not far after that, they're both involved in a car accident and meet their death, only a couple of days after the play opened in NY. An unfortunate event.
A particular aspect about the story itself is the fact that it doesn't have a "story structure". A begining middle and end, that we expect to have almost every time we read a story now. Because we relate to stories and put our personal experiences into the stories we read, we expect them to be the way we experience life itself. Linear, and sequential, one event after the other, with a beginning and an end. When this doesn't happen, the reader notices and feels uncomfortable to some extent, because we're caught off guard.
We could say the book is more like a painting, where there is no story structure, but rather a canvas covered by elements that make up a story, with no beginning and no ending.
Monday, September 5, 2011
September 12. How to read a book like a film
Western Genre Characteristics: (dates around from 1860-1914)
Cowboys, horses, chaos, gun fights, small town, wide open space.
Genre codes:
Space opera:
syfy
comedy
drama
romantic comedy
action
horror
thrillers
adventure
documentary
biography
epics/historical
musical
soap opera
war
western
gangster
super natural
suspense
detective/mysteries
Pornography
News
After discussing in class a series of genres, the question arose as to why is it so important? I personally would have to say, because it allows you to place a story into a particular mindset or group in relation to other novels. It also gives you the opportunity to explore more between various types of genres, and the idea of trans-media storytelling.
For a trans-media hit, why is the movie so important?
For many reasons I would say, one of them being directed to the audience that doesn't read. An aspect that may at times leave the viewer wanting more and even more engaged in watching the events happening on the screen, rather than the experience of both watching and listening. Because were used to watching the more contemporary films that combine both visual and auditive information, it was interesting to watch a film with such a story behind it, and in addition to this, have it be a ballet performance. It may be because as a dancer I might be more attracted to these type of performances, nonetheless I feel the ballet film we saw in class was a beautiful piece that not only communicates without words, but also with movement.
Cowboys, horses, chaos, gun fights, small town, wide open space.
Genre codes:
Space opera:
syfy
comedy
drama
romantic comedy
action
horror
thrillers
adventure
documentary
biography
epics/historical
musical
soap opera
war
western
gangster
super natural
suspense
detective/mysteries
Pornography
News
After discussing in class a series of genres, the question arose as to why is it so important? I personally would have to say, because it allows you to place a story into a particular mindset or group in relation to other novels. It also gives you the opportunity to explore more between various types of genres, and the idea of trans-media storytelling.
For a trans-media hit, why is the movie so important?
For many reasons I would say, one of them being directed to the audience that doesn't read. An aspect that may at times leave the viewer wanting more and even more engaged in watching the events happening on the screen, rather than the experience of both watching and listening. Because were used to watching the more contemporary films that combine both visual and auditive information, it was interesting to watch a film with such a story behind it, and in addition to this, have it be a ballet performance. It may be because as a dancer I might be more attracted to these type of performances, nonetheless I feel the ballet film we saw in class was a beautiful piece that not only communicates without words, but also with movement.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
August 29th Hunger Games
Centered in a world directed by tirany and savagery "The Hunger Games" written by Suzanne Collins is a story that has captivated viewers attention from all around the world.
The book introduces us into a world of cruelty, misery and hunger, but that at the same time parallel to this world, we find another extreme the world of Capitol, filled with vanity, luxuries and corruption.
In the first book of the trilogy, we are introduced to the protagonist Katniss, a young teenage girl, hard worker for her family.
Year by year the Capitol hosts and event called the hunger games, where two teenagers, boy and a girl are selected to be brought to an arena to fight for their lives, one must always die in order for the game to end. This is in a way to remind the country of what the government is capable of, and to ensure they wouldn't rebel.
The story is filled with metaphors and symbolism reflecting the world we live in.
Parallels to real life:
The story brings to mind the current situation lived in China, and the big contrast between
poverty vs the capitalistic regime. But mainly the inability to make your own personal choices.
Or the notion of having to give up your child when they are chosen to be in the hunger games, a parallel to this would be the current problem in china and how each family is unable to choose how many children they have, and must pay a fine if they go over the "allowed" limit.
Which of the two sides is privileged in the story?
There's no recognition whatsoever of individuals as such rather, the characters are seen as letters and numbers rather than people. With this loss of humanity comes the loss of everything else that comes with it, values, morality etc.
The author doesn't necessarily give us her opinion, but rather attempts to take us into this world and view things as they did .
Contradictions found in the story:
To begin with, the old style weapons vs high tech elements brought up later in the story,
The meaning of values, feeling and love: the characters aren't meant to have emotions, or the ability to judge, and yet the main character represents all of these together.
Some stories/movies that came to mind when reading this story were:
Inglorious Bastards
Fight Club
1984
Gladiator
300
Zena Warrior princess
Lord of the flies
Holes
Big brother
Rome
Expectations of the reader, and how the author plays with this:
The reader would normally expect the character to fulfill their original goal, rather she is defeated at the end. Although she survives she's unable to get herself out of the situation.
Another expectation could be a revolt from the children's side against the leaders.
An important movie to be paired with this book: 1984 or Holes
The book introduces us into a world of cruelty, misery and hunger, but that at the same time parallel to this world, we find another extreme the world of Capitol, filled with vanity, luxuries and corruption.In the first book of the trilogy, we are introduced to the protagonist Katniss, a young teenage girl, hard worker for her family.
Year by year the Capitol hosts and event called the hunger games, where two teenagers, boy and a girl are selected to be brought to an arena to fight for their lives, one must always die in order for the game to end. This is in a way to remind the country of what the government is capable of, and to ensure they wouldn't rebel.
The story is filled with metaphors and symbolism reflecting the world we live in.
Parallels to real life:
The story brings to mind the current situation lived in China, and the big contrast between
poverty vs the capitalistic regime. But mainly the inability to make your own personal choices.
Or the notion of having to give up your child when they are chosen to be in the hunger games, a parallel to this would be the current problem in china and how each family is unable to choose how many children they have, and must pay a fine if they go over the "allowed" limit.Which of the two sides is privileged in the story?
There's no recognition whatsoever of individuals as such rather, the characters are seen as letters and numbers rather than people. With this loss of humanity comes the loss of everything else that comes with it, values, morality etc.
The author doesn't necessarily give us her opinion, but rather attempts to take us into this world and view things as they did .
Contradictions found in the story:
To begin with, the old style weapons vs high tech elements brought up later in the story,
The meaning of values, feeling and love: the characters aren't meant to have emotions, or the ability to judge, and yet the main character represents all of these together.
Some stories/movies that came to mind when reading this story were:
Inglorious Bastards
Fight Club
1984Gladiator
300
Zena Warrior princess
Lord of the flies
Holes
Big brother
Rome
Expectations of the reader, and how the author plays with this:
The reader would normally expect the character to fulfill their original goal, rather she is defeated at the end. Although she survives she's unable to get herself out of the situation.
Another expectation could be a revolt from the children's side against the leaders.
An important movie to be paired with this book: 1984 or Holes
Friday, August 19, 2011
August 22nd
The story of the Wizard of Oz has become one of the best known classic North American movies of the 20th Century. I say North American, because it's not as well known outside of this region, at least not in such a traditional and cultural way as we see here.
The story was a hit not only with children but also with the older public. It became a revolutionary film because its known as the first to be presented in color. Using this particular skill to their advantage making it part of their story.
The basic plot of the story is about a small girl from Kansas, who is swept by a tornado along with her dog and taken into a completely different and new world. The story depicts her journey and adventures in trying to get back home.
It's a story full of symbolism, that has been criticized numerous times for different interpretations people have towards the events and characters in the story. Although it becomes difficult to give an exact definition and conclusion about these interpretations, and whether or not that is what the author intended to portray; I will attempt to make a recollection of the most important symbols and visual metaphors found within the story.
The first symbolism we notice is with the introduction of the characters.
Dorothy: the main character of the story, represents the values of the traditional american society, respectful, loyal, determined etc.
Uncle Henry: stereotypical dedicated farmer from the 1800s
Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and cowardly lyon: all of these represent the notion of possibilities, and recognition of ones own capabilities and strengths that wether we feel it or not, we all have within us the ability to do and achieve what we want, we just have to have more faith in ourselves.
The Wicked witch of the East: represents all of the anti values within the american society. Our biggest fears, and temptations, with which we have to fight daily in order to stay as little affected by them as possible.
Good witch of the North: Represents the hope and faith Americans have towards their culture. The idea that within all the negative and bad things one may find, there's always a way out, and always someone willing to help you no matter how difficult the situation may seem.
Yellow brick road: is in a way a representation of knowledge and success. The path you ought to take in order to reach your goal, and in a way it also represents naiveness. In the story it was the path the characters were told to take to find what they were looking for, and blinded by this without asking questions they followed instructions. Only to find at the end that it had all been a lie and that what they thought they would find was in fact a simple fraud.
Ruby slippers: Although silver in the original story. They chose to make them ruby in the movie, one of the reasons being because of how the color looked along with the color scheme of the movie. Nonetheless both in the book and the film, the slippers are a metaphor for the power that so many strive to have.
Although all of these visual metaphors and symbols were interpreted by many viewers and critics; it was never affirmed by the author that this was in fact what he was trying to portray, or transmit through his story. Nonetheless it's interesting to see how the more times one sees the movie or reads the book, the more things you discover and bigger understanding you get of the North American Culture.
The story was a hit not only with children but also with the older public. It became a revolutionary film because its known as the first to be presented in color. Using this particular skill to their advantage making it part of their story.The basic plot of the story is about a small girl from Kansas, who is swept by a tornado along with her dog and taken into a completely different and new world. The story depicts her journey and adventures in trying to get back home.
It's a story full of symbolism, that has been criticized numerous times for different interpretations people have towards the events and characters in the story. Although it becomes difficult to give an exact definition and conclusion about these interpretations, and whether or not that is what the author intended to portray; I will attempt to make a recollection of the most important symbols and visual metaphors found within the story.
The first symbolism we notice is with the introduction of the characters.
Dorothy: the main character of the story, represents the values of the traditional american society, respectful, loyal, determined etc.
Uncle Henry: stereotypical dedicated farmer from the 1800s
Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and cowardly lyon: all of these represent the notion of possibilities, and recognition of ones own capabilities and strengths that wether we feel it or not, we all have within us the ability to do and achieve what we want, we just have to have more faith in ourselves.
The Wicked witch of the East: represents all of the anti values within the american society. Our biggest fears, and temptations, with which we have to fight daily in order to stay as little affected by them as possible.Good witch of the North: Represents the hope and faith Americans have towards their culture. The idea that within all the negative and bad things one may find, there's always a way out, and always someone willing to help you no matter how difficult the situation may seem.
Yellow brick road: is in a way a representation of knowledge and success. The path you ought to take in order to reach your goal, and in a way it also represents naiveness. In the story it was the path the characters were told to take to find what they were looking for, and blinded by this without asking questions they followed instructions. Only to find at the end that it had all been a lie and that what they thought they would find was in fact a simple fraud.
Ruby slippers: Although silver in the original story. They chose to make them ruby in the movie, one of the reasons being because of how the color looked along with the color scheme of the movie. Nonetheless both in the book and the film, the slippers are a metaphor for the power that so many strive to have.
Although all of these visual metaphors and symbols were interpreted by many viewers and critics; it was never affirmed by the author that this was in fact what he was trying to portray, or transmit through his story. Nonetheless it's interesting to see how the more times one sees the movie or reads the book, the more things you discover and bigger understanding you get of the North American Culture.
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