Last Paper: Personal Analysis Narrative

Lynee Hart

Mr. Cox

ENG 104

12/4/11

 

 

Personal Analysis Narrative

  

Part 1 – Audience & Genre

*each part is expected to be roughly 300+ words*

• How did analyzing the audience affect your writing? In what ways?
• What genres have been difficult for you to work with? Why?
• How does the genre of a project or text impact how you organize your writing?

 

My posts and papers were mainly on subjects that most people in my class did not understand. For example I chose my project to be about anime and after a few learning sessions about Japanese animation in class I found that many people did not like it or even knew what it was. So I made sure to add a lot of information and examples of what anime was. This was also beneficial since most of our work needed proof or evidence from a reliable source to back it up. Even though I was thorough many people still did not understand and this is where I found my difficulty. I could not get everyone to understand what is! This, in turn confused me; I thought it was simple enough. So I also made sure that in my findings to add definitions and pictures to help people better understand. For example in one of my posts about anime I added pictures of anime characters and demons. Another thing I found difficult but at the same time was the Interactive fiction and the Rouge game. I found them hard to play with and to later write about until I started relating them to other things I liked more, which is a method we learned. Many of the things we did in class I found many more connections to than I thought I would. Though many of the people in class were confused at first I was able to find a way to help them understand and I feel my presentation was great thanks to Cory’s help.

 

 

Part 2 – Community & Writing Process

• Considering how several of our texts have significance even outside of the classroom, how do you see yourself as a writer in a larger community (not just in the classroom)
• What is your opinion of the prewriting process? Why? What prewriting did you like the most? What was helpful for you? What wasn’t?
• As a member of a writing community, how were you able to help your classmates in their revision process? How did aiding them impact your own writing

 

Throughout school many teachers wanted me to pre-write my papers by setting up a, and I hated it. But in this class our pre-writing was more of seeing examples of the types of writing we would be doing or using class time to learn about what we would write. I understand that pre-writing is useful but I, and many others, prefer just writing. I feel this class had a great balance since we were given specific guidelines and examples for our papers. These helped me greatly along with asking for help if needed. This process was also nice because we could write without strict guidelines. I feel this gave people more room to use there own writing voice.  We had time before turning in out papers to peer edit and I found it really helpful. The other people in my class helped me see my errors. I was also able to help people write other peoples papers. Usually people were just not sure how to word something or they were over thinking it. I the end we all were able to help each other. The writing and readings we did in class were for more than just a grade. Many of the things we read and wrote about had to do with finding ourselves inside the writings. So many of Le Guin`s writings were about society and our impact on it. I found her writings very interesting and enjoyed reading them. After reading a few of her article I began to analyze thing differently in my own life.

 

 

Part 3 – Strengths & Weaknesses

• What have you learned in this class this semester? What skills and processes have you utilized in your writing for this class? How do you plan to utilize these skills outside of our classroom, both in academic and non-academic situations?
• In what ways do you struggle with writing? How have you dealt with these issues? Have you noticed improvement, or has it stayed a problem?
• What do you see as your strengths as a writer? How did you utilize or exploit these strengths in your writing for this class or other classes?

 

One of my biggest issues with writing was trying to gain my own voice in writing. To try to gain my own voice I tried to make my writing more like how I talked, but at a higher level to make my great. This is what I did in this class and I feel I can now see my voice more clearly in my papers and that they are more my own. This is just one of the things I learned this semester. I also learned where to find better sources thanks to Cory. One of my strengths has always been good transitions, layout and using sources, but thanks to my better, more reliable, sources my papers are better. I find books, articles and journals much easier now on a vast array of subjects. For my final project paper I was able to find many sources about anime and it helped improve my paper greatly. A few resources sites I used was the NIU Libraries on the NIU website, Muse and the Google scholar search engine.

J-Pop(Encounter 5: Electronic Music Encyclopedia)

Lynee Hart

Mr. Cox

ENG 104

11/20/2011

JPOP

 

            J-pop, or Japanese music, is “… refer to all Japanese popular songs”, including techno (wikipedia.org). Japanese techno or J-pop has been described as upbeat and energetic by some and has it roots mixed in with many other genes that will be further discussed. The other genes as well as the culture and time period also play a major role on J-pops unique sound. This unique sound is further created by the different artist, their instruments of choice and the themes or imagery the artists use. J-pop would not have even existed though if it were not for the areas and cultures that influenced it,

Japanese Pop had its beginnings in the”… 1970s in Japan [s]everal Japanese musicians began experimenting with electronic music, including electronic rock” (wikipedia.org). At first this change to Japanese music was mostly underground, but thanks to artist like Isao Tomita and Eikichi Yazawa this new style became more mainstream. Isao Tomita has been noted as being the pioneer for the style and has influenced many artists. As more and more of artist who became influenced by the pioneers of J-pop the more popular it became, but this popularity would have never occurred if not for the first types of the techno gene.

J-pop, or Shibuya-Kei as it called “… originated in the Shibuya district of Tokyo [and] is best described as a mix between jazz, pop, and electro-pop” (wikipedia.org). Shibuya-Kei`s jazz and pop influences came from the 90`s other euro-beat, trance and techno dance genes. The 90`s euro-beat, trance and techno came from the classics such as funk, soul, blues and jazz (Iskur’s Guide to Electronic).  The Shibuya district is full of night clubs and social places where the up beat music fits right in, the “…early 1990`s  the hit charts [in] Shibuya …”  were those based off of J-pop(Cultural Studies and Cultural Industries, 255).Another way Japanese pop has found a way into many different cultures hearts is through its films, and television shows.

From children to adults many of them place video games or watch Japanese cartoons, referred to as Anime, and in many of them there is J-pop. When these games and T.V. programs came to America, and many other countries, so to did the music and the interest for them. Some of the most popular games such as “Street Fighter, Tekken and Final Fantasy” are just a few of the games that have J-pop in them(Jpop!, 5). Many people, my self included, first heard a J-pop song through one of these mediums. Thus, this introduction increased the awareness of the genre and many artists in Japan use this style today.

Japanese pop artist of today, such as Gackt or Hikaru Utada, are very famous in many cultures. Both artist use electronics to alter their voices or have upbeat music. The guitar and many digital devices such as synthesizers and auto tuners are used. Sometimes artist simply use technology just to speed up or slow down their voice, they even may do this to the music itself. These changes add much to the meaning and the themes of the songs themselves.

Like in all pop music from any culture, J-pop can be about anything and everything. The songs can still have an upbeat tempo but be very serous. Gackt, the artist mentioned early has a few songs like this as well as very happy and sad ones. Again they span all over the spectrums of emotions and themes. This being said, the sad songs, in the eyes of the Japanese, may not be sad at all. If a song is about a persons death and it still has a somewhat up beat feel that is because the Japanese do not view death as a negative thing but as just a another stage in life. Another part of the culture that may or may not influence the songs is how they view personal relationships. A sad love song is common in Japan, as it is in many cultures, but the song isn’t only about the negative feeling but how they overcome them. Gackt`s song is a great example of this. In one of his sad love songs he sings about a lost love and how he will become stronger from it singing, “One day, I will prove to you. That I can over come you” saying how he will get over it and they can be friends again (Gackt). Songs like these and many others show many details about the culture and the people. This music has influenced many people including myself.

My first encounter with J-pop was during an Anime show, the opening had a song that was upbeat and catchy. Though this was my first encounter I did not start loving it until I heard a song by Gackt. Gackt is more pop rock, while still being upbeat, and it appealed more to my genre of music that I was used to. It was the mix of the up beat nature with the rock that made me enjoy it. Hikaru Utada is another favorite artist of mine; she has made many songs to my favorite games. There are not many artists I like yet but I always keep looking for new artist. I find her voice both beautiful and soothing. I often listen to it to boost my mood. This is what also got my sister into the genre and we both listen to it now. Another reason I was drawn to Japanese pop was the language itself, Japanese has always been beautiful to me. I instantly looked up the translated lyrics and found it the structure of the songs more story-telling in a way. This also was very interesting to me. Ever since then I have been listening to J-pop.

In conclusion Japanese pop is an up-beat gene that was born from techno, jazz and other classics and its culture. This shows through the artists lyrics and how they alter their voices and music. It once was an underground genre and is now an up and coming music in all countries. The music continues to influence other artist and listeners alike and is deep in different forms of media such as games and T.V. shows. J-pop is here to stay and as the future of technological music advances so will Japanese pop music.

Examples of J-Pop

Isao Tomita

Hikaru Utada

Gackt

Links

J-Pop Artists:

Isao Tomita- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isao_Tomita

Gackt-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gackt

Hikaru Utada-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_Utada#Musical_style

Resources Links:

J-Pop-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop#1990s:_Coining_of_the_term_.22J-pop.22

Ishkur`s Guide-http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/

Shibuya-Kei(J-pop)-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya-kei

Cultural Studies and Culutral Industries-http://books.google.com/books?id=z-ZsUQoKoDUC&pg=PA225&dq=shibuya-+kei&hl=en&ei=x3vJTui8CMrDgAeGo71r&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=shibuya-%20kei&f=false

Japan Pop!-http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=xwJw1q0unYAC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=history+of+japanese+pop+music&ots=jf80xJEkkM&sig=8wq4onEWZPJFoB68n9X02Qu9LVk#v=onepage&q=history%20of%20japanese%20pop%20music&f=false

Works Cited

Berry, Chris, Nicola Liscutin, and Jonathan D. Mackintosh. Cultural Studies and Cultural Industries in Northeast Asia: What a Difference a Region Makes. Aberdeen, Hong Kong: Hong Kong UP, 2009. Print.

Craig, Timothy J. Japan Pop!: inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000. Print.

“Hikaru Utada.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_Utada&gt;.

“Ishkur’s Guide to Electronic Music | New Home on Techno.org.” Digitally Imported – Addictive Electronic Music. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/&gt;.

“J-pop.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop&gt;.

“Shibuya-kei.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya-kei&gt;.

Lab Activity (Nov 9)

 Sometimes, the best way to learn how to write effectively is to immerse yourself in the powerful, vivid, effective writing of others.  We practiced close reading of an article when we read Shinobu Price’s “Cartoons From Another Planet,” but then we focused largely on content.  Today, I’d like you to look at one of the following essays in detail — but this time we will pay attention to the specifics of how it is put together as a piece of writing.

1.         Read through one of the following essays (or choose another from those we have read already — e.g. Le Guin!).  Read ittwice– skimming first, to get a sense of how the piece works as a whole, then re-reading for details and how the essay is organized on a paragraph and sentence level.Gloria Anzaldua — Borderlands
   Mary Roach — Packing For Mars
   Carl Sagan — You Are Here
   
2. Then, please write a response to the following questions/themes/ideas:Think about how the essay you’ve read is organized.  How is it organized:

*On the largest scale — where does it start and end?  What happens in between?  What major points does your author make?  What do they elaborate on?  How does your author transition between major ideas/paragraphs?  How does your author go beyond the 5-paragraph essay format?  What can you learn from how your author’s paper is organized?

*How do the individual paragraphs work?  How are the sentences in the paragraphs related?  How do multiple paragraphs combine to form passages in the essay that work together or that speak to a common idea?  How does your author develop an idea in a paragraph?  Do they do any sort of analysis?  Do they elaborate on ideas?  How?  What makes one sentence difference from the next?  What does each paragraph and sentence contribute to the reader’s total understanding of the main ideas?

*Then, consider how sentences are working.  How does the author write sentences that go beyond simple (subject>verb>object) constructions?  Are the author’s sentences varied and interesting?  How?  What makes them so?  How do sentences transition between each other (like paragraphs)?  How do ideas build from sentence to sentence?

*Finally, reflect on how the ideas of the essay relate to our class themes.  Overall — how can you interpret what this essay is saying, after you have looked at how the essay says it.  How does what the essay says relate to how it is said?

1. In answering these questions, you will be practicing a form ofrhetorical analysis — or looking at how writing works.  The major skill I want you to practice in responding to these questions is the giving of examples and the analyzing of examples.  Include quotes to show your reader what passages you’re talking about.  Use the Purdue Owl and Writer’s Help to cite sources and integrate quotes effectively.  Then talk about (analyze) those passages according to the questions above.

Most importantly, organize your own response.  The purpose of this assignment is to practice close, careful reading and awareness of how we can read and write carefully and in detail.  Before and as you write your own response — consider how you will organize your ideas broadly on the essay level, the paragraph level, and on the level of the word and sentence.  Think about the choices you make as you write.  Self-edit as you go.

1. Expectations:Length: 300+ words
   Carefully considered writing that effectively analyzes your chosen essay by quoting and discussing specific passages, sentences, word choices, etc.
   Detailed attention to how your own writing is working, how it is organized, as well as to the self-editing process — in an awareness of your own style.
   A minimum of typos/errors.
   Due Date: Friday 11-11

How Good Writing Looks

            “When Shakespeare was writing, he wasn’t writing for stuff to lie on the page; it was supposed to get up and move around” (Ken Kesey). For many artists of writing this is true. The words they type or write down are supposed to convey something more and move you. Le Guin is one of those writers, her works are supposed to make you think more and find a deeper meaning. “… (H)er works explore Taoist, anarchist, ethnographic, feminist, queer theory, psychological and sociological themes” giving them many themes(Wikipedia). In one of the short Essays it discuses the ideas of Utopia and what a Utopia is. Le Guin also talks about the principals of Yin and Yang or a balance of good and evil and how it affects a Utopia. Let us first look at her ideas of what a Utopia is and how she presents them.

A Utopia is a “an ideal place or state” according to Dictionary.com, Le Guin feels the same to a point. But when she writes about it her sentence structures leads most readers to see it a bit differently. Le Guin states her opinions and then sets apart her quotes from other writers and scholars to make them stand out more. For example, Le Guin writes, “In order to believe in utopia, Bob Elliott said, we must believe

‘That through the exercise of their reason men can control and in major ways alter for the better their social environment…. One must have faith of a kind that our history has made nearly inaccessible’ (http://theanarchistlibrary.org). Le Guin also uses multiple beliefs to support her ideals. Such as Taoism, anarchy, ethnographic, feminist psychological and sociological themes as stated earlier. This gives the readers a sense that the author knows what she is talking about and helping to persuade them. She continues to use this method to explain the connection of Yin and Yang balance to a Utopia.

Le Guin states that Yin and Yang of a Utopia is something that seems unattainable by humans since we cannot focus on any point in time, space, or ideals. She brings in the idea of Coyote to do this, using Coyote as a way to show a manifestation of ourselves. The part of ourselves we do not want to admit to. “Coyote walks through all our minds. Obviously, we need a trickster, a creator who made the world all wrong. We need the idea of a God who makes mistakes, gets into trouble, and who is identified with a scruffy little animal” (http://theanarchistlibrary.org).

In conclusion Le Guin is a writer of movement; she wants you to do more than see words on a page. She does this through her sentence structures as well as the use of quotes. Another way is through metaphors and ideals. She does all of this to make us see the words come to life and connect to us.

 

Works Cited

Coming Back From the Silence.” Interview by Jonathan White. Le Guin Interview. Sierra Club Books, 1994. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. <http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/pschmid1/engl5H/leguin.interv.html&gt;.

Interview

Le Guin, Ursula K. “A Non-Euclidean View of California as a Cold Place to Be.” A Non-Euclidean View of California as a Cold Place to Be (1982). The Anarchist Library. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. <http://theanarchistlibrary.org/HTML/Ursula_K._Le_Guin__A_Non-Euclidean_View_of_California_as_a_Cold_Place_to_Be.html&gt;.

Journal Article

“Writing Quotes Page 7 – BrainyQuote.” Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/writing_7.html&gt;.

Encounter 5: Anime: Cartoons From Another Planet

Japanese Identity:

Is anime in some way essentially Japanese? How does it establish or emerge from a specific cultural context, society, or history? Does it present or represent a Japanese (vs. American, e.g.) identity? Or, how does it transcend (or not) cultural boundaries? Consider the current worldwide popularity of the medium. Explore the connections between the medium (of Animation) and its origin and audience (Eastern or Western). Make an argument for or against the “Japanese-ness” of Anime, considering how things like dubbing into English and writing for English-speaking markets changes the nature of the product.

In developing your argument, make reference to (refer to the ideas of, quote, discuss) the following:

•  Price – “Cartoons From Another Planet.”
• At least one of the other critical articles posted to “Encounter 5 [Part 2].”
•  At least one anime series from each section (use mine or find your own that would fit!).
• At least one source that you have found (that I did not provide you).
• Author a response of at least 1,000 words.

Japanese Identity Leave it alone!

   “Anime is deeply embedded in all aspects of Japanese society: folklore, legends, history, religion, moral assumptions, and aesthetic standards…” (Price, 156).  The reason for this is “… that anime is created with only the Japanese audience in mind”(Price, 156). Even though anime creators have this intent many still feel this art form can transcend cultural-barriers and is an important part of what anime is. The issue of the “Japanese-ness” in anime is something I believe can transcend cultural boundaries.  Anime should be left alone in its natural state, if you take out all of the cultural references, religion, language and overall content your insulting the creators and its people. Anime, however, can also be less culturally infused.

   There have been many people who say Anime is essentially Japanese and I agree with that to a point, not all Anime is. The show called Fullmetal Alchemist is one of those Anime`s that is not drenched in Japanese themes. The lead characters names are Edward and Alphonse Elric, non-Japanese names, and they use alchemy, a science used in many different countries and are in a time that is their own and not specific. For the most part this show may be considered “American” Now, I am not saying that all Anime is non-Japanese ,in fact, most of it is Japanese culture infused.

The show Inuyasha is a good example. The story is set between present day Japan and the warring feudal era, the time of samurai and demons. The main character Kagome must travel to the feudal era, through a magical well, to help a half-demon collect a sacred jewel. In this show some demons look human, like in Japanese folklore, while others are monster-like.

The well she travels through is part of another Japanese belief. The characters eat Japanese food, encounter famous Japanese legends and is all around full of Japanese customs. Many believe these cultural aspects can be understood even if you do not know the culture that well.

Miyazaki, a famous anime artist,believes that no matter what culture you are anime can be understood by all people. Miyazaki was once asked if he was surprised that children audiences understood and loved the pace and cultural references in his movies. He simply replied,” no. Not really. It just means that Japanese and American children are alike.” even though there are vast cultural differences (Princess Mononoke in U.S.A., 1999). Crispin Freeman, a voice actor for Animes, also holds this sentiment but on a religious aspect.

You can watch it here!

Start the video at 4:24!!! I couldn`t figure out how to cut it, sorry!

Crispin Freeman attended many conventions and programs to understand more about anime. After many of these lectures he began to see how anime artist use ” [t]he religious mystic to achieve an experience of radical unity with the divine” (Lunning, 274). Freeman believes that through the art of anime we as a people, no matter what culture, can come together. So in this sense anime is a way of understanding Japanese culture as well.

Anime is a great way to show some of the Japanese customs, beliefs and cultural ways, since it is so influenced. The characters will often “attend Shinto festivals, eat Japanese food, and sleep on futon on tatami floors”(Price, 156). If a Japanese reference is made or there is a Japanese object you do not know of, usually the creator will add in a way to explain it. The T.V. shows or movies also add in the Japanese language, even in the American versions. Often characters will add prefixes to the end of names. In fact the way of speaking is a good window into their culture. The use of Sama at the end of a characters name shows a sign of respect. Usually in manga, in the back of the book, there will be a dictionary for all the Japanese terms. So, anime, I feel, has some learning value to it when incorporated with its natural culture. The culture aspect is also a natural part of anime, since it is from Japan it should have Japanese themes.

Our cultures influence greatly what we incorporate into our art and writing.  A European artist might draw a famous man with more modern clothing to fit his society, while a Japanese artist may draw him with a kimono on, even though that is not the correct way to portray that person. We always put in some element of our society into out works. So it is an inevitable part of human nature to add what is natural to them in their programs. So, when you suppress or take that out of the show it takes away from the artists ideas.

Many anime shows are “Americanized” when brought over seas. I feel that doing that to an artist or writers work is wrong. By doing that you are taking away what the artist had in mind and by changing the picture or words you could change the meaning.  Some ways that anime is “Americanized “is simple item switches.  For example, cigarettes are replaced with suckers; some Japanese food is switched with American food, mature content may be edited out and “[a]lcoholics were now translated as drinking water instead of sake…” even if the bottle is labeled sake in Japanese characters (Price, 161). Word choices in the dialog are also changed when translated into English, thus furthering the original focus. Many anime artists, including Miyazaki; feel such changes are incredibly rude and unorthodox.  Miyazaki even made a point of it by making a contract with Disney stating that, unless overviewed, they could not produce his movies. He did not want the Disney animators changing his vision.

In conclusion anime should have it cultural roots intact, even when coming to America. Anime, with its cultural richness, can help us break cultural barriers and teach us more about each other. Japanese animation can teach us more about religion and what it means to us and about what we have in common. Anime needs its heritage and cultural material should stay and not give in to big corporations. As Miyazaki put it, “[on the future of hand-drawn animation] I’m actually not that worried. I wouldn’t give up on it completely. Once in a while there are strange, rich people who like to invest in odd things. You’re going to have people in the corners of garages making cartoons to please themselves. And I’m more interested in those people than I am in big business” (Hayao Miyazaki).  If people do not give up in anime it will thrive in its natural state!

Works Cited

Arakawa, Hiromu. “Fullmetal Alchemist.” Fullmetal Alchemist. Aug. 2001. Television.

Lunning, French. “Giant Robots and Superheroes: Manifestations of Divine Power, East and West An Interview with Crispin Freeman.” Lunnin Mechademia Volume 3 (200): 274-82. Project Muse. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. <http://interstellarsprawl.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/lunning-frenchy-giant-robots-and-superheroes.pdf&gt;.

Price, Shinobu. “Cartoons from Another Planet: Japanese Animation as Cross-Cultural Communication.” The Journal of American Culture 24.1-2 (2001): 153-69. Print.

Princess Mononoke In U.S.A. Perf. Hayao Miyazaki. 1999. Youtube. 5 Aug. 2007. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lmhxQszjGE8&gt;.

Takahashi, Rumiko. “Inuyasha.” Inuyahsa. 13 Nov. 1996. Youtube. Web. 21 Sept. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scq1tydQMjM&gt;.

Lab Activity 9-28: Comics, Visual Rhetoric, and Scott McCloud; Looking Around

Part 1: After having read Scott McCloud — for your own blog — write a brief summary of the passages I’ve given you.  Focus on taking out  McCloud’s main ideas.  What are the big ideas he presents?  Thematically — what ideas are important and relevant in terms of  the topics of representation, close reading of systems, and narrative we’ve talked about so far — and how might we use his ideas to interpret texts in the future?  How does McCloud help us readimages?

Follow his text in detail as you read.  Then summarize what he says, giving only his major ideas.  Write this out — but you DO NOT have to write in essay from.  Use bullets, numbers, or some other organization that is visually useful in dividing ideas, if you prefer.  Describe the main ideas you give.  Offer this as both a means of understanding what McCloud has written and also a guide to how to apply him to your own future readings (of comics, but also other texts)– and we will look at some on Friday.  (100-200 words)

Part 2: Then, offer some thoughts on McCloud’s ideas and style.  What did you think of him — not just in the sense of ‘did you like it,’ but what did it make you think?  How did it expand (if it did) your vocabulary for talking about texts, representation through media, and narrative?  (100-200 words)

If you don’t finish this in lab today, do this before Friday, please!

 

Part 1

McClouds comic was very interesting and I am glad I read it. I agree with many of his viewpoints and ideas. He states that comics are not just pictures and some dialog but a complex balance between icons, symbols, abstract, word choice, environment, style and realism. Depending on how much detail some one puts into his or her art gives an impression. More simple human shapes, like stick figures, are more universal since that stick figure is so abstract it could be anyone. Adding to that most people put themselves in that less detailed human shape than a more realistic one. McCloud emphasized this thought and felt the more abstract a character was the more a person would feel they could relate.

Part 2

I found McClouds ideas on people’s perceptions on art style affects and word choices very interesting. His suggestion that comics that have characters who are more abstract would be more appealing is true. I often put myself in the shoes of characters that are not to specific looking. I also do this with characters with certain personality traits, which is something I feel he also suggested by saying word choice was important. You can tell a lot about a person’s character by the way they talk of maybe even don’t. Word choice is also important for story in general, sometimes simple is better, but it’s all about how your words mix with your style.

Encounter 3 Prompt — Rogue and Building a Narrative: Part 2

Encounter 3 Prompt — Rogue and Building a Narrative: Part 2

 Prompt:

•  compose a blog post of at least 500 words in response to the question and themes below.
• A key component of this part of the encounter is to use outside readings to analyze Rogue as a text.
• I expect you to examine and incorporate outside critical materials in developing your response!
• This prompt isn’t about explaining your personal response to or feelings about Rogue; even if you didn’t like Rogue, please consider what it offers us for thought in connection with the ideas and readings we’ve discussed and read about in class!

 

• Think about how Rogue might exemplify the interactive electronic environment that James Gee and Michael Abbott (The Brainy Gamer) discuss (watch their videos again if you need to!).
• How can you connect, interpret, or repurpose what they say about video games to make sense of Rogue and how it works as a game, as a text, as a writing environment, or as a vehicle for the exploration of identity?
• How do you go about “reading” or learning the system?  How does it teach you?
• Consider the depths of the mechanics.  What can and can’t you do?  What is the effect of discovery in Rogue – whether that be of monsters, rooms, items, the use of potions and scrolls?  What is the effect of permanent character death (permadeath) and restarting the game?
• How does the interactive environment allow for the creation of narratives?  What kind of narratives?  Despite the lack of dialogue or character (in the typical sense), how does our investment in our avatar (the @) become a narrative anchor?  (Think about Abbott’s “Impotent Narrative” and what he says about Etrian Odyssey III.)
• How does interaction with Rogue or IF force you to “critically read” the text (even if the ‘text’ is a game)?  That is, how do you have to think about, examine, and remember the little details to move forward?
• Is this a kind of identity tourism?  Or something else?
• How can you use James Gee or Anthony Burch to think about Rogue?  Apply their thoughts to Rogue.  At the same time, critique their thoughts. 
• If you agree or disagree with something – state WHY you agree or disagree.  Give evidence to support your arguments.  (For example, if you disagree with Burch’s assertion that most games are violent male power fantasies, provide alternatives game examples to counter what he says!)
• Look through the other critical materials I have posted.  See what the CRPG Addict wrote about his play-throughs of Rogue.  Read about its history.  Read about Nethack – its successor.  How does this change or inform your vision of Rogue as a game, text, learning environment, or experience?
• How is Rogue significant as a cultural artifact?  How is it significant as a milestone in the evolution of digital culture?
• What insights does Rogue afford into our own consciousnesses, our identities, or about how we think about the world?  Think about how you thought while you played.
• What is the game’s imaginative potency?  What world does your imagination build when you interact with the game?
• How might LeGuin encounter and make sense of Rogue?  Are any “coyote devices” at work here?  Think about identity and notions of beginning and ending.  What might Ebert say (incidentally, look up what he thinks about games; Burch mentions this)?  What about Ensler?

 

 

I have decided to answer the question about “the effect of permanent character death” since many games today are doing this. I feel this effect makes you more attached to your character, which is why many game designers make this permanent death happen. If you invest a lot of work into something you don’t want to see it all destroyed before your very eyes! What’s more, sometimes you may become attached to a characters personality because it might remind you of yourself or someone you know. So seeing them “die” would be kind of sad.

“If we examine why we care about stories and characters, it’s mostly about investment. Emotional attachment, empathy, feeling connected, caring about outcomes. These two RPGs present very different methods of hooking the player and eliciting concern and attachment. One succeeds because it leverages the player’s motivated, explorative, self-driven experience; the other fails because it relies on a hackneyed, disjointed “epic” plotting (told in 3 separate plot-lines via cutscenes) with incongruous settings and 2-dimensional characters.

One succeeds because its formal systems directly feed the player’s connection to the world and characters; the other fails because its formal systems bear no discernible relationship to the stories the game wants to tell” (http://www.brainygamer.com).

Consider the depths of the mechanics.  What can and can’t you do?

For “rogue-like” games there is always the difficulty of learning what the game wants you to do. Many people try to do what they would and cannot progress because of it. We want to put our identity into it while the game may demand other wise, but this us not always a bad thing. These games also challenge us to see what we could be.

 

“Beyond genre and mechanics, games can illustrate the essential meaning and validity of non-self, and they can provoke reflection on how we construct concepts and systems to make sense of a complicated world” (http://www.brainygamer.com).

Rogue-Like Games

“The roguelike is a sub-genre of role-playing video games, characterized by randomization for replayability, permanent death, and turn-basedmovement. Most roguelikes feature ASCII graphics, with newer ones increasingly offering tile-based graphics. Games are typically dungeon crawls, with many monsters, items, and environmental features. Computer roguelikes usually employ the majority of the keyboard to facilitate interaction with items and the environment. The name of the genre comes from the 1980 game Rogue.”( http://en.wikipedia.org).

One of the “Rogue-like” games is called Dungeons of Dredmore. This game features the same premise of movement and strategy, but I feel it gives you more of an identity since it gives you the ability to choose your powers. Dungeons of Dredmore is a comedic “rouge-like” game that has a wide variety of powers from the classic “Sword Wielding” to the very gross “Fleshsmithing”. Based on these different factors this seems to be a more favorable game compared to the original Rouge. Although it may be a better game in terms of graphics and style it holds true to its “rouge-like” routes.

Here is a the game trailer.

 

 

Encounter 3 Prompt — Rogue and Building a Narrative: Part 1

For Friday, compose a short written piece that can be read in 1-2 minutes.  We will read these aloud on Friday. (Bring a copy to read in addition to posting your story to your blog!)

Prompt:
Simply — tell the story of Rogue.

On my first run of Rogue I was so confused I ended up getting killed. This pattern continued for the following hours. I was not completely lost during those hours. After a few games I finally managed to handle the controls but this did not save me from being bested by bats. So I died, a lot, and did not make it far in the game. Even though I had a difficult time I still found it interesting.

Interactive Fiction (activity)

Please author a blog post in response to the following questions. 

Please don’t simply answer the questions in order.  Thoughtfully organize your response.  Write about your experience with the IF.  Connect your experience and your thoughts about the medium to our readings.  Think about how it compares to and comments upon the blogging and world-creation project.  Try to address or cover as many of the questions as possible.

Length: 300-500 words

 

Experience:

•Was this your first time exploring IF?  How did the medium work for you?

•What IF did you play/read?  Summarize briefly your experiences; what stories did you

participate in.  Which struck you and why?

•Were you able to get lost in any of these?  Could you suspend your disbelief?

•Overall, what was it that you experienced?  Was it a story, a world?  Something else?  What did it look like?  Sound like?  What did it mean for you?

 

Rhetoric:

•Who were you when you participated in these IF stories?  (Consider how you combine with the character the authors have written.)

•Who is the author?  Where do you fit in?

•Who is the audience?  Where do you fit in again?

•What was the effect of the syntax required to interact with the story?  That is, how was your contribution to the story limited or opened up by the way you had to interact with the story.  What did you write?

 

Conclusions:

•Finally, think about the medium.  Draw some conclusions about how it works.  What is possible or not possible with it?  What is its value?  What can it teach us?  About writing or how we think about who we are?

•What is Identity Tourism?  What happened when you wrote in this environment?  What do electronic environments offer us?

•What connections can you make to our readings?

•How did you perform an identity as text?  What identity?  What kind of text?

 All Roads

This was my first time with IF. I found it kind of difficult at first until I started thinking about it like a video game. In a lot of my games, Amnesia: the dark decent for example, I was at times confused on what to do to advance in the plot. This experience was the same for the IF, I often found myself saying “okay what is in this place or what do I have that will work here?” So after thinking about it like that the medium was not so difficult.

The story I chose to play through was All Roads by John Ingold. The story got my attention because of its genre and as well as the setting. I didn`t get too far since I continued to get stuck, but even though I did not get far I still was deeply invested in the story. This do to the fact that the first thing I had to overcome was death. The character I was put in was going to be hanged. I was already panicked and was trying to do anything to escape; each move I failed in made the clock tower chime to signal my death. From the story I got so far I may have been chosen to hang for a crime. Many of the people who were in the crowed to watch me hang said I was covered in blood, though I am not sure what I may have done. Once I escaped the rope I found myself in a room and this is where I get stuck, only with a third person narrating what I was doing.

In order to figure out the plot I opened up another tab and looked up the directions. With only a few word choices to input I was still unclear on what to do. I think also is a difficult process because I am thinking about what I would do to escape instead of what the author had in mind. So there is a conflict of thoughts and personal traits, so I had to try to think like a different person. Even though I had to do this I found it very interesting and fun.

 

Wed Lab Activity(Sep, 7 2011)

 Activity 1

 

Brainstorm a list of 3-5 things you love.  That you think you could write about all semester.  That other people need to know.  That transform and fill your world.  That you want to take and transform.  What things fill up your world?  What world do you want to build on your blog?

• Anime- I have been watching Japanese cartoons ever since I was little and have always wanted to create memorable characters like the ones I saw.

 

• Art- Anime style is my preference but I love all kinds. After all it is a great form of human expression.

 

• Video games- Another hobby of mine that has been with me since age 2. I have always been fascinated by the character, stories, art, music and technological advances.

 

• Culture- I love all cultures and find them interesting.

 

Activity 2

 

Follow one or two of the links listed under “Other Planets” on the right side of Interstellar Sprawl, look at our fellow 104 class blogs Gateways and Caravanserai, or follow their links too.  Take a bit of time to read through some of these interconnected blogs and websites.  Then write about what you find.  Try to write about one or two specific websites and any particular posts that catch your attention.

 

Caravanserai:

 

The first thing that attracted my attention was the alterations to the photo using the red marker. The markings brought the man’s features I might have not looked at more closely. This is the artist goal, but some think such alterations are unethical to art, which was the main topic of the article. I am undecided on the topic but I do feel if the subject matter is viewed by a younger audience they should have a positive influence. So for me the touch ups done to photos of models is unethical, but that is just one girl opinion.

 

Activity 3

Now, find a blog or website that relates to one of your interests.  Search Google or follow a chain of links.  Your mission here is simply to find something interesting relating to one of your topics from activity 1.  Read the website for a while.  Have fun here — if you don’t like reading about it now, you likely will not enjoy reading about it for the whole semester.  So find something you enjoy!  Get lost online.

Then return and write about what you found.  What’s out there?  What did you find that surprised or compelled you?  What did you find exciting?  Strange?  What couldn’t you find?  Can you see your voice and blog joining the others you found online?

 

http://www.deviantart.com/

 

Deviant art is a website where people can post art of all kinds and use tutorials to build their skills. I am a member of it and use it as a reference for my anime style. Many artists like myself look for reference pictures to help them study the body or as a base for a drawing. Also seeing others amazing skills and talents inspire me and makes me want to draw!

I also go to a blog on Tumblr to talk and share art with others, but there is a lot of porn on there lol. So I thought it wise not to share that link.