Finals on Lit. of Horror, Fantasy and Sci-Fi

I enjoy this class a lot, not only being of what the course was about, but being of the professor teaching it and his ways of teaching. This semester of being apart of this interesting class has helped me better understand the realms of the three specific genres.
Not being a big fan of Horror I definitely learned a lot about the background of the genre and what makes a story fall under the horror genre. It's not very hard to figure out what's horror and what isn't, but I think the strategy of giving us movie and book examples really help me better understand what goes where on the horror chart. I'm still not a big fan of horror, but I do really enjoy those jump scares.
Fantasy was something I was really looking forward to, because I saw on the schedule what we were going to be talking about. Lets just say I'm a huge Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings nerd and when I talk about them, I talk about them. I love the whole fantasy outlook that people have, because you have such a free range of stuff you can create with your mind. Which is why Fantasy was my personal favorite genre to discuss during this course. However, away from Harry Potter and The Hobbit I also learned a lot of different types of fantasy that's out there and how very different they are in what they discuss and characteristics about them.
Sci-Fi was my second favorite topic to discuss because who doesn't like talking about cool future stuff and Star Wars? However, away from that I, as like the rest of the genres, learned a lot about this genre. Besides Star Wars I don't really watch a lot of Sci-Fi movies, unless there of the SyFy channel then I'll watch them. I did learn a lot thought about this specific genre and what different people consider Sci-Fi and how they put their own little twist on certain stuff.
David taught this course very well and I'm very glad I took it and didn't skip past it. I learned a lot about genres I thought I already knew quite a bit about. I also enjoyed David's way of teaching, I discussed it with him and I thought it was such as great and interesting way to teach a class and keep them engaged with what you're teaching.

The Future

When I was younger I wanted to be a veterinarian (as kids normally do), that's it, that's what I wanted to be. I loved animals of all kinds, but tolerated the bugs, amphibians and such so what better thing to do than to help them myself! Great idea huh? Well later on I realized what veterinarians actually did, other that being around animals, loving them and caring for them. The caring part it where I didn't imagine as much, by that I mean I didn't think they had to cut them to see inside or deal with their blood or any kinds of that matter. Being the last one on earth to want to open up a dog regardless of if I'd help them or not I retreated back to the drawing board on what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Eventually transitioning from middle school to high school I realized that I enjoy taking photos, I loved cameras as well. After shooting some interesting photos with my low quality phone camera I came to a conclusion on what I wanted to do for a life to come. Photography was dead bolted in my mind as a career and there was no stopping it no matter how many people said I should just do it as a hobby because there's no money for it. My senior year of high school I applied to in my opinion the greatest art school ever, Ringling College of Art and Design. After what seemed like forever of waiting, I finally got an acceptance letter. A couple year forward and I am currently a Sophomore at the greatest art school ever.

So my dreams for the future are pretty high taken Ringling has a very high rate of students getting jobs when they graduate. I'm not sure what I want to do specifically for a career, but I know photography will be apart of it. I'm nervous for the near near future of being an almost college graduate. Not only because that means I have to start paying my student loans, but because I know that being a true true adult is near for me. I hope to accomplish a lot in terms of my photography these next couple years of college I have. Ringling will make sure I get some job in the end of my years of being at this school and I'm semi ready for that. Excited, nervous and wanting to cry a bit is how I feel about my future of being a photographer.

Satire and Sci-Fi Response

Without even reading about it, I watched Idiocracy for this theme before class. I think it hit the nail right on the head on where we as a state are coming to in the now near future. The whole thought of having food that's given to you by a machine and in the end gives you nothing, having a toilet as your sitting chair, being completely oblivious to the obvious and so much more is what we have to look forward to in this future of ours. We're getting stupider by the second with little things here and there that come into trend now. I noticed that during the movie there was one thing that they still didn't have that we've been wanting since Back to the Future came out. That one thing was flying vehicles and boards, which is pretty sad considering all this time has gone by and there's absolutely nothing that's happened in terms of technology growth. Technology is what people today have been wanting to improve for a long time now, so it's kind of a thought to look upon. Will we ever create the things we've wanted since the beginning into a reality, and improve our living situations so we don't end up like this movie or will we just continue to drive in a circle and do nothing about it? I truly believe that if we keep up this nonsense we call "improving our living", we're going to be a bunch of idiots just like in Idiocracy.

Literary Speculation Response

I ended up reading all of the  Cosmicomics readings instead of just reading the one that was requested. However, I believe these stories are all bizarre in a very interesting way. There is this whole idea of something we wouldn't think of being possible to live in and then they make it a reality in these stories. It's a sense of just accepting a sense of story telling that we just kind of accept? I do think that these stories are very out of the zone of story telling as well. By that I mean it's something that way out there that is awesome! Now I'm not speaking of just one specific story in Cosmiconics, I'm talking about all of them from "The Distance to the Moon" to "The Spiral". They're all a sense of where you have to think that "is this possible" and "if it did happen would that actually happen?".
I think it's cool and fascinating to not have a specific genre to your story or stories. A sense of imagination and "suspense" is what they leave you with. Also I think there's a hit of "rebelion" in this no genre thing, because it's like a new era of stories to not have a genre.

Diverse Position Science Fiction Response (BloodChild Response)

1.) What is your reaction to the text we just read?

I think the whole story was both interesting and odd, interesting because of the context and the subject matter and odd because of the way it was written. Talking about the idea of human and a type of other being which is alway interesting in stories. I think that is why I was interested in this story, because of the other being ideas. Also I got a sense of diversity or "racism" (probably too harsh of a word), but it shows different sides and the "battles" of them as well.

2.) What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the story with which you were able to connect.

Something I enjoy about stories is being able to connect to it, but I think that's what makes a good story as well. Connection wise with this story, I think the sense of emotion that the main character feels I suppose is what I connect to. I think Octavia Butler did a very good job at building up the emotion and getting the reader to connect and grow with it as well. Which is kind of where I connect to it, I feel like my emotions grew with the story as I kept reading.

3.) What changes would you make to adapt this story into another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?

Since I'm very bias about photography, since I am a photography major. I this that making this story into a series of photographs would be really cool. Possibly not using all of the elements used, but using a lot of them, just ones that go with the specific subject. I'd probably want to use the existing characters, for example Gan and T'Gatoi for one of them. I want to focus on both side of the story, now just one of them. However, I'd want a consistent subject matter as well so it doesn't look like a bunch of mixed up images. 

Cyberpunk and Steampunk Response

I never really knew what Cyberpunk actually was until we really discussed it in class. However, now I understand the term and genre a lot better now. I think the whole Cyberpunk is some type of reality for the world today in a way. This type of genre reminds me of what our world it going into for the future. For example in Cyberpunk movies, shows or books there's always a sense of dirty or gritty atmosphere. The streets always seem dirty with trash or muck which is how our world is today and seems to be getting worse over time. Another example is the technology used by people in the area. It all seems so futuristic and new such like our technology and what we are designing for the future. When looking and reading this type of genre you notice the setting takes place in a very rural area such as cities like New York City. There are big neon electronic billboards everywhere that light up the city so much there is no need for street lights. So there's a lot of reality for us today in these Cyberpunk movies and books.

I believe the older Cyberpunk movies and books had the same characteristics, but the audience was very different that today's Cyberpunk audience. In older Cyberpunk everyone was so amazed with the technology used and setting, so everyone wanted and couldn't wait for the future. Now we look at them and it's almost a sense of reality for us, not everything seen of course, but most of it. Which if you ask me is pretty sad, because some of the Cyberpunk settings aren't very nice.

The Fiction of Ideas Response

This weeks readings and subject was really interesting in many different ways. I really enjoy reading books and looking videos/movies that deal with mind experiments and outcomes to those experiments. A lot of what I've read and seen deal with things such like the movie we saw "A Scanner Darkly" by Richard Linklater. The subject of drugs and what drugs can do, following some type of law that is involved. However that is not what Accelerando by Charles Stross, the reading I read for this week  was about, it was something I'm not really interested in, but still fascinated me at the same time. 

Now Accelerando was very interesting, not only because I'm not interested in this subject and it again interested me in the end. But because of the fact that it was something people have discussed, but this was discussed differently. The world basically ended, humanity had been wiped out and there is this virus. Here I think is something everyone's always wondered when talking about an apocalypse. Whether did man make this end of the world or is the world just done with our shit? I too have these thought every once in a while. And this is where the thought of what IF man actually made this happen? Which is what the mind experiment come into play with this reading and topic. People and I believe that somewhere in this hidden underground cave government scientists are creating this virus or have created a virus where these "zombie" like people come to life and now they're trying to fix everything, but somehow can't and all hell breaks loose. 

Either way, I don't think man is smart enough to experiment our own ideas, especially with drugs or viruses. I understand that they're trying to help us, but there's just a point where you just need to think of what could happen long term. For example if we make this killing virus what if it explodes or escapes and gets into the air and everyone dies? Whatever it may be I don't think we think before anything. Which is why the topic of mind experiments come into play. 

Space Opera and the New Frontier Response

I remember when Martian came out in 2011 and being so excited to read it, because I love space books and movies. Finally, when the movie came out it in 2015 was such a visually pleasing movie to watch. Not only because I already loved the book, but because in this day and age graphic effects and technology has increased so much in quality, they were able to portray the movies so well visually.

Now I think this book and movie show a lot of peoples deepest fear. Which is being stuck in space on Mars, having no contact with anyone and not knowing what to do. Now of course Mark Watney knows what he's doing because if he didn't he wouldn't be working at NASA. I think this movie shows the world what could happen in the future, which is where this movie is taken place in (year 2035). It gave us some type of fantasy as do many movies do, but I always think that these movies alway appeal to everyone in some time of way. We alway want to explore more, we have always wanted to explore more of the world and universe we live in. It's something we've been fascinated with since the beginning, always looking to the future. Now as freaky as The Martian is to us, it still shows us "what could be and happen", which is at the same time cool and scary and the same time.

Mythic Fiction and Contemporary Urban Fantasy Response

I think the book and movie Coraline was a good way to show myth with a mix of reality. I remember reading this book when I was younger and always found it fascinating and I enjoyed it very much. In 2009 when the movie was made I enjoyed the story even more, because you're able to visually see the difference between myth and the "real world".

In Coraline the story is very odd, and I think the choice to make it a claymation made it all the better for the effects. The mythic part of this movie and book reminded me of a story my grandmother told when I was younger. It was a story similar to Coraline, there's this lady that steals little kids from their families at night and makes there lives seem better. Eventually after being pampered by the lady and the people around she asks the kids to stay. Of course the kids say yes and after their response the lady steals them and their souls forever. Which is almost exactly what the myth story of Coraline.

The myth I believe is the the door that's through the wall and The Beldam pretended to be Coraline's "other mother" and makes her "other father", "other neighbors" etc. with a better life and everything. Eventually asking Coraline to stay their only if buttons were allowed to be sewn into her eyes. It's obvious where the myth world is relevant to the contemporary world. That's what the movie is about, it's this myth world coming in contact with the real world. It collides and the everything gets mixed together and everything gets confusing for a minute. Especially when you watch the movie I suppose because it's visual. However, you see these two different, but similar worlds mesh into one and eventually Coraline loses all that she knows.

At the end is where things change, the myth of this story changes. I don't mean to spoil anything, but I don't think there's a way I can explain how it changes without spoiling it. At the end Coraline enters the other world with The Beldam, now in her original form (a spider). As Coraline tries to defeat her with a game this is a representation of reinventing the myth she's come to know. By defeating The Beldam she set the ghost children's souls free and helped save her parents, along with all the other people The Beldam captured.

Regardless I believe Coraline is a really good movie and book. Obviously I'd recommend reading the book first. There's always a chilling thought of myth coming into reality. Coraline is one of those stories, which is makes this a wonderful read.

The Tale of Spiritual Education Response

I believe that Harry Potter has many lessons/challenges to show and give in the movies and the book, which is what I read for this week and topic. I love Harry Potter and I learned a lot from the stories that JK Rowling wrote. However, this topic of having to think and talk about moral issues and spiritual challenges is something interesting where I actually have to look throughout what I've read and think hard about this.
For example what I've read in terms of moral issues you learn very fast that there's a separation of magic and non-magic. I believe this is used to connect younger audiences to show a sense of "not being apart of your muggle parents". Also you learn that there's a lot of rules of magic, such as when you first meet Hagrid he notes to Harry that magic shouldn't be used outside of Hogwarts. I suppose this reason to show the "rules" so early is to show us the viewers that stuff happens too where you need rules and laws. Eventually you learn more about these rules and realize how important they are to the Wizarding World. I also supposed they show the importance to get the viewers to realize that "hey maybe rules aren't so bad"
Finally I think that it's important that JK Rowling made it to where Harry Potter is raised from a very verbally abusive family, The Dursley's. This family of 3 treats Harry terribly, which is what you come into while reading the book and after the title in the movie. Regardless of when you see it, it's almost the first thing you notice about Harry Potter in his youth. Which as much as I hate to say it, but I believe it's a very good thing that this is how he is raised. The reason being, say Harry was brought onto know when he was very young that he is some "famous wizard", who is "the boy who lived". I believe he would have been going into Hogwarts with his head up high and a big ego following him, which I believe is what young adults are used to. However, they're not used to the most important person in the story being the one who was treated like crap. I believe this choice of seen was an important one that Rowling made. Also gave the viewers a sense of "hope" I supposed, showing that "anything is possible".
I love Harry Potter it is such a wonderful book and movie in so many reasons. This story is full of moral lessons for everyone regardless of who you are. Which is what JK Rowling wanted everyone to feel like, Hogwarts is always a place you can come back to.

The Heroic Journey Response

I believe in every hero role they're not what you expect, which is what The Hobbit has in terms of the "hero". However, I also believe that The Hobbit has multiple hero roles such as Bilbo, Gandalf and Tolkien, each obviously has their own individual reason, but still a hero. I'd like to talk about Bilbo for this entry though because I feel that he has more of a hero role in The Hobbit. 
A hero in most classic hero journeys has some type of self reflection of some type which his also where you realize that the character is actually worth something and is important. For example Bilbo, someone who would never leave his hometown or go anywhere for that matter and doesn't like the unexpected. Then eventually he leave because he was to see what it'd be like on "the other side" the more adventures side. This is a time where a type of self realization is taken for Bilbo. The ring is something he uses in a heroic way to, something he would of never thought of doing. Also convincing Tolkien that he has to change his lust for gold ways, if not then it'll end badly and such.
Either way, I believe that The Hobbit shows a classic hero journey through Bilbo. By classic hero journey I mean having the most unexpected hero figure has a self realization over time. Also by helping characters along the way during his journey. All of which Bilbo showed in The Hobbit. 

Witches and Women in Genre Response

The story that I read was "Aunt Maria (Black Mariah)" which was very interesting. The only witch book/story I've ever read was Harry Potter, so reading this story was very interesting. I believe that Aunt Maria portrayed what everyone thinks a witch actually is: rude, mean and manipulative. I'm not sure I enjoy this type of witch better, but it does pertain to a very popular type of witch. I get the feeling in terms of women this story shows that we're typically angry when things don't go our way. Also shows that once we have some type of "power" like Aunt Maria we manipulate everyone we meet (guys). Which personally I don't agree to, but that's what I get from this story and characters. Regardless I think Aunt Maria was very good for it being a witch story which I personally aren't into very much.

New Weird Response

Being a huge zombie fan I read The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. I first enjoyed reading this because it is a graphic novel. I’m not a big fan of reading so I try my best to find reading material that is exactly like this graphic novel. However, personally I think the word “weird” has no set definition, because it’s different for everyone. Personally I think “weird” is something that is out of the ordinary for a specific person or something that makes someone uncomfortable. For example, I find spiders gross and weird, but some enjoy spiders and don’t think they’re gross.

There are also people who enjoy the “weird”, they find it very compelling. I don’t know why exactly people enjoy the “weird”, but I have a thought that it is something like why people enjoy horror movies. People get a drive from what is weird, they enjoy the suspense of what’s going to happen I suppose or being out of the ordinary. For example, the movie watches in class today where the man and woman enjoy pain and got a drive from it. Not saying they thought it was weird, but to others it’s weird and that’s why the man and woman enjoyed it too.

Now The Walking Dead is something “weird” too, but people still enjoy watching movies and reading about them. I think the whole thought is “weird” because it’s something that isn’t today in our time. It’s something people know can possibly happen and there have been incidences where something similar has happened, but not like The Walking Dead. I think people keep watching and reading things about zombies because they know it can happen so they enjoy the idea of it actually happening by watching them. I think The Walking Dead was very interesting and weird and I love everything about Zombies because they’re weird.

Japanese Horror Response

The story Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things was very interesting to read actually. I have read some Japanese Horror Stories, but not enough to be familiar with them. However, I believe reading this gave me a perspective of what to expect when reading these types of stories. For example, what I've noticed especially in Kwaidan was that Karma was  big thing. Sort of like the saying "what comes around, goes around". Also tying into the whole Karma deal, selfish/materialistic it is known as a type of sin. To me the story was simply a ghost story, Japanese horror tends to focus more on curses involving the themes of revenge and grudges which I find very fascinating. These's a lot more honor and trust in these types of movies that often get broken in some type of way, shape or form. This also ties into the whole honor and dishonor ritual type stories and traditions. All and all this story was not a heroic Japanese story, which I enjoyed very much. 

Vampier Resoponse

I am not a very big fan of Vampire readings, but "Interview with a Vampire" was a very interesting look at Vampires. Considering that the vampires are not seen as the big ol’ monster. Also, there are a lot of movies and stories where the vampire is not really big and bad I enjoyed the way this story made the vampire seem.Another thing that I saw that I enjoyed was the language chosen.

" `You've saved her,' he whispered. `I. knew it. You left the window wide on her and her dead mother, and people passing in the street brought her here.' "

That line along with others you could almost sense a deep feeling in the words. It is almost sad and in a way heart warming. This also shows that the Vampire isn’t all that awful person that others think Vampires are.

“Interview with a Vampire” really showed me a different perspective of Vampires. Of course I’ve seen and read books where the Vampire isn’t the bad person. However, I think the way that this story was written and played out was really good in showing a unusual Vampire side.

The Gothic Response

Having it be the first time reading Frankenstein I really enjoyed that gothic novel. The one thing that really stood out to me was the language/words used in the story. In my opinion language and word choice is key in novel, especially in this Frankenstein novel. For example, in the beginning of the novel Shelley uses words such as “inexhaustible” in Chapter 1 to explain relations between his parents and himself. And “inanimate” in Chapter 5 to explain the type of body he wanted to infuse. There are many more, but the fact is, is that the language although not very hard to say still give a different feel of the moment and scene. As do many writers do however, Shelley’s use of words give the novel it’s gothic feel to it in a way.

After discussing Frankenstein, a lot more during class my understanding of Frankenstein makes a lot more sense. For example, talking about Shelley’s past life and what she’s been through. The dark and sad events that occurred during her life makes sense from what she wrote in Frankenstein. Not saying that the novel reflected her life, but I suppose you can see the relation between the novel and what she’s been through. Meaning you can sometimes notice a sense of hurt and almost sadness in the way she wrote and explained certain stuff. Also, the way she wrote with her past taking effect in her writing also showed more of a gothic feel of the novel.