Ten Books I'd Like to Read

• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
• The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
• Blindness by Jose Saramago
• Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King
• And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

The Medium is the Massage

This piece represents my view of the media because I think people are starting to be controlled by what they see on the media and are believing everything that they hear or see online or on TV, blind to the truth and reality, similar to robots. More and more people are using their phones as their only source of information, and don't even take the time to look up from their phones. They are following the leader, that being the media, and are loosing the sense of who they really are.

Curate Yourself: Michael Jackson

This week, I decided to curate Michael Jackson, or popularly once known as "The King of Pop", one of my favorite artists who unfortunately passed away about 8 years ago. The reason I chose to talk about Michael Jackson is because despite being an amazing artist, he was very misunderstood by so many people. Michael Jackson, born in 1958, was pop singer who started out his career as a child star in the famous band The Jackson 5 with his brothers. The most classic, recognizable songs sang by The Jackson 5 include I Want You Back, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause, and my personal favorite, I'll Be There. This group was no doubt a success, however, years later, the group broke up, allowing Michael Jackson to become a solo artist. During his career, he was an international pop icon, known all around the world as The King of Pop. Some of his most famous songs include Thriller, Billie Jean, and The Man in the Mirror. 

Due to his career, Michael Jackson missed out on the most important years of his life, his childhood. This is one of the reasons why I feel like he was so misunderstood. People have a way of taking what the media puts out there and turning it into a negative situation. For example, with his Neverland Ranch in his backyard and always inviting children over to play, people took this as if he was a predator or molester, when in fact all he was trying to do was fulfill his childhood dreams that he was never able to have. Some of these children were also sink, and Michael was just trying to give them a day of excitement and joy in order to forget about their illnesses for a little. He also never really had friends as a kid due to his busy schedule and always having to rehearse with his brothers, and when that group ended, he immediately went on to be a solo artist, giving him even less time to have a life. His actions were never malicious or perverted, he just wanted to have the fun that he was ripped away from. Michael Jackson was always a kid at heart, even after he grew up and had kids of his own; it is very clear and apparent during some of his interviews. Being denied of your childhood is a very painful experience, and couple that with being beaten by your father, it is not hard to see why when he got the chance to be a kid, he took it and ran with it. Of course it is strange to see a grown man playing with younger kids, and that is something that made many people uncomfortable. However, just because a person is uncomfortable by someone else's actions, doesn't mean that that person's actions are necessarily wrong -- just look at homophobia and transphobia today.

The way Michael Jackson looked also made him become attacked by the general public. Over the years, just after he became a teenager, Michael Jackson developed a condition called vitiligo, which is a pigment disorder that cause your skin to loose its pigment in various places. With the help of nurses and doctors, all Michael did was even out the patches, which is something many people with vitiligo do. People didn't understand this condition, and the only way they could really process this was to come up with rumors that he was bleaching his skin. They also made fun of the way his nose looked and how his faced changed over the years. I feel like this is a form of bullying, yet because he was a celebrity, no one really took it as that, which is really unfortunate. Despite all of the negativity surrounding his life, including his trial, he still was able to smile and try to enjoy his life the best he can. Towards the end of his life, he was even about to go on his last tour called "This Is It", at 50 years old. His lively spirit and young-at-heart attitude is what made him one of my ultimate favorite artists, not even mentioning his brilliant music and works of art.

I feel like this is important for other people to view his interviews and listen to his music because of the impact he had on people's lives and this culture. His music was not only rhythmic and great to listen to, it also had meaning and a story behind it. Take his song The Man in the Mirror, for example. This song talks about change in the world and how before you can make a change in the world, you have to start with the man in the mirror and make a change in yourself first. This song is powerful and goes deeper than just being a catchy tune or a song that talks about drugs, guns, or sex, which is one of the reasons why I think people should really listen to his music if they haven't, or continue to listen to his music if they have and let his legacy continue on. I believe he was a pure soul and an amazing entertainer who's life got turned upside down because of the media, which is becoming a much bigger deal these days.

Here is a link to one of his interviews with Oprah Winfrey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbItFJJPPmA

Look Out, The Saints Are Coming Through

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

I found this story to be a bit confusing. To me, it felt like there were many different ideas and backstories that didn't really flow together that well, and it didn't feel like one cohesive story. I found it hard to connect with the story and characters because it seemed like it kept jumping around to different moments in time and it was hard to really follow the sequence of events. In my opinion, it felt like a jumbled mess. Once you started getting into the story and that particular scene trying to figure out what exactly is going on, it almost immediately jumps to a different mood or feeling, and an entirely different moment in time, which makes this story hard to be relatable. I wouldn't necessarily want to read this story again, and I found it hard to see why it related to this week's topic, besides the fact that it mentioned Bob Dylan only a few times. I guess I could appreciate the relationship between the two main characters because there is some sort of truth that is similar to the way couples interact in today's world.

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

In all honesty, I don't feel like I connected with this story at all because of the fact that it was hard to read and I didn't like it too much. This story didn't provide any names to any of the characters, besides the one of Bob Dylan. However, when Bob Dylan was first introduced in the story, he was only mentioned by his last name, which if someone reading this story had no connection with this class, it would be hard for them to figure out who they were talking about at the beginning. If I had to make a connection with something at all from this story, it would probably have to be with the woman/girlfriend. She talks about hanging around and dating guys that are not on the same level as her because it makes her feel smart, which I guess is one of the most relatable things in this story. Also, the fact that she cares so much about her boyfriend and wants the best for him but doesn't want to police him and change him is something that I can perhaps see a relationship with me. She talks about the struggle of never policing him because she thought that loving someone meant loving them at their worst and not minding their excesses, which is something that I sometimes struggle with as well.

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

If I had to adapt this story to another medium, it would probably have to be a movie, because that is the only other way that this story would come across best. However, there would definitely have to be numerous changes for it to work on the big screen. For instance, I would make the story have a better flow and connect better between the sequence of events. This would make the idea of time passing in the story much more apparent, and it would also help the viewers connect with the characters a little better because of the fact that there is a bit more time to get to know them and to see the story actually develop. I would also show a stronger connection between the couple and develop their backstory a little further, because I feel like that would be a good foundation for the rest of the story to fall on, since this story basically revolves around them and how they interact with each other.

Game as a Medium

This week's post is about the subject of gaming as a specific medium, and how it might be considered literature. I decided to write about one of my all-time favorite game series: Sonic Adventure. The first time I played Sonic Adventure on was a Dreamcast, which brings back so many memories of my childhood. A Dreamcast is so old that it isn't even being manufactured anymore, which makes it even more nostalgic to write about it.

Sonic the Hedgehog, which is the main character in this game, is a pretty recognizable figure to any person, despite culture, age, race, or gender. This is due to the many varieties and themes of games that Sonic appears in. These games are not only limited to Sonic Adventure, but also include Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Rivals, and so many more other games. The range and variety of games of Sonic make it easy for anyone to pick a game and play and have a good time playing. Whether you like racing games (Sonic Riders), action and adventure games (Sonic Adventure), or fighting games (Sonic Rivals), you are able to choose from any type of Sonic game and be happy. Sonic games also include multiple secondary characters in the storyline, including Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, which make connecting to the game easier. It helps people relate to a different character based on their personality and how the character acts in the game. For instance, Tails is my favorite character because I can relate to him because such a great friend to Sonic and how he is always there to help him when in need. I also love Tails' childlike personality and how lively he is, and not to mention how he is able to propel with his tail.

The way Sonic also appeals to a wide range of age groups is another reason why this is my favorite game, because it means that no matter how old I get, I will still find a valuable place in my heart for Sonic. The older generation who grew up with the original Sonic can still find joy in playing the classic games on the vintage play-sets, such as the Dreamcast, while younger generations can find excitement with playing newer versions of the game on either the X-box or Playstation.

I feel like this game might be considered literature because of the different stories it has. You may not have to actually read anything on the screen while playing the game besides subtitles when the characters speak to each other; however, the way a person imagines the story in their head when they're reading, sort of like their own personal movie, is similar to what you see on the screen when playing. The game is a story in itself, however, different from a book or novel, the player is basically in control of the story in the game.

Stranger Things

For this week, I decided to binge watch Stranger Things on Netflix for the first time. I have always heard everyone talking about it and how good it was, but I never got around to watching it, until this weekend.

After just a few minutes into the first episode, I was immediately intrigued and hooked onto this series. It was something I couldn't take my eyes away from, and I ended up watching all eight episodes in just a day and a half. Needless to say, I was sad when it ended, but not disappointed in watching it in the least. For someone who loves watching syfy-horror films, this show exceeded my expectations and lived up to all of the hype that it got. From the very first scene, the viewer is immediately drawn in due to the mystery of it all and wants to figure out what exactly is going on. 

I feel like one of the reasons this show has done so well is due to how well written each character is. The viewer is really able to sympathize with each character and is able to relate with one or another in some way. Mainly focusing on the storyline of three boys coming together to find their lost friend, this show allows us to connect with each person and come to really care about their character. It shows how far a group of friends will go to save one of their own, no matter the dangers that may lie ahead. This is the same with the mother of the lost boy. It is easy to sympathize with her because it is unimaginable the pain she is going through searching for her son, and how no one believed her when she says he is alive. Feeling lost and alone, and so heartbreakingly worried about her son really came through in an amazing way and helped me to want her to get her son back.

The nostalgia of this show is also something that set this apart from other shows that are currently airing. It is based in either the 70s or 80s, and accurately depicts the activities and outfits that were used back then, such as the game Dungeons and Dragons and flare jeans. The color quality used in this show also helped to really get the time period across, because the colors were somewhat hazy and muted.

This show also featured a lot of misunderstood people, which made it that much more relatable. Will's mother knew her son was alive and tried to get other people to believe her, yet she was left as being out of her mind and in denial over her son's death. Her oldest son, Johnathan, was also very misunderstood, especially in the high school world. No matter the time period, there are always bullies in high school who rather pick on and make fun of someone rather than get to know that person, and unfortunately, Johnathan, along with Will's three best friends, were victims to that. Fortunately, as it turns out, nice guys don't always have to finish last, and seeing unlikely friendships form during this show was really nice and made this show less depressing. Finally, my favorite character, Eleven, was also extremely misunderstood. She never really had the chance at a normal life, and even though it wasn't her fault, she was often blamed for it. However, I loved the relationship between her and Mike, and seeing the friendship and trust grow stronger as the story developed. It was extremely sad how it ended, and I even shed a tear seeing how hurt everyone was when she saved the day. However, Eleven was finally shown as the amazing little girl she was, and it was nice to see how much everyone would miss her.

The world building of this show was also done well. It made me feel apart of that world, and weary of ever going to the 'upside down', which was portrayed in a great, yet scary, way. The way everything was set up made me fall in love with this show, and it kept me wanting to watch every episode until it was over. I am looking forward for when the next season comes out, and I would recommend this show to anyone looking for an amazing binge-worthy series.

Asterios Polyp

For this week's post, I decided to read Asterios Polyp, a graphic novel written by David Mazzucchelli. This was my first time really reading a graphic novels, so I didn't really know what to expect, besides it being similar to a comic. I'm not that into reading comic books, however, I do know how they are set up and what they look like in terms of image style and text layout, so I did have an idea of what to compare this novel to. 

The overall style of this book is very sketchy, with a main color palette of blue, purple, and an accent of yellow, with the text being a secondary object compared to the images. In fact, many of the pages are often devoid of text, leaving the drawings to tell the story for you, which is very easy to do because the author/artist is extremely detailed in his work. When text is introduced in the scene, it usually fits perfectly with that character's personality. Meaning, the actual font that is used, and even the shape of the speech bubble, is changed or manipulated into different styles for each

individual character. I feel like this helps not only distinguish who is speaking when there are multiple people in the scene, but also lets the reader imagine what these character's voices may sound like, and it makes us feel a little more connected to the characters and the storyline. When it comes to Asterios' bubble, it is always in a box form with stiff capital letters. This mirrors his personality because he isn't as loose and easy-going as other people, and it helps the readers understand him more in a much more deeper way. It's easy to read the words in order to understand who someone is as a person, but it's easier to actually get a visual idea of their personality, and I feel like Mazzucchelli hit this right on the spot. 

Comparing the way Asterios talks to the way Hana talks in the same frame, you can tell how more delicate and shy Hana is as a person. Her speech bubble is more curved and organic, and her text is also much more fluid and more feminine than Asterios. You can also see how she is often overshadowed by Asterios. Mazzucchelli does this in a very creative way that is different than regular novels. In one shot, he shows how Asterios' bubble literally blocks Hana's bubble, showing that he is interrupting her. In another scene, he shows how when Asterios talks, the spotlight which was once on Hana slowly moves toward Asterios, and she is then left in the dark.

The way Mazzucchelli also changes the style of the characters depending on their mood is also very unique and graphically appealing. For example, there is a couple moments in this novel where Hana gets fed up with Asterios and actually gets angry. This anger engulfs her whole body image, and she ends up turning completely red and even more sketchier. This results in Asterios loosing his stiff and solid composure, and he turns into an outline of shapes that make up his body, as if he becomes empty inside when he realizes how upset he made the love of his life. At the end, seeing Hana slowly calm down and transform into her normal self and style again shows how she does love Asterios and is able to empathize with him and the way he feels about loosing his twin. I feel like Mazzucchelli does this in a way to intensify the situation and really show the readers the true emotions the characters are feeling, drawing us further into the story and connecting us deeper to their feelings.

Comparing this to a regular comic strip, it is very easy, in my opinion, to see the creative differences. Because this is a novel, it is much more descript and detailed, and it delves deeper into the story and connects the readers to the characters in a much stronger way. Also, I feel as if in comics, the actual styles of the characters don't change as much as the ones in this novel do. Of course, characters in comics visually show their emotions and actions; however, I feel like Mazzucchelli takes it one step further and really takes that concept and runs with it. In my opinion, he uses his voice in order to really connect the readers with his well developed storyline. He takes simple characters with more complex lives, and portrays it in a way that is easy to empathize with. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel, and felt like it was a nice break from my reality.