Hey everybody! So this is what it has come to, is it? We are nearing the end, and our time together runs short... But enough of that! Time for blogging!
Last week, Andy or somebody made a joke about a "recommended reading list" that I took to heart and decided to put in this post. The majority (all, maybe?) would be classified as sci-fi as opposed to fantasy, but there's a good overlap in the audience so you'll probably like them anyway. So without further ado, here is a short list of books I think you should read over the summer (or whenever):
- Daemon by Daniel Suarez - An awesome near-future story about how technology is and will become more integrated into our lives. Basically MMORPG's enter reality in a way, and the results are really cool. There is a very real likelihood you'll come away from this saying "I wish the world was really like that." This is my number one recommendation. If you read any of these here, pick up Daemon and it's sequel Freedom(tm).
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Classified as "young adult" but enjoyable by all, The Hunger Games and its two sequels are set in a distopian future where a bloodsport involving children is once again the name of the game. So if you liked Battle Royale or like rooting for a charismatic and relate-able underdog or like a fantasy/scifi romp with some serious character building and more then check this out.
- Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - If you weren't in Andy's class last Fall, then you should really check this one out. It was on the syllabus for a reason. The reason? Being really good. It was to the sci-fi class what The Graveyard Book was to this one: meant for a younger audience but with adult level depth (and awesomeness). Plus, you can get it online for free. Just google it.
- World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks - Certainly the most unique book on this short list, World War Z is written as a collection of stories complied after the Zombie War has occurred. A must for anyone into zombie stories/movies.
- The Walking Dead - OK, not really reading. There is a graphic novel (or a lot of them), but I haven't had the chance to read any so I can't really recommend it. What I am recommending though, is the TV show. The first season aired last fall and is already out on DVD. This show has some serious production value, and the next season will be starting this fall. Again, if you like zombies, this is a must watch show.
Well that is the list as I can think of it now. Check some of these out, and enjoy them!
Also, Jordan, I have found something for you (stumbleupon is a beautiful thing, no?)
27 Amazing Graphic Novels For Readers New To The Genre
Not sure if you still need anything for that graphic novel class, but this is a hell of a list to get you started. It reminded me of some I've read but had forgotten (Maus, 30 Days of Night, etc.), and there are at least a couple on there I'd like to check out for the hell of it. Anyway, I hope this helps!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Henry Jenkins and Fan Culture
Hey y'all--
So last class when I was talking about my Kelly Link paper idea and how she utilizes TV in "Magic for Beginners," Andy mentioned this guy named Henry Jenkins whose writings might be useful to me.
I found his blog and have linked in the title. I'll have to check it out later, but I think he's pretty awesome already from what I've seen. (Then, I dream of making books writing critically about Japanese manga and other pop culture, and my thesis is on anime conventions, so.) I just wanted to link to him in case anyone else was interested. :)
It's Andy Day!
So last class when I was talking about my Kelly Link paper idea and how she utilizes TV in "Magic for Beginners," Andy mentioned this guy named Henry Jenkins whose writings might be useful to me.
I found his blog and have linked in the title. I'll have to check it out later, but I think he's pretty awesome already from what I've seen. (Then, I dream of making books writing critically about Japanese manga and other pop culture, and my thesis is on anime conventions, so.) I just wanted to link to him in case anyone else was interested. :)
It's Andy Day!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Guidos get ghosted
Hello everyone! I hope that lack of nonsense of the blog means that everyone is just as busy as I am right now! I just had a few points:
1. Thanks for all the help with my topic discussion thingy last week! It really helped me with my directional stuff.... so I figured that I would go ahead and ask... any more helpful mentions, etc. for my paper? I'm doing the technology in fantasy thing, esp. in Heart Shaped Box, and I'm thinking of going with a "it makes it scarier" sort of angle (because I know that made HSB scarier for me).
2. To go along with Jennifer's post, take Andy's sci-fi class if you haven't already! It's a lot of fun and pretty interesting to look at the genre in general.
Now, here is a clip of my favorite "paranormal investigators" on Ghost Adventures! (or as I like to call it: "Guidos Get Ghosted") Enjoy!! (and notice how they always manage to draw attention to their muscles "look at my arm dude" for goosebumps haha)
1. Thanks for all the help with my topic discussion thingy last week! It really helped me with my directional stuff.... so I figured that I would go ahead and ask... any more helpful mentions, etc. for my paper? I'm doing the technology in fantasy thing, esp. in Heart Shaped Box, and I'm thinking of going with a "it makes it scarier" sort of angle (because I know that made HSB scarier for me).
2. To go along with Jennifer's post, take Andy's sci-fi class if you haven't already! It's a lot of fun and pretty interesting to look at the genre in general.
Now, here is a clip of my favorite "paranormal investigators" on Ghost Adventures! (or as I like to call it: "Guidos Get Ghosted") Enjoy!! (and notice how they always manage to draw attention to their muscles "look at my arm dude" for goosebumps haha)
Friday, April 22, 2011
Mozart's Requiem, Dark and Fantastic
Performance TODAY, link is in the title.
Please consider coming out to Moody at 7:30 p.m. to hear Mozart's Requiem, one of the most widely-known, haunting choral compositions.
The thing about this requiem is it seems vastly different from others I've heard. Others are full of sadness and, always in the end, hope. Here, too, there is hope--but only after movements of sheer terror and anger. Truthfully, this requiem feels as dark and fantastic as some of the novels we've read--"Libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu! Libera eas de ore leonis!" That is, "Save the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the deep pit. Deliver them from the mouth of the lion!"
When singing this Mozart piece--his last work, left unfinished at his death and wrapped up by one of his pupils--we hear bits of odd chords and minor keys, things that feel like "gypsy music," for lack of a better term. Listen to the haunting melody of "Lacrymosa." We are told to sing with anger, as in "Dies Irae"--"Day of Wrath." We are told to sing with terror, as in "Rex Tremendae" ("King of tremendous majesty, who freely saves the worthy--save me!"). We sing with pleading and with all the hurt and confusion that we feel through Mozart's music. In the end, we ask for eternal rest and a place with the holy saints, "for You are merciful"--even on the last note, in the last phrase, when we have seemed to calm and be reassured, we remind God that He is merciful with something that is still a kind of frightened hope.
"Mozart was very angry with death," our director has told us. The School of Music chose specifically that we perform this work on Good Friday. I feel it fitting. On Good Friday we are sorrowful, repentant, perhaps fearful, perhaps a bit angry--on Good Friday is confusion, but all may resolve on Easter Sunday. Begging your pardon if you're not religious or Christian, but music is very religious to me, and that's how I see it.
And so, again, I hope you'll come hear us play and sing tonight. Major works of music have ways of being life-changing. It has happened to me before with the Brahms Requiem. I'm not sure what Mozart will bring tonight, but I know it's been stuck in my head all week. It's something that has the potential to stay with you. And hopefully we will sing well enough to leave you with a sense of awe for--something. For anything.
Please consider coming out to Moody at 7:30 p.m. to hear Mozart's Requiem, one of the most widely-known, haunting choral compositions.
The thing about this requiem is it seems vastly different from others I've heard. Others are full of sadness and, always in the end, hope. Here, too, there is hope--but only after movements of sheer terror and anger. Truthfully, this requiem feels as dark and fantastic as some of the novels we've read--"Libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu! Libera eas de ore leonis!" That is, "Save the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the deep pit. Deliver them from the mouth of the lion!"
When singing this Mozart piece--his last work, left unfinished at his death and wrapped up by one of his pupils--we hear bits of odd chords and minor keys, things that feel like "gypsy music," for lack of a better term. Listen to the haunting melody of "Lacrymosa." We are told to sing with anger, as in "Dies Irae"--"Day of Wrath." We are told to sing with terror, as in "Rex Tremendae" ("King of tremendous majesty, who freely saves the worthy--save me!"). We sing with pleading and with all the hurt and confusion that we feel through Mozart's music. In the end, we ask for eternal rest and a place with the holy saints, "for You are merciful"--even on the last note, in the last phrase, when we have seemed to calm and be reassured, we remind God that He is merciful with something that is still a kind of frightened hope.
"Mozart was very angry with death," our director has told us. The School of Music chose specifically that we perform this work on Good Friday. I feel it fitting. On Good Friday we are sorrowful, repentant, perhaps fearful, perhaps a bit angry--on Good Friday is confusion, but all may resolve on Easter Sunday. Begging your pardon if you're not religious or Christian, but music is very religious to me, and that's how I see it.
And so, again, I hope you'll come hear us play and sing tonight. Major works of music have ways of being life-changing. It has happened to me before with the Brahms Requiem. I'm not sure what Mozart will bring tonight, but I know it's been stuck in my head all week. It's something that has the potential to stay with you. And hopefully we will sing well enough to leave you with a sense of awe for--something. For anything.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Game of Thrones renewed
"After just one episode, hit-hungry HBO has renewed “Game of Thrones” for a second season.
That’s because, the pay-cable network indicated in its announcement, the first episode grossed 4.2 million viewers over multiple plays, and TV critics gave the show a lot of thumbs up."
So, seems like we will get to see book 2 played out at the least. I am super excited from this news!
Also, if you haven't seen it yet and like fantasy, go watch it!!
That’s because, the pay-cable network indicated in its announcement, the first episode grossed 4.2 million viewers over multiple plays, and TV critics gave the show a lot of thumbs up."
So, seems like we will get to see book 2 played out at the least. I am super excited from this news!
Also, if you haven't seen it yet and like fantasy, go watch it!!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Paper 2 ideas
I'm having alot of trouble this time around thinking of a good topic for this paper. I kinda wanted to do something about The Graveyard Book, but seeing as quite a few other people in class will be and I don't even have a starting point, I figure I'd just go with something else. I've also been considering working with some of Kelly Link's work or maybe the The Shadow Year, but I haven't been able to think of a thesis for either of these as of yet. I've been a huge Simpsons fan for years, and that part of me really wants to do some sort of comparison between Under the Dome and The Simpsons Movie, but I don't have a clear thesis for that yet either. Anyone have any thoughts?
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