Final Project - Stumped for Ideas :/

So I'm not entirely sure what I'd like to do for my final project... Went into this week thinking I could make a graphic novel, but the more thought I put into it, the harder it seemed... And ultimately I'm just not sure what else will work! Hopefully I can set my mind on just one idea, but let's see...

- Wooden/acrylic/silver-plated cardboard collage of some sort (not sure what I'd depict if that)

- Composition of "Traditional" and "Futuristic" gaming music (not sure if Sibelius is capable of the instruments I'd want, tho)

- Graphic novel of some sort, maybe could be pieced with composition, throwing together "Old/New" (but I don't know if I can get the props I want to use D:)

- Piece by piece comic, simpler than novel, done in wood or some simpler material

- Photo collection of some sort (need to figure out what makes it sci-fi exactly)

Hopefully one of these sounds good later on... ;~;

Dance Dance Revolution - Comment on pages 33-34

I'm sure Jenn and Terrence will talk more about this on their blogs, but the 5th section of last night's reading was very descriptive. We learn a lot about what our main tour guide has seen and experienced in her life. At first, all seems nice and peaceful, she talks about how her life is all well... but eventually, that shifts entirely in the other direction, and her and everyone else's lives are filled with pain and suffering.  ( :( )

Everything Before Us - Another Note on EI Divisions

So I started reading over my notes, and was suddenly reminded of a point that really just bothered me. Right after Ben is rejected by the 80+ date, his friend goes on and tells him he's sorry. Now, I was kinda hoping for something more supportive, but his "supportiveness" ends up being more of a bragging/blaming rant. 

His friend goes on about how "[Ben's] an adult now, [and] need[s]to fix [his] score”. He then goes on to remind Ben of how he and his wife came to be 90+, because they knew EXACTLY WHAT WAS RIGHT and waited to date and WORKED THEIR WAY UP TO THE TOP and NOW THEY SHOVE IT ALL IN HIS FACE. 

Like, thanks dude, I totally need to know how great you are now. It's nice to know that even though I've worked my butt off for this job, I can't get it because apparently I DIDN'T WORK MY WAY UP TO THE TOP so now I suck because my last romantic relationship failed. Yeah, it's all my fault. Thanks for reminding me, man. 

IT'S LIKE RACISM/CLASSISM/OTHER ISMS BUT WITH SCORES AND IT MAKES ME SO MAD UUUUUUUUUUGH

(Sorry for that, it just got me kind of riled up D: )

Everything Before Us - EIs, a New Ploy for Splitting Humankind

In Everything Before Us, we are introduced to a world where everyone is categorized and ranked by their EL scores, projections of how well they can handle and maintain romantic relationships. On their own, they might not seem like much in our world, but when you realize that everyone's life depends on their score, things get a little intense. Hard-working people who have strived for the greatest to learn all they can and be an amazing candidate for a job can get rejected, or even lose their job if they have too low a score or develop a lower one. Bank loans, workplaces, living spaces, even things as simple as bars are divided by EI scores.

At the beginning of the movie, we see Ben working hard to get a job, but with his score so low, he can't. His friend tries to set him up with a high EI scored partner, but as soon as she knew he wasn't very high, she backed out of the date set-up, admitting "she'd never have anything to do with a sub-40".

Once Ben has gotten his life "back together", he goes to an EI 80+ bar, and meets Ana there. Originally, she'd planned drink with her friends, but "they're a bunch of sub-40's anyways, so what would [she] do there?"

Constantly throughout the movie, we are reminded that people with low EI scores can't do anything, and are judged for having low scores... And much like class, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and so many other determiners, it's scary to see how a single name or number can change a person's life entirely...

Dance Dance Revolution - A Multitude of Languages

So far in Dance Dance Revolution, we've learned about how this new desert land is home to a language. However, it's not just any language, it's a combination of several others built into one, constantly developing as new people with different languages enter this region. At first, the narrator of the story gives us a few translations, so we know more or less how to read this book, but once we're actually thrown into the poetic accounts, things blow up pretty quickly. 

As a kid, I always dreamed of being able to learn many different languages so I could "talk to everyone in the world". With my knowledge I'd be able to break a lot of boundaries. At about the same time, I'd heard about the concept of secret codes, and how they could function in between languages, and that thought fascinated me. Determined, I hoped to be one of those people writing those codes and sending them off (don't really know where to, since I didn't wanna go into secret agencies or anything). 

The idea still seems cool now, but without a lot of knowledge on languages, there are some segments where I'm entirely left in the dark. I'm able to grasp most of what the guides are talking about, but when they talk in or mention an onomatopoetic phrase in a language I haven't studied, I get really lost. It's kind of scary, but also really interesting, because it keeps me wanting to learn more. In some future, I hope to read through this, and know exactly what all these words and phrases mean all combined into one.  

On Such a Full Sea - What Story are "We" Telling?

On page 243, the unnamed narrator notes that when telling Fan's (or anyone) story, details always run the risk of being changed slightly, as every storyteller can add their own little imprint to their version. With this in mind, I find it interesting that the narrator talks so extravagantly about 6's final work of art in such an elegant manner, but then also notes on page 295 that it would've been nice if Fan could see it. Which begs the question: Who is telling this story? Fan wasn't there to see 6's last piece, so who could have possibly known that she drew it out? Maybe it's an extra detail added in one of the many retellings of Fan's story? 

On Such a Full Sea - Murals and Stained Glass

As I was reading through the mural scenes, I couldn't help but feel reminded of the stained glass windows you'd typically see in churches. Typically, these stained glass pieces will feature a religious icon (maybe Jesus, Mary, some saints, disciples, etc.), in the context of what we know of their lives. A few depict hopeful scenes, like Jesus' return, or important icons rising up to heaven. As Mr. Kim had us read over the mural passage again, it was interesting to see how much they connected. The mural is pretty much a summation of these girls' lives, and even what some of their hopes and aspirations will be. Both are in a very elegant style, and it's this beauty that gives these pieces power. 

On Such A Full Sea - Map....? D:

On Such a Full Sea – Fan’s Sacrifice

Fan has been through quite a lot in these last few chapters, and it feels like she’s risked her life so much, to the point where she pretty much is (to some degree) giving up her freedom to help Quig’s family. She has single-handedly managed to save this troupe from near death with the acrobatic family of doom, saved them from a presumably slow and painful death by poison, and as of our most recent chapter read, given herself up to the Quig’s family friend, agreeing to work as a servant.

From early on, Loreen makes Fan aware that she’s going to be necessary for something. Loreen continues being really mean and just plain terrible to Fan, especially as she approaches her near-death experience. It isn’t until after Fan saves her that Loreen warms up to her. We never do really get an explicit sense of whether Loreen does like Fan or not, though. Could it be that Loreen just wanted to be cold so that Fan wouldn’t be emotionally perturbed?

Meanwhile, Quig has been the complete opposite of Loreen, always watching over Fan, nursing her back to health, telling her about his past, and so much more. There was definitely a strong connection that developed with these exchanges. Maybe that’s why Quig seems so off and out of character as Fan departs. He’s developed a strong connection with Fan, and yet, he knows that he;s going to have to abandon her if he wants to help his own. He can’t face Fan after all that’s happened, and it hurts even more as this is probably the last time they’ll ever see each other again.

I can’t help but wonder how Fan feels about all of this? The way the narrative is told, we get bits and pieces (cut off since we’re being introduced to the new family and all), but I’d really like to delve deep into Fan’s thoughts and hear her narrative.

On Such a Full Sea – B-Mor Needs More Motivation

I’ve talked about it a bit on other people’s English class blog posts, but B-Mor’s citizens really have to strive if they ever hope to escape their predestined lives of work. In these new chapters, we’re finally given more insight into other charter lives: from a very early age, children are essentially trained and prepared to be exceptional. As adults know that their performance on future exams will quite literally decide their careers and lives, they only want the best for their children. So after a rigorous schooling regimen for… pretty much all of their lives, they take these exams when they’re 18. Some (those who don’t do very well I think) get the opportunity to take it again, but that’s it. All that prep is either made or broken by these tests.

… And that’s just the charters! B-Mor doesn’t really have the luxury of preparedness. They are a working people, and most don’t prepare to leave these lives. On the off chance that someone might want to leave, though, they don’t get the preparedness (well, any really) that the charter kids do. The kids must study on their own, and take these exams when they’re 12 rather than when they’re 18 (I don’t really know what I want to do with my life, so how can they expect a 12 year old to?!). And, once they’ve taken this, they need to be in the top 2% of all charter scores to be considered for employment elsewhere. TOP. 2. OF. THE. WORLD. 

The amount of effort that would need to go into that would be just incredible on its own, but having to be the best of the best in a place that doesn’t even give you a chance to actively prepare? That’s intense! Too intense… With an environment like this, there isn’t really a push for B-Mor’s citizens to try different lifestyles and escape into the larger world. Working, working, working, it’s as if there’s nothing else that these people can do. There’s no reason to move on ahead if all that one can do is work. And those that do want to leave can only hope and study on their own to escape their monotonous lifestyles. 

On Such a Full Sea - Being More in B-Mor

B-Mor holds a very powerful meaning in Chang-Rae Lee's "On Such a Full Sea". Located in the area that was once Baltimore, the people of this area strive to give it their all. They work hard to get ahead in life, especially with what little their people have. In a world where everything has fallen, the people of B-Mor strive to be more, and work towards some ideal of prosperity. They work both as individuals and as one big team, working for the better of the community. We even see some like Ruby sacrifice themselves in order not to be a burden, wanting to help the rest get ahead.