Where I was: I've been working on the final touches of the "Poetry Maze". (Hyperlinking the multiple paths, hyperlinking the videos as a congrats slide, inserting music).
Where I am now: I tried to email the project to Dr. Nelson, but it's not working. It's probably because it's a big powerpoint. I tried posting it onto this blog, and created a google site for presenting tomorrow. The last resort is to bring in my laptop to present.
Abstract: "Poetry Maze" Choose Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3 at each slide attempting to fill in the blanks of the poems. The object of the game is to complete each poem by opening the random doors. There are 3 poems total. As awards for completing each poem and solving the maze, there is only 1 path to a final slide containing 3 videos. Please exit the browsers after viewing each video to return to the project in order to receive the other awards.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Blog 22: Final Project Update
Where I was: I was stuck on how much content or scenarios to include in the poetry maze. I decided to use most but not all which is smart, safe, and still gets the point across for the reader/player. They'll still have many multiple options in a poetry maze. The object of the game is to finish the poems.
Where I am now: I finished creating the scenarios for each of my poems. Next, I'll create all the slides and randomly hyperlink them to eachother. I already have found youtube videos to hyperlink as well. I'll plug them in random slides.
Where I am now: I finished creating the scenarios for each of my poems. Next, I'll create all the slides and randomly hyperlink them to eachother. I already have found youtube videos to hyperlink as well. I'll plug them in random slides.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Blog 21: Final Project Update
Where I was: After realizing I have too many multiple paths, I handwrote all the scenarios for different slides of my first poem. It counted over 100. As a trial and error exercise, this was crucial to decide if it was worth creating all these slides (considering I have 3 poems)
Where I am now: I've decided to create many multiple slides presenting each scenario of Door #1, Door #2, and Door #3 but just a few paths for the reader/player to find the poem endings. This works out for my project to still be a poetry maze and not as frustrating. I also thought that would be the perfect name as my project keeps transforming: Poetry Maze. So now, I'm in the process of completing the creation of all the multiple slides in the powerpoint. This is the time consuming part, but it'll be worth it for a cool interactive experience.
Where I am now: I've decided to create many multiple slides presenting each scenario of Door #1, Door #2, and Door #3 but just a few paths for the reader/player to find the poem endings. This works out for my project to still be a poetry maze and not as frustrating. I also thought that would be the perfect name as my project keeps transforming: Poetry Maze. So now, I'm in the process of completing the creation of all the multiple slides in the powerpoint. This is the time consuming part, but it'll be worth it for a cool interactive experience.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Blog 20: Final Project Update
Where I was: It's just been time consuming for a little while now. I have all the content and have been plugging in all the multiple paths.
Where I am now: I realized I have a ton of multiple paths. This poetry project is more like a maze which isn't a bad thing. It might be frustrating for readers/players, reminding me of 12 Blue. I'm basically still plugging in all the multiple paths for Door #1, #2, and #3 on each slide. I might end up with over 100 hundred slides. I planned on inserting the music last so I'll know how long it should be, but since I have never-ending multiple paths, I might just find a few songs to get started with in the meantime.
Where I am now: I realized I have a ton of multiple paths. This poetry project is more like a maze which isn't a bad thing. It might be frustrating for readers/players, reminding me of 12 Blue. I'm basically still plugging in all the multiple paths for Door #1, #2, and #3 on each slide. I might end up with over 100 hundred slides. I planned on inserting the music last so I'll know how long it should be, but since I have never-ending multiple paths, I might just find a few songs to get started with in the meantime.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Blog 19: Final Project Update
Where I was: My poetry project has been running smooth of late. I've been working on the content of the poetry and filling in the blanks for multiple paths.
Where I am now: I have finished the content portion of the project (unless I decide to add poetry later). I have 3 separate poems with many multiple paths as "Door #1" "Door #2" and "Door #3" options for each fill in the blank. I've found youtube videos to hyperlink to for each poem. My next task is to hyperlink the multiple paths. I think the last steps for me will be to insert the videos (I'll need to see where they fit among each multiple path) and insert music lastly to see what length is necessary. Again, I might add a poem.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Blog 18: Final Project Update
Where I was: I was doing ok with the poetry. The content has been a little rough. Dr. Nelson suggested a way to create more multiple paths; to present a line each slide whereas each choice will depict their own themes. It's been getting confusing recently trying to incorporate so much. At the same time, the content has been held up I think because freedom has been missing. I originally wanted to create new poetry leaving room to fill in the blanks. Then I added my own choices as the funny.
Where I am now: I'm making yet another change. It's still poetry. It's still funny fill in the blanks. The slideshow will now be one long poem or story like the mad libs idea. I'll take Dr. Nelson's advice to have one line per slide. Now I'll still have the choices, but they'll only be shown after one is chosen.
Hence, "Door #1, Door #2, Door #3". I feel like my project was too bland before. I hope this will give some illusion. It'll definitely become longer, reminding me of 12 blue or other references with many pathways. I hope this will work out.
Where I am now: I'm making yet another change. It's still poetry. It's still funny fill in the blanks. The slideshow will now be one long poem or story like the mad libs idea. I'll take Dr. Nelson's advice to have one line per slide. Now I'll still have the choices, but they'll only be shown after one is chosen.
Hence, "Door #1, Door #2, Door #3". I feel like my project was too bland before. I hope this will give some illusion. It'll definitely become longer, reminding me of 12 blue or other references with many pathways. I hope this will work out.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Blog 17: Final Project Update
Where I was: I've been stuck since last class. I've been debating between making this poetry project about relaxation or humorous. I've had a mental block about creating new poetry to fit a nature theme or using famous poetry. The content is what has been holding me up. The concept of interactivity is still solid whereas readers/players fill in the blank into lines of poetry.
Where I am now: After periods of trial and error, I'm writing new poetry to fit the theme of nature for relaxation and decided to supply multiple choices for readers/players which are humorous. It's now looking like a satire poetry project. Ironically, satire leads to laughs which is also relaxing. So the plan is now clearer. Poetry is calming. Classical music will still be in the background to soothe the soul. Hyperlinks to youtube videos will still be available to spark the creative mind. The choices are now there to fill in the blank. And responses will give a fun kick. I've decided to use a stanza each slide. The content is on the way, but still held up. I'm working on more poetry and fill in the blank choices now.
Where I am now: After periods of trial and error, I'm writing new poetry to fit the theme of nature for relaxation and decided to supply multiple choices for readers/players which are humorous. It's now looking like a satire poetry project. Ironically, satire leads to laughs which is also relaxing. So the plan is now clearer. Poetry is calming. Classical music will still be in the background to soothe the soul. Hyperlinks to youtube videos will still be available to spark the creative mind. The choices are now there to fill in the blank. And responses will give a fun kick. I've decided to use a stanza each slide. The content is on the way, but still held up. I'm working on more poetry and fill in the blank choices now.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Blog 16: Final Project Update
Where I was: I've decided that my final project would focus on the concept of poetry. I thought of combining different features learned in class: hyperlinks, video, audio, animation, and interactivity. The project looks to be a game of fill in the blank at the same time a teaching tool to spark creativity in writing poetry. Here's how I plan to use each feature. Hyperlinks will act as clues sending readers/players to youtube videos to spark the thought process and imagination. I hope to use classical music as audio in the background to create a relaxing atmosphere. Powerpoint software animations will offer colorful transitions between lines and slides. The interactivity corresponds to a response system in which readers/players fill in the blanks amid the poem. For example, "chilling ocean water as cold as ___________"
Where I am now: What I've been looking for are ways to fulfill these features. I've found youtube videos such as the monarch butterfly and waterfalls. Fran opened me to a unique powerpoint animation while I helped her hyperlink. I've decided to structure the poetry to a stanza each slide. I have one poem in mind whereas I'm going for the theme of soothing relaxation and romance. But Fran also showed me that my idea of filling in the blank is reminiscent of a game called Mad Libs. Mad Libs is a humorous game where the object is to plug in random nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc in a story. The random end product is what's funny. I'm thinking of incorporating this as well, but my project focuses more on the journey. Either way, what I'm still missing is a response to the response. I need something to happen after readers/players enter a word whether it rhymes or not.
Where I am now: What I've been looking for are ways to fulfill these features. I've found youtube videos such as the monarch butterfly and waterfalls. Fran opened me to a unique powerpoint animation while I helped her hyperlink. I've decided to structure the poetry to a stanza each slide. I have one poem in mind whereas I'm going for the theme of soothing relaxation and romance. But Fran also showed me that my idea of filling in the blank is reminiscent of a game called Mad Libs. Mad Libs is a humorous game where the object is to plug in random nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc in a story. The random end product is what's funny. I'm thinking of incorporating this as well, but my project focuses more on the journey. Either way, what I'm still missing is a response to the response. I need something to happen after readers/players enter a word whether it rhymes or not.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Blog 15: What I like about the short projects
What I liked about the short projects was a chance for me to be creative while learning something new in technology. I became more comfortable with Blogs, Google Sites, and Powerpoint. I learned easy ways to to complete a task such as hyperlinking, embedding audio and video. It did take time to learn these easy paths which was difficult regarding the media aspect. I had a lot of technical difficulties. But that's what I expected and wanted to get out of this class. I learned the hard ways to make the paths easier for my future using electronic literature. I'd like to try poetry next. It seems fitting that I've incorporated my passions into electronic literature. My final project will be more interactive with readers/players as a creative outlet or teaching tool for imagination. I'll feature what I've learned in class up to now as well: hyperlinks, audio, video, animation, etc. I think it'll be called "Rhymin Aint Wrong".
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Blog 14: Abstract for Project 2
My project 2 is a Multimedia Ballroom Dance Lesson. There aren't many slides, but each is a significant part of learning how to dance basics in Tango, Swing, and Salsa. I incorporated audio, video, animation, images, and text to create a unique dance lesson as electronic literature. Unfortuantely, it's not online because I wasn't able to convert my powerpoint presentation into a video exactly how the slideshow presents itself. However, it better serves the readers/players to enjoy the Multimedia Ballroom Dance Lesson how it was intended: music in the background, colorful patterns to follow, characters to give a glimpse, and videos as demos.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Blog 13: Concept, Audience, Interactivity, Software for Final Project
The concept of my final project will be Poetry. I'll write my own poetry including literary elements of imagery, metaphors, etc. The audience of my final project will be the class of Eng 4081/5081 Intro to Electronic Literature. I'd like to keep it private, but if I have to I'll open it to the public. The interactivity i'm interested in featuring is a response system for readers/players. The game of coded words we played in Monday's class was intriguing. I might like to create some kind of interactivity like that into my poetry project. Maybe I can allow readers/players to enter rhyming words. I'm most likely going to use Powerpoint as the software for the final project. If not Powerpoint, then a Google Site. Whatever fits my project ideas best will be my choice.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Blog 12: Codework Features/Final Project Ideas
As for the codework features, the only thing that intrigued me is the punning. I can see myself creating codes with a sense of humor. For example, "sign.mud.fraud". Other than playful metaphors, I saw codework as confusing technology. But, there might be a way to tie this into my final project. I'm thinking of writing poetry. I'll combine the literary text of certain rhyme schemes and free verse poetry with hypertexts (maybe linking to complementary videos), color animation, interactive transitions for each word/line, classical music in the background, maybe codework to symbolize the poetic message, etc. These are my ideas so far for my final project. I feel that poetry translates well as an outlet for electronic literature.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Blog 11: Classmate Feedback on Project 2
Joe and Fran were very helpful in Monday's class. I learned from their projects and their direct advice towards my own project. The feature of time for each slide in the powerpoint presentation was brought up in Fran's interactive project. This ended up being perfect for mine as well. It makes sense for the presentation to be run on its own for a certain amount of time total and for each slide. Fran also pointed me to a powerpoint feature for the background i've been looking for. Now I can use the texture of a ballroom hardwood floor as my background for the patterns. Joe fed me some interesting technology advice regarding how to post my music and videos to my presentation. Transitions is the feature to look into. I'll try hyperlinks for music and videos. This ties into transitions as well. I can now time each background music to transition each slide. I do have 3 types of dances, so I don't want a volume war. Joe also gave me the big picture of the presentation being online either on youtube or a google site. I think i'll put it on a google site. That way I can post videos of me dancing within the video which is the rest of the presentation. Of course, this all entails more technological playing around, but I learned a lot. My classmates gave me some great direction to complete a creative interactive project 2.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Out of Order Blog 6: Brainstorming for Project 1 and Story Map
My project 1 hypertext mapped out in a presentation of an actual game. The features of hyperlinks embedded in the text made this project a hypertext. I chose random words in my versions of sports stories and questions to link to complementary youtube videos. This furthered the readers/players experience of an electronic literature.
Out of Order Blog 5: Thematic/Conceptual Focus for Project 1
My project 1 hypertext portrayed the themes of sports, trivia questions, a game atmosphere, and illusions as clues referring to links. The conceptual focus was to allow players/readers to search and learn sports history through my version of stories and embedded hyperlinks leading to the action.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Blog 10: Really map for Project 2/Intro for In Class Presentation
The Interactive E-Lit Ballroom Dance Lesson
1. Tango
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern as well as the Promenade Link
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Tango dancing
Audio-Tango background music
Images-Tango pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself
2. Salsa
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern and Cross-Body Lead
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Salsa dancing
Audio-Salsa background music
Images-Salsa pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself
3. Swing
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern and Underarm Turn
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Swing dancing
Audio-Swing background music
Images-Swing pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself
Class Presentation Intro:
Powerpoint Presentation of slides instructing patterns in the 3 dances.
Portray my use of flash and animation for each slide/dance and explain how they fit each theme.
I'm Stuck:
Posting music and videos to Powerpoint Presentation
1. Tango
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern as well as the Promenade Link
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Tango dancing
Audio-Tango background music
Images-Tango pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself
2. Salsa
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern and Cross-Body Lead
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Salsa dancing
Audio-Salsa background music
Images-Salsa pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself
3. Swing
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern and Underarm Turn
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Swing dancing
Audio-Swing background music
Images-Swing pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself
Class Presentation Intro:
Powerpoint Presentation of slides instructing patterns in the 3 dances.
Portray my use of flash and animation for each slide/dance and explain how they fit each theme.
I'm Stuck:
Posting music and videos to Powerpoint Presentation
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Blog 9: Project 2 Map
My Project 2 will map out ballroom dance instruction as an interactive powerpoint slideshow.
The main dances focused on will be Tango, Salsa, and Swing.
My goal is to offer a fun atmosphere while giving knowledge in the teaching form of dominately electronic aids, without spoken words. This entails features such as video, audio, animation, attractive text, all to clearly portray ballroom dancing. So readers/players will learn where and how to move our feet as well as our bodies.
Map:
1. Tango. Basic pattern. Promenade Link.
2. Salsa. Basic pattern. Cross-Body Lead.
3. Swing. Basic pattern. Underarm Turn.
The main dances focused on will be Tango, Salsa, and Swing.
My goal is to offer a fun atmosphere while giving knowledge in the teaching form of dominately electronic aids, without spoken words. This entails features such as video, audio, animation, attractive text, all to clearly portray ballroom dancing. So readers/players will learn where and how to move our feet as well as our bodies.
Map:
1. Tango. Basic pattern. Promenade Link.
2. Salsa. Basic pattern. Cross-Body Lead.
3. Swing. Basic pattern. Underarm Turn.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Blog 8: Brainstorming for Project 2
How I plan to meet each requirement for Project 2 is to utilize digital literature, audio, animation, flash, and video in a PowerPoint presentation of an Interactive Dance Lesson. Words will dance offering instructions as digital literature. Music as audio will be playing in the background. Depending on what style of dance taught, I'll see what I can find for music. I'm thinking of incorporating each genre of ballroom
(Smooth ex. Waltz, Foxtrot, or Tango. Rhythym. ex. Swing or Hustle. Latin ex. Salsa, Rumba, or Merengue) Images of footsteps will follow the dancing words as part of the instruction and animation. They'll be certain transitions between dance or pattern sliding in and out for the flash feature. I might embed my own videos of dancing various styles and patters. These features will prove to be a great dance lesson.
(Smooth ex. Waltz, Foxtrot, or Tango. Rhythym. ex. Swing or Hustle. Latin ex. Salsa, Rumba, or Merengue) Images of footsteps will follow the dancing words as part of the instruction and animation. They'll be certain transitions between dance or pattern sliding in and out for the flash feature. I might embed my own videos of dancing various styles and patters. These features will prove to be a great dance lesson.
JP: Pre-brainstorming for Project 2
My Project 2 will be an Interactive Dance Lesson. The main thumbnail story or theme depicted will be the stucture of dance and its room for personal expression in the structure. This ties in to the associative meaning as well whereas the structure is something to fall back on while having fun. I plan to use PowerPoint for the visual sequence. In a series of slides, the end result will become a movie presenting how to dance various ballroom styles.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Blog 7: Reflection on composing Project 1
My Project 1 Hypertext Narative entitled, "Sports Trivia: Who Am I's, When Was That, and What If's" is a fun gaming experience to test and spark readers/players sports knowledge. My text is broken up into three stages or separate games. The navigation of the hypertext is as much part of the game as the trivia questions. Links are hidden amid my texts which retell famous sports stories. These links act as rewards or clues to sports figures, settings of historic events, and controversial crossroads in sports.
I attempted to keep it simple regarding the instructions. It's pretty cut and dry for readers/players to get to the game and answer the trivia questions. I offered minimal background information in the home page for what the stages are and where they're located (in the sidebar). The most direct instructions I can illustrate are to read, think, and find the clue in the blue maze. I meant to use the smoky background as an illusion or distraction making it not so easy to play a game with "hidden" links.
As a reflection of creating Project 1, there were more challenges than I thought. Sports is what I know, but portraying a wide range of sports was tricky (soccer, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis, gymnastics, poker, college/pros). Finding the perfect youtube video to present sports figures and their stories at their best was a process. I must have checked 200 videos and used about 40. This ties in with how many questions to use. I had to find that balance of making a game not to easy or difficult with my retold stories. That's when I came to the conclusion of links that reward and help at the same time. The navigation proved to do the game justice.
Overall, it was a great experience making a hypertext narrative. I'm not very tech savvy, so this is a great opportunity to branch out and discover new tools for electronic literature. Click here to play.
I attempted to keep it simple regarding the instructions. It's pretty cut and dry for readers/players to get to the game and answer the trivia questions. I offered minimal background information in the home page for what the stages are and where they're located (in the sidebar). The most direct instructions I can illustrate are to read, think, and find the clue in the blue maze. I meant to use the smoky background as an illusion or distraction making it not so easy to play a game with "hidden" links.
As a reflection of creating Project 1, there were more challenges than I thought. Sports is what I know, but portraying a wide range of sports was tricky (soccer, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis, gymnastics, poker, college/pros). Finding the perfect youtube video to present sports figures and their stories at their best was a process. I must have checked 200 videos and used about 40. This ties in with how many questions to use. I had to find that balance of making a game not to easy or difficult with my retold stories. That's when I came to the conclusion of links that reward and help at the same time. The navigation proved to do the game justice.
Overall, it was a great experience making a hypertext narrative. I'm not very tech savvy, so this is a great opportunity to branch out and discover new tools for electronic literature. Click here to play.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
JP: What kind of experience do I want to design?
My first project will give a fun gaming experience. The design is a sports trivia. My goal is for players to enjoy the journey of my site along with learning/testing sports knowledge. I plan to envoke a competitive thought process through the navigation of the hypertext. There are 3 stages of the game:
"Who Am I?"
"When Was That?"
"What If?"
I offer retellings of famous sports stories. Each stage allows players to play and be rewarded with links to answers.
But in, "What If?", players have the option of playing out what really happened or change reality with a "fork in the road" concept.
There's a blend of power between myself as creator and players experiencing the hypertext.
"Who Am I?"
"When Was That?"
"What If?"
I offer retellings of famous sports stories. Each stage allows players to play and be rewarded with links to answers.
But in, "What If?", players have the option of playing out what really happened or change reality with a "fork in the road" concept.
There's a blend of power between myself as creator and players experiencing the hypertext.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Blog 3: 3 ideas I found interesting from E-Lit Vol. 1 to use as models for my project idea
1: Dawn by Alan Sondheim The combination of sounds, images, and text caught my eye. They all ran in a loop as the poetic texts and scenic images faded out. Mostly, I enjoyed the consistent soothing crackling sound. I like the idea of combining these features especially with the rare idea of audio. It seems attractive to have multiple senses working for my project.
2: Stud Poetry by Marko Niemi
Dr. Chandler gave some interesting insight last class to electronic literature. Mostly, it's about the navigation as a game than the story. Here was an actual video game of poker with poetry. Cards were dealt with words on them replacing Kings, Queens, Aces, and so on. I believe the purpose was to show the power in words in poetry, but I still didn't see it. I played a few hands and the same words showed up over and over. The objective of the game was obviously to win with the best five card hand, but I only won once with an "ecstasy high". I lost a lot to pairs which meant plain matches of words. So I didn't see the poetic significance. It was partly confusing, but I played the game. Regardless, the idea of an actual game is definite for my project.
3: Strings by Dan Waber
This was really cool to watch but it got old. It's a flash project or a motion picture of words. In argument 1, a black squiggly line morphed into script words "yes" or "no". In argument 2, script words "yes", "no", and "maybe" floated around eachother. My favorite was the slinky effect of "haha" growing into extra "has" and a bigger laugh. It felt like seeing a magic trick, "now you see it, now you don't", which can get old. So I plan on using motion picture as a feature but not as much and with objects rather than words moving.
Overall, every choice is to take advantage of electronic literature. My project idea is sports related. I plan on creating a sports trivia game with a combo of clues taking the parts of the features stated above. I'm thinking the clues as images, motion pictures, text, etc. will make the game interesting. I'm not sure how to structure it into a story yet, but between football, basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey, etc. it might end up as a fantasy competition blending with knowledge of the games.
2: Stud Poetry by Marko Niemi
Dr. Chandler gave some interesting insight last class to electronic literature. Mostly, it's about the navigation as a game than the story. Here was an actual video game of poker with poetry. Cards were dealt with words on them replacing Kings, Queens, Aces, and so on. I believe the purpose was to show the power in words in poetry, but I still didn't see it. I played a few hands and the same words showed up over and over. The objective of the game was obviously to win with the best five card hand, but I only won once with an "ecstasy high". I lost a lot to pairs which meant plain matches of words. So I didn't see the poetic significance. It was partly confusing, but I played the game. Regardless, the idea of an actual game is definite for my project.
3: Strings by Dan Waber
This was really cool to watch but it got old. It's a flash project or a motion picture of words. In argument 1, a black squiggly line morphed into script words "yes" or "no". In argument 2, script words "yes", "no", and "maybe" floated around eachother. My favorite was the slinky effect of "haha" growing into extra "has" and a bigger laugh. It felt like seeing a magic trick, "now you see it, now you don't", which can get old. So I plan on using motion picture as a feature but not as much and with objects rather than words moving.
Overall, every choice is to take advantage of electronic literature. My project idea is sports related. I plan on creating a sports trivia game with a combo of clues taking the parts of the features stated above. I'm thinking the clues as images, motion pictures, text, etc. will make the game interesting. I'm not sure how to structure it into a story yet, but between football, basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey, etc. it might end up as a fantasy competition blending with knowledge of the games.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
JP/Blog 2: Scenes
Scene 1: An eighteen year old male high school soccer star is on top of the world. He's just set a high school record for goals in a season and total goals through his four years as a player. His team will play in the championship for a fourth straight year. He's set to graduate with honors with a love of literature, however his future is his choice of where to play professional soccer. One of the most well known clubs in the world, England's Manchester United, offers him a contract to move and play right out of high school.
Scene 2: The championship game goes down to the wire. The score is tied at 0-0. The boy has created some chances for scores, but has ben contained overall. Late in the second half, he has the ball one on one with a last defender. He beats his man leaving him versus the goalie on a breakaway fifteen yards from the goal. The star forward peeks up. The goalie charges. He just lifts the ball up in the air as the goalie slide tackles the boy. The boy flips up and around to land flat on his back. He is writhing in pain on the wet grassy field. The soccer ball drops in front of the goal and rolls into the net for the championship winning goal. The boy is left lying motionless until the paramedics attend to him.
Scene 3: The boy lies in a hospital bed as if sleeping with open eyes. He's been here for three months. His mother sits with him in the room. A nurse comes by to help him into a wheelchair. His mother rolls him to the hospital cafeteria. They both have food at their table, but only the mother eats. He stares at his food with sad eyes and no apetite.
He is now paralyzed from the waist down because the injury suffered in his last soccer game. He suffers from depression. He reads books in his lengthy spare time at the hospital. It gives him some comfort, but he can't stand the fact that he won't be able to play the game he loves anymore, let alone stand. He's not sure what to live for. He comtemplates commiting suicide, with a stolen knife from surgery in his hand, lying in bed, but does nothing.
Scene 4: His mother visits her son in the hospital. He's sleeping in his wheelchair. She excitedy wakes him up. She hands him a letter. The boy opens his eyes to look around. He's confused and groggy. He looks down at the letter on his lap. It's from a nearby university. He opens it up and takes the folded papers out. His eyes scan the letter in front of his anxious mother. It's an academic scholarship. The boy looks up at his mother. They both smile.
If there was one scene I'd suggest readers to reread, I would say Scene 3 because it gives readers a better sense of what the boy is battling. This makes for a better sentimental conclusion.
Reflection: These four scenes came out spontaneously. I enjoy writing with spontaneity because it reflects what's real in the moment. I probably thought of this type of character because I played soccer. I didn't set records, but I was a great player until the end of high school. I didn't get seriously injured, but soccer was my goal until I realized I wasn't good enough. The challenge of not being able to do what we love is tough. I've suffered from depression before. Sometimes we need to find a new love. Literature was that for this character and he didn't even notice what it could do for him. The main thing is that he didn't quit. Neither did I. Hope keeps opportunity alive. That's the central reflection and layer of myself through these four scenes.
Scene 2: The championship game goes down to the wire. The score is tied at 0-0. The boy has created some chances for scores, but has ben contained overall. Late in the second half, he has the ball one on one with a last defender. He beats his man leaving him versus the goalie on a breakaway fifteen yards from the goal. The star forward peeks up. The goalie charges. He just lifts the ball up in the air as the goalie slide tackles the boy. The boy flips up and around to land flat on his back. He is writhing in pain on the wet grassy field. The soccer ball drops in front of the goal and rolls into the net for the championship winning goal. The boy is left lying motionless until the paramedics attend to him.
Scene 3: The boy lies in a hospital bed as if sleeping with open eyes. He's been here for three months. His mother sits with him in the room. A nurse comes by to help him into a wheelchair. His mother rolls him to the hospital cafeteria. They both have food at their table, but only the mother eats. He stares at his food with sad eyes and no apetite.
He is now paralyzed from the waist down because the injury suffered in his last soccer game. He suffers from depression. He reads books in his lengthy spare time at the hospital. It gives him some comfort, but he can't stand the fact that he won't be able to play the game he loves anymore, let alone stand. He's not sure what to live for. He comtemplates commiting suicide, with a stolen knife from surgery in his hand, lying in bed, but does nothing.
Scene 4: His mother visits her son in the hospital. He's sleeping in his wheelchair. She excitedy wakes him up. She hands him a letter. The boy opens his eyes to look around. He's confused and groggy. He looks down at the letter on his lap. It's from a nearby university. He opens it up and takes the folded papers out. His eyes scan the letter in front of his anxious mother. It's an academic scholarship. The boy looks up at his mother. They both smile.
If there was one scene I'd suggest readers to reread, I would say Scene 3 because it gives readers a better sense of what the boy is battling. This makes for a better sentimental conclusion.
Reflection: These four scenes came out spontaneously. I enjoy writing with spontaneity because it reflects what's real in the moment. I probably thought of this type of character because I played soccer. I didn't set records, but I was a great player until the end of high school. I didn't get seriously injured, but soccer was my goal until I realized I wasn't good enough. The challenge of not being able to do what we love is tough. I've suffered from depression before. Sometimes we need to find a new love. Literature was that for this character and he didn't even notice what it could do for him. The main thing is that he didn't quit. Neither did I. Hope keeps opportunity alive. That's the central reflection and layer of myself through these four scenes.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
JP/Blog 1: reading strategies/12 blue
I found 12 blue distracting to read. It felt like a blend between poetry and a video game. It obviously reads different than print text. However, I still used a close reading strategy because thats what's natural to me. For one, the colors and multiple links took away from the poetic language. But maybe that was meant as a schema theory reading strategy referring to the background of a computer screen. My eyes ended up skimming rather than reading.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
JP-Wed-Jan25
What kinds of literature I'd like to write are a few various styles and genres. First of all, my goal is to become a sports writer. I've written articles, features, and covered games from the high school, college, and pro levels. I would really like to write for ESPN the Magazine. As an sports anchor or writer, I want to write the scripts for the news and highlights. I want to try new styles of journalistic writing. It seems to me there's more freedom in magazine writing for opinions. Writing for news and highlights will give me a voice even if i'm not on TV. Of course, just to be in the sports field would be great.
I also am interested in adding experience to scriptwriting. I've written a sitcom script of a few episodes. That was my first try at comedy, and it turned out well. I really enjoy the structure of a script how it moves quickly. I like the idea of placing characters in strong spots to show their talent. I basically create the characters and the next step would be to find the people to model them. Maybe I can act as well.
Poetry comes to mind because it's always been a passion of mine. I enjoy writing spontaneously.
I also am interested in adding experience to scriptwriting. I've written a sitcom script of a few episodes. That was my first try at comedy, and it turned out well. I really enjoy the structure of a script how it moves quickly. I like the idea of placing characters in strong spots to show their talent. I basically create the characters and the next step would be to find the people to model them. Maybe I can act as well.
Poetry comes to mind because it's always been a passion of mine. I enjoy writing spontaneously.
JP-Journal Prompt
What i'd like to write about in a multimedia text is something of a sports blog. I'd like to write my thoughts and reactions to sports news, games, etc. It would look like editorials with stats.
Monday, January 23, 2012
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