"Where am I from?" This is a hard question for me to answer. I lived the majority of my life in Northern and Southern California. However Colorado is the home I found away from home. It is also the place my wife is from. We have now live in Utah for five years. Is this now home?
I like the idea of living in different places. There are things I miss about California and Colorado, and I am sure there are things I will fondly remember about Utah. However, no matter were I live my address remains the same. I have had my e-mail address hollyjolly44atyahoodotcom longer than I have lived in any one place.
I travel to many different places, whether routine or exotic I find myself constantly retreating to my personal spaces within the internet. I check my e-mail, my deviantart, IGN, and RottenTomatoes no matter where I am. These digital realms are a constant state of information I can reflect on or perhaps discuss with others on and off-line.
When I am walking around campus during a busy passing period I often like to think about how every fleeting person is another dimension. So many people, on completely different paths sharing common ground but completely distilled in unique thoughts and feelings.
I find that it is all too easy for myself to be consumed with my own space, my own way of concluding. It is only when serving others outside of my space that I realize a more complete way to understanding life.
Spencer Humphrey: I really enjoyed the quiet, meditative nature of your presentation. The 'Spirited Away' music and thoughtful quotes worked beautifully with the wide array of images you choose to represent yourself. Before your presentation I was thinking about how stunned I was that no one had really incorporated video games into their presentations. Alas…it was quite calming to see your honest use of video game imagery. I think I remember seeing an image of the cult RPG ‘Skies of Arcadia’. Very nice. Whether enjoyed on the Dreamcast or GameCube you have my respect.
I think a lot of people see video games as mere rollercoaster rides, disposable entertainment that is quickly replaced by a better version. As an undoubtedly popular form of media consumption today how do you feel about those who deny video games from being a true work of art? Is there a specific game you identify with as being intellectually challenging or spiritual?
Brenna Davidson: I really liked how openly specific you were with your ever-aging journey through the wide discourse of media. It felt very personal, and I appreciate such clarity. I wish there had been time to see the rest of your presentation. I believe I saw a glimpse of a ‘Black Swan’ poster on one of the last slides. …Have you seen that film? I loved it! Best film of the year in my own opinion.
-Nephi Hepworth
I really think you are on to something when you talk about how the world of media helps to define you as surely as any place you've lived. I have lived in the same place my whole life, but I almost feel that it is impossible to separate my physical place from my mental place. In a way I suppose that's how I see it. What I consume in the media shapes the way I think and behave so strongly that it becomes as real as my physical place, my home. Yet despite this, like you said the most important thing is how we interact with others and consequently how our place affects there. Really interesting.
ReplyDeleteAs for the video game questions hmmm... I think that I understand why many people dislike video games. Aside from having a bad rap as being addictive and destructive, the stories can be clunky and when they are translated, such as many of the Japanese Role Playing Games that I enjoy, it is often poorly done. Despite that I feel that video games have at least one advantage over other forms of media...you spend so much time in the world with the characters that it allows them to become real to the player. Its fascinating to me. As for certain video games...I don't know about challenging or spiritual, but definitely beautiful. Those that I showed, Skies of Arcadia, Chrono Trigger, Tales of Symphonia, etc...have all affected me deeply. I can see the beauty that the creators tried to imbue in their creations
I definitely understand where you're coming from on not knowing where you're from. I've moved around a lot too. What interests me most about your post, though, is the comment about how different people live in different dimensions. That is so true. I have often stopped in the middle of a busy group of people and watched the people passing me by, wondering whether they even know they're around people. It is a good thing to keep in mind that we should be doing service, lest we be lost in our individual realms, totally secluded from civilization. Great post. It got me thinking.
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