The Final Countdown

A list in no particular order of books or graphic novels in which I plan to read...should I get the time.

The Search For Wondla - Tony DiTerlizzi
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
What the Dog Saw - Malcolm Gladwell
The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell
Habibi - Craig Thompson
Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie
The Arrival - Shaun Tan
The Viewer - Shaun Tan
Through Painted Deserts - Donald Miller
Jack's Life - Douglas Gresham

Film Auteurship: Tom Tykwer

When given the opportunity to study a director, there was no contest, Tom Tykwer was the obvious choice. The themes in his films are not passive by a long shot, but instead keep the audience on the edge of their seats and maintains the level of investment throughout the entirety of the film. This is especially true in his film Cloud Atlas. The story surrounds multiple timelines with similar elements are characters - the basic idea that history will repeat itself told through multiple characters in different timelines played by the same actors. It is a fascinating, dizzying film, yet Tom manages to lead the audience through the film in a clear manor that twists are turns, but never fully loses you. This is an incredible feat. Story aside, Cloud Atlas is an amazing example of composition in every sense of the word. Between the gorgeous cinematography, lighting, transitions and compositing, there is almost too much to take in with the incredible film. 

The theme in Cloud Atlas surrounds the idea that history can repeat itself, which in turn presents the question - does what we do effect the future? The story follows six simultaneous story lines, each in a different time period that directly effects a separate timeline. The complex form of storytelling is executed excellently through the film through simple moments and relatable situations and relationships that we ourselves might encounter. 

After viewing Cloud Atlas, I chose to view one of Tom's short films, Faubourg Saint-Denis. Centered around a fading relationship, we literally watch a couple distance themselves from each other through the film. The film first establishes a routine, which we are all accustomed to in a sense with relationships, then as the story progresses through their routines they begin growing apart together still doing the same things, just further and further apart. The style of filming lends well to this short with repetitive shots and the speed of the background characters in the film all sped up as we watch our main characters fall out of love slowly.

But it is before their breakup that we get to witness their routine, which resonates with countless people and was told in such a way that anyone could relate to this story. The little moments are the ones that build into a bigger grand relationship and are captured perfectly in this film.

Tykwer's short film Epilogue, starts off with bang... when a boyfriend shoots his girlfriend as she is trying to break up with him. The storytelling in this film leaves the audience on the edge of their seat, then sink back and marvel at the ending. Tension is high throughout the entire film, even though we just watched the ending, the audience is concerned as we go back in time before the attempted break up, then in a twist the roles are switched when the girlfriend acts in self defense and protects herself. This film reminded me of elements questioned in Cloud Atlas - does what we do effect a different outcome? In this film, just like Cloud Atlas, that answer is yes and we are brought through an incredible film.

I find it interesting that Tom Tykwer has these similar themes in each of the films I viewed. Beginning the story with a bang and does not passively follow characters, but rather we are right there with them as they experience the story with just as much shock as the reader. Overall, I highly enjoyed viewing three very different, yet similar films. Tom has a complex, unique voice and I look forward to studying more of his films in the future.

Auteurship: Asterios Polyp

Following the life of Asterios Polyp, David Mazzucchelli spins a tale both familiar and far away. Told in a wonderfully paced, lyrical method, this lent incredibly well to the authors voice through the story as he reflects on Asterios' world and gives a great sense of familiarity. Each detail and element plays a significant role, whether right away or later in the story - this made a great impact and speaks to real life, acknowledging how we effect those around us and vice versa.

Mazzucchelli's voice is not concise and to the point, telling us directly what his thoughts are on a matter, but rather slow and contemplative, pondering concepts as Asterios slowly learns throughout the story. Through this voice, we are led slowly by the hand as we follow the main character, which is a very appealing type of storytelling, in my opinion. The pacing is fantastic. And I found it especially interesting how as Asterios would learn or process something, he changed visually, which was a different interesting facet of the author's voice - almost a visual voice, changing as the character does.

Reading the experience of one character from their singular perspective is an incredibly effect form of immersing readers into an author's voice... but Mazzucchelli takes it a level deeper, introducing multiple characters that are each important. Each of them are important just as are the people our lives are intertwined with. This was paired beautifully with the different styles of illustrations for different characters and how they impacted Aesterious' life and experiences.

Overall, the style of writing paired with a fantastic variety of illustration styles and storytelling makes for a very unique and easy to read story that pulls it's reader in effortlessly and softly tells its story. The world we are brought into feels very familiar because it is a visual representation of just how much our world is changing and a melting pot of people and perspectives, each undeniably important to life. 

The Donald

I chose this image simply to illustrate the fact of how incredibly void of genuine emotion and sincerity during any type of public speaking. The thought of him as the Commander and Chief of the United States is frankly appalling. 

One group is not the culmination of an entire religion.

Terrible acts are not the representation of an entire religion.

Voice in Contemporary Literature: Karen Russell

After reading Vampires in Lemon Grove and reading articles in which Karen Russell is interviewed about her writing style and choices, I have grown to love her writing style and thought pattern. Learning about her background and simple love of looking at typical things in new ways is extremely appealing to me! Her imagination shows through in the world she builds in Swamplandia!, which is a very descriptive Pulitzer finalist story about a family running a threadbare alligator theme park in the Everglades. 

Karen’s voice surrounds taking the ordinary, or know, and making normal situations remarkable or surreal. She writes with a clear voice, describing each environment and situation with great detail and an excellent use of smilies that are unexpected and fantastic. She has a great way of pulling the audience into her world and immersing the reader entirely. She doesn’t beat around the bush with her stories, but instead is completely straightforward in her storytelling, with a poignant quality that reflects the issues facing the human race. 

Though they are not necessarily her own personal reflections, Karen is able to project a variety of tones through her characters in her stories. After reading multiple interviews, she made it clear that her stories don’t necessarily reflect her own memories or experiences, but rather that something sounded interesting to write about, so she did! Simple as that. In these stories, her tone is very relatable as she does not just stick to one overarching theme or tone in her writing. She has an incredible ability to make a completely new situation feel completely relatable because of the characters clearly written feelings. When reading her character’s thoughts, it almost feels like you’re reading their diary or having an intimate conversation, which completely immerses the reader. In turn, it also feels like we’re having a conversation with the author herself.

I found Karen Russell’s writing completely enjoyable and entertaining to read and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future!

Ready Player Once: A Virtual Reality Experience

The user materializes in a bright, bustling hallway in front of a long row of hight school lockers. The user log on screen fades, reading “Identity verification successful. Welcome to the OASIS, Parzival! Login Completed: 07:53:21 OST-2.10.2045" Turning in a full circle, the user examines their surroundings, beautifully rendered in high definition three dimensions. Other users are opening their lockers with a touch and making their way into their respective classrooms before the bell tone. The user can explore the hall space, looking into classroom windows and walking the breezeway, but there is not much to explore. Turning back to their locker, a glowing green icon appears where the locker’s handle would be. Touching the icon, the locker door opens with a soft metallic click. The inside is sparsely decorated, save a picture of the cast of Monty Python dress in their Holy Grail costumes and a picture of Princess Leia posing with a blaster pistol. In the back of the locker is a solitary picture of James Halliday’s Time magazine cover. After taking in the metallic locker, two more glowing icons appear over the next class period’s textbooks. Tapping the icons, the books appear in the users inventory. Before closing the door, the user notices a small mirror, catching a glimpse of their virtual self, and the floating username ‘Wade3'. Interrupted by a warning bell and a flashing in the corner of their display, the user is informed that they have 30 minute until the start of first period. 

Using voice commands to navigate, the user walks in the direction of the World History classroom. Appearing in the classroom, other students avatars are already seated motionless with their eyes closed, engaged in phone calls or browsing the web, or logged into chat rooms. Ignoring them, the user walks to the glowing icon by their seat and sits down, with 25 minutes to spare before class begins. Tapping the engage icon, the users own eyelids shut, classroom faded as they begin scanning messages and threads when an instant message pops up:

        Aech: Top o' the morning, amigo. 

The user is prompted with a few responses, they select and continue the conversation.

        Parzival: Hola, compadre. 

        Aech: What are you up to? 

        Parzival:Just surfing the turf. You? 

        Aech: Got the Basement online. Come and hang out before school, fool. 

        Parzival: Sweet!I'll betherein a sec.

Closing the IM window, the user taps a small highlighted door icon at the edge of their display, selecting Aech’s chat room from the list of favorites and their view fades to black as they transport to Aech’s chatroom.