The Future

The Future, defined by Google: the time or a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing; time regarded as still to come.

There is so much to come in our future and even the future beyond our lives. Many good things hopefully if the right choices are made, like cure to illness, peace, preservation of our earth. But if good decisions aren't made there are many bad things to come, from the downward spiral of our ecosystem, world war, and destruction.


The outcome of the future is in our hands and we are the ones who mold it. Who knows in 40 years we could be living in a dystopian society, filled with violence and trash. It all depends on how we as people can care for our earth and treat the people on it.


I am not sure where the world will be in the future for me, but I am worried for the future of my nieces and family. They will live many years after me, and I hope that the world we know will not be destroyed in their life time. And I don't mean that aliens are going to come and invade and kill us all (which they could, I don't know for sure) but how we care for our planet and how we waste our resources is a serious issue. Animals are going extinct all around us, from pollution, poaching etc. And if we are humans continue at the rate we are going, human will be instinct at some point in our future. There is no doubt in my mind. So right now as I see it, if there is not a world wide change, the future does not seem very bright and happy for everyone. Which is terrifying.

I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus

I listened to the radio show "I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus" by Firesign Theater.

The main character gets on a bus after being greeted by singing vegetables, on this bus is a whole bunch of clowns or bozos, and they time travel to the future on the bus.

On the journey, many people step in and talk about many historical events, and situations.
 "Man dropped a rich load of knowledge"
I really liked the part where people answered questions about the future, and how they mentioned how the future isn't here yet, and that you need to live life before the future gets there.

This is such an interesting radio show. In my other class, we were assigned to write radio shows, and this is such a cool idea. A space journey to the future, meeting tons of different characters that have much to say. Though I found it confusing at points. And the future sounds pretty crazy... "Dr. Avocado".

The Drowned Giant

The Drowned Giant by J. G. Ballard, is a story about a body of a giant being washed ashore, and how for the narrator this opened up a new world for him. While everyone else was busy crawling on the giant, and not respecting it. The narrator was captivated by it. The narrator describes the changes of the corpse, and how he imagined him to be when he was alive. He unlike everyone else imagines the giant having a personality, and sees him as a human like figure.

All the other humans disfigure him, burn a whole in his chest, harvest his bones and parts to be used all over town. Dehumanizing him, knowing him as a "sea beast" not as a human figure at all. The narrator sees this all happening and just goes along with it. Seeing how people can mistake the parts as whale, and how some parts were used for entertainment in shows and museums.

I belive this story is a reflection of man kind. How the narrator watches these people dismember a being he sees as human like, without batting an eye, or relate themselves to him.

Coraline

I loved watching Coraline in class, I had to watch more. I ended up renting the film on iTunes, for the fabulous price of $2.99. Then I grew attached to the story.

In Coraline, she learns the lesson of loving what she has, and how to has to deal with the cards that she is dealt. The story is that there is a woman in an alternate universe that wants to take unhappy children living in the apartments away to live with her and make them and herself happy. Coraline was the her next victim. At first she willingly goes to the alternate universe, to live with her 'other' parents. Soon she realizes the corruption and that they really aren't all happy, and that something about that world is off. She then finds the other children the woman has captured over the years, like Wybie's grandmother's sister. Coraline then has to get out, but then her parents are captured, and to free herself from the woman she has to free the spirits of the children by finding their eyes, and also find her parents so they can all go home. She fights her way through and finds the eyes, destroying the world outside the house. Then she finds her parents and tricks the woman and escapes. She then returns back to her normal life, much more grateful and happy.

This story also follows the heroic journey outline, along with being a modern day myth story. If this film was in live action instead of claymation, it would be much more eire. This story can be related back to the myth of the Boogieman. The boogieman myth is told in many different ways around the world. From if you misbehave he will come take you away,

Coraline has her spiritual aid, the cat, and the other mother who acts as her "evil stepmother".
Coraline follows a specific archetype, she is a charismatic girl, unhappy with her every day life, she finds and alternative world, and wishes to not leave. Then that backfires and she has to find a way out and save herself and everyone around her. That is one reason this book and film is so successful.

Harry Potter Prequel - Chapter Zero

Harry Potter has been a big thing in many peoples lives for years now. I have attempted to read the books, but never really settled down to do so. But the movies, that is a whole different story. Harry Potter films in my house were a big deal. We would go to the midnight releases, have Harry Potter binge weekends in the pitch dark living room and never leave our pajamas.

Harry Potter is a coming of age story, plus much more. It was something we all grew up with in this generation, and we grew up with Harry Potter, going through similar things dealing with school and love. Minus all the magic and death of course.

In highschool and college (or some part of our lives) we will find our Hermione or Ron, and then we will find our Ginny. Friends that will last for ever and the love of our life. Things that we are all destined to find eventually.

I read the Harry Potter Prequel Chapter Zero, and wow I wish JK Rowling was actually writing that. The idea of Sirius Black and James Potter as kids causing mischief was so fun. Diving into the world of Harry Potter is pure magic, and that is not to be punny.  Harry Potter has become a different universe where we can escape to, find refuge, and entertainment. I remember when I was younger sitting at my computer playing the Harry Potter PC game for hours and hours on end. Getting sucked up in a world where I could walk around castles and take down dementors for hours. I can only imagine how incredible a prequel would be as a book, and even as a film.

The Star - Space Opera

I read Arthur C Clarke's The Star. 

This story was very interesting, and a very visual representation of traveling through space. Which I saw very clearly in my head. 

The main character, a priest, is having trouble believing his faith on this journey, for some unknown reason. On their journey back to earth, they find remnants of a civilization that was destroyed by a supernova. A civilization like ours, that was suddenly destroyed, after calculations he related this all back to the star relating to Jesus's birth, which restores his faith. 

Though I do not find myself as a religious person. This short story makes a lot of sense, and it is an interesting concept in conjoining science with religion. Which I guess could be controversial in ways to some people. But it is a very interesting concept, which I don't think I have seen many times before in different space opera's etc. 

Troll Bridge - Hero's Journey

For Hero's Journey, I read Troll Bridge by Terry Pratchett.

The Hero's Journey goes a little like this...


THE ORDINARY WORLD.
THE CALL TO ADVENTURE.
REFUSAL OF THE CALL.
MEETING WITH THE MENTOR.
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD.
TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES.
APPROACH.
THE ORDEAL.
THE REWARD.
THE ROAD BACK.
THE RESURRECTION.
RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR.

The Troll Bridge Story lines up with the Hero's journey almost perfectly. At first I was not sure where the story was going. Though, the story of a troll under a bridge is pretty well known, it took a change when he did not kill him or take his treasure, but Cohen, the barbarian, gave him money to help his family.


THE ORDINARY WORLD - Cohen and his horse were traveling through, living their life as they know. In the cold icy air.


THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. - They see the road no one has traveled, where the troll is. He remembers what his father says, and must go defeat the troll.


REFUSAL OF THE CALL - Cohen knows he has to do it, or his father would roll over in his grave.


MEETING WITH THE MENTOR - His horse convinces him that he has to do it.


CROSSING THE THRESHOLD - They go down the road and to the bridge.


TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES - They meet the troll.


APPROACH - The troll see's that it is Cohen, and wants him to kill him, to impress his family.


THE ORDEAL - Cohen doesn't want to hurt the troll, he just wants to take his treasure, but the troll describes his life and introduces him to his family. They have no treasure and their bridge is falling apart.


THE REWARD - Cohen ends up giving the troll, Mica, gold pieces.


THE ROAD BACK - The horse is disappointed that Cohen helped the troll and didn't defeat him.


THE RESURRECTION - Cohen did a good thing, and he didn't die that day.


RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR - Everything returns to where it started, in the cold icy air.


This was a very good short story. I could clearly see a very nice short film adaptation, with trolls, and icy cold weather. Along with a talking horse and an old worn down barbarian.

Bloodchild

1. One symbol that stuck out the most to me was the egg. The egg was made out to be something that was very important. They would get "drunk" off the egg. Which could be a symbol of indulgence. Like how the mother never treated herself to the egg, how she always gave to her children, and that aged her. An egg represents youth. It is the first stage of life. It seems in the story as if the egg gives you youth and life. And because the mother did not indulge in the eggs, she grew older faster. The egg is also something that is treasured, how youth should be treasured.

2. The one part I connected to was the idea of the mother having to give one of her children away. I did not personally connect to this in the way that I was given away as a child or, that I have any happen that relates. But how family was a large role in this story. Gan had to set out and be brave to get things done. And everyone can relate to a part in their life that they had to suck it up and do something to make their family proud.

3. As a filmmaker when I read a story I can usually see it all play out in my head as a film as I read. I pictured something in my head that was like the hunger games. I would show a connection between Gan and his family. Then place in the idea of that he had to leave and be an adult. Connect the audience to Gan personally, so we all feel his fear. The character of Gan would be the character that pushes the film along. I would also up all the stakes, constantly throwing rocks at the main character so he has to push through for a good resolution. I think this story would have a cool film adaptation, especially the effects that would be used.

A Clockwork Orange

I mainly focused on Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange to compare the book to. And I must say, it is all very messed up. A Clockwork Orange is a futuristic violent story by Anthony Burgess. A view of the future, and how youth go around torturing, raping, and beating people.

In Kubrick's 1971 film, the futuristic city and gangs, are creepy guys in makeup and white outfits, going around raping and beating people, while occasionally singing. Nothing creepier than masked people singing Singing in the Rain while about to rape a woman in front of her husband. But this perfectly embodies the vision of the evil and scary rendition of the future.

Both Kubrick, and Burgess follow, Alex, a psychopathic criminal, who lives with his parents. Though, Kubrick's rendition is over sexualized. They both depict Alex, as a kid who enjoys causing harm and trouble.

This story takes place in a dystopian society. A society which seems "frightening and undesirable".

Some things that stuck out to be between the differences of the film and the book, is the ages. But There was no way a 15 year old boy could be casted to drug and rape 10 year old girls. I am pretty sure that is very illegal in all types of ways. Pushing that aside, the film and book are very similar. Minus the part of the story that deals with Alex's redemption.

Some of the film was almost painful to watch, but then again I don't do well with violence. This story in general is very Kubrick, and right up his alley of dark humor, and the way the shots were designed gave such an uneasy feeling. Embodying this story the way it was supposed to be told. Kubrick being one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, nothing less is expected.

I think it would be an interesting concept to create this film in a way that is more futuristic for our time. But I am sure it would be even more disturbing.

Slaughterhouse Five

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, is a widely known anti war novel, which explores the idea of time travel, and the effects of war have on a persons mental state. We learn about Billy Pilgrim through multiple time traveling events in his life, from being in war, to being abducted by aliens.

This book uses the scifi and fantasy ideas to tell a story of a man who was widely effected by war. Another thing I found interesting is how Vonnegut pretty much stated and made the reader understand that we are reading a novel. Vonnegut used Billy's reality to tell the story along with his/our own reality. Tying fantasy and history together.

Billy Pilgrim suffered many traumatic experiences, and suffers from hallucinations, like PTSD. This causes him to believe he was abducted by aliens, pretty much mirroring his days of being a prisoner of war, but it differed in many ways. There are many psychological meanings to the Tralfamadorians, and what they represent to Billy, and using the aliens as a device in this book is actually quite genius, like most of Vonnegut's ideas. The time travel and fantasy journey's all reflect back to Billy's well being and life, his guilt he feels, the idea of free will, suffering and morality.

The idea of death in this book is also something very interesting. The Tralfamadorian mantra of "so it goes" is used after death multiple times in this book. As a reaction on how to handle it, there is nothing you can do, it just happens... So it goes. Another Tralfamadorian concept is being able to see the past present and future all at once, and how it is pretty much displayed all in front of you. The way this book messes with time in space is quite interesting and is reflected in the narrative structure.

I also saw this book very vividly in my head, like most things I read. If this isn't a movie already, I am pretty sure it would make an a pretty cool war-fantasy-alien-time travel- film. What a concept.

Reading this story got me into other Vonnegut stories, and his way of writing is entertaining, and meaningful, in such weird ways.

Witches: Wicked, The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Wicked is a behind the scenes story of the witches the merry ol' land of Oz. Focusing mainly on the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and her life growing up green and how she became the Wicked Witch we are all to know now. The Wicked Witch is, well, known to be wicked. But we learn the story of Elphaba from her as a baby, and into college. She is different than everyone else because she is green. This story takes the wicked witch and turns her into a person with heart. We all can relate to her in some ways, and it sensitizes her.

This story has many witch stereotypes and archetypes, the broom, the hat, green skin/ being "ugly", and in this story you go to school to start practicing magic. 

In some witch stories women in power are made to be evil, but in this story we find how the evil is justified. A woman with such great power of being a witch can be related to. 

I have watched many shows on witches, such as The Witches of East End. Which is a story of a mother and two daughters, and her sister. All who are witches, the mother is immortal, the sister has 9 lives like a cat, and the two daughters die and come back in many different lives. They have been around for centuries and each life time seems to tie into the next. Sadly the show was canceled after the last episode ends with a huge cliffhanger. But I think that this show ties in with the women in power and how they an even be sexualized by culture. 

In most fantasy shows there are witches involved, even in American Horror Story: Coven. This is another great example of witches in modern culture. Especially when it comes to power. All different types of women of power come together to learn how to deal with their powers. Being the 'supreme' is the highest power of being a witch in the coven, and that power drives some of the witches insane, especially Jessica Lange's character. A woman fantasy character can be taken in so many ways, as a sexual object, a bitch, or as a heroine. All of which are represented in that season of AHS. 

New Weird: Metamorphosis

For New Weird, I read, Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. This is my second time reading this story, I once read it a long time ago in high school, and it was a story that always stuck with me. And Franz Kafka being a classic New Weird author, I decided to revisit it.


Gregor is an everyday salesmen working hard each day to make money to support his family. He is tired of his job and just wishes he could quit. One day he randomly turns into a bug. Leaving him stuck in his room and not able to communicate with his family, or move around easily for that matter. He ends up living as a bug, and his family financially takes a toll. The story follows his everyday life as an insect watching his family. Gregor eventually dies, and his family returns back to normal and relieved of the stress of taking care of Gregor.


At the point I was in my life when I first read this story I did not fully understand it. And even now, I don't know if I do, and I guess that is where the New Weird aspect comes into play. Being the soul supporter of his family, wanting a change in his life, a change suddenly happens, but probably not the change that was expected. The change results in how everyone was effected buy him not being around to take care of them. Which to me has a moral lesson.


I also started reading the book, Dead Bitch Army, for the New Weird genre, which I think encompasses a more modern take of the genre. It is more about zombies and war and messed up society, which I believe horror is going in the direction of.


I have never been a huge horror fan because I am easily scared. But now since I have opened my eyes more. I would like to see horror films going further than jump scares and gore. More well developed stories like we have read over the past few weeks.

J-Horror: Kwaidan

While reading the series of short ghost stories, Kwaidan, I picked up a few differences between J-Horror and western gothic right away. These stories were mostly spirit based and had some type of moral center. In most western ghost stories they revolve around terror and jump-scares, but in the J-horror stories I noticed it is more about morals, and learning a lesson. As well as the spirits not being good or evil. While in stories about ghosts in western society they are usually one or the other. In the J-Horror stories revolve around a lot of death and spiritual themes. I know that some people find the J-horror stories very strange, but they are also eerily terrifying. The one samurai story, was actually very graphic and I did not expect that.  Western gothic's have many different themes compared to J-horror, especially compared to today's horror genre. But I can also see how these stories can be turned into very terrifying modern horror films.The film we watched in class, I believe it was called Pulse, was a perfect example, the suspense and the weirdness it had made it extra horrifying in my opinion. Then again I am very easily terrified. 

Vampires: Interview with a Vampire

Vampires are gothic characters that have been around for ages and are constantly evolving. How the characters become vampires, how they live their everyday lives, how they feed, and especially how they interact with others and the world around them. Vampires are immortal characters living within the human world. This brings up the relationship between humans and vampires. In some stories humans are nothing but blood banks, but in others humans can represent the innocence of vampires. Interview with the Vampire reminded me of vampire stories that I used to read when I was younger, like the Mortal Instrument Series, and some shows like The Vampire Diaries. I was constantly comparing the relationships between all of the vampire stories I have known to this book. 

When it comes to vampire relationships, especially love, everything is immortal. And most relationships revolve around the transition in becoming a vampire. Like the relationship between Louis and Lestat. The one vampire Armand mentions how strong his love is for the vampire who turned him, "A love so strong he couldn't allow me to grow old and die...", and Louis is shocked by this, he hates Lestat, but if he likes it or not Lestat and him are bonded. 

The the show the Vampire Diaries, it is a modern day vampire story with similar vampire characteristics. When Damon and Stefan were turned into vampires by Katherine, they were both in love with her. Even hundreds of years later they still had love with her, until their love for her progressed into hate after all of the evil acts she committed. Which is very similar to the relationship between Louis and Lestat. Even events in the book and in the television series are very similar from Lestat being burnt in the fire but actually having had survive, and Katherine surviving many near death experiences where she should have died. And the theme of turning innocent people into vampires, like the character of Claudia in Interview with a Vampire, and characters like Caroline in Vampire Diaries. They become big characters in the story after their innocence being taken and their mortality ripped from them. 

Gothics: Frankenstien

Frankenstein is a classic gothic that has been portrayed in pop culture, literature, films, and much more throughout the years. Frankenstein's monster has been known as a classic gothic character and is easily parodied and adapted. Some more contemporary spins on the tale I can think of are The Munsters and Young Frankenstein. Films like Weird Science pay homage to the story of Frankenstein, such as when they were building the perfect woman and bringing her to life. As well in the film by Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands. In Edward Scissorhands, an inventor created a boy and before he could give the boy hands he died, leaving Edward alone in the castle as a monster with scissors for hands. Like most stories that involve the classic gothic monster who lives in a spooky castle, Edward Scissorhands and Frankenstein follow similar archetypes. In this film it follows many examples that are needed in a gothic, as well as some stereotypes. Edward is created by a mad inventor. Edward’s appearance is dark and is somewhat frightening, as any monster. He lives in a large dark scary castle overlooking town. Near the end of the film there is a mob that drives Edward back to his castle, which is a similar gothic trope when it comes to monsters. Though this film is not exactly like the story of Frankenstein it pays homage to the gothic yet makes a brand new story involving love and a “monster”. I would consider Edward Scissorhands to be a gothic because of how it uses the setting, plot, and character details. Edward Scissorhands is one of my favorite films the way it takes a quirky spin on a dark situation then involving love and self discovery as Edward sees the real world he was taught about by the inventor. I believe it is a perfect example of a contemporary gothic.