Much of my teaching is filtered through my younger brother. By filtered through I mean *insert brotherly complaint* *insert KHdz interrogation* *insert brother explanation* *suggestion suggestion suggestions* *conclusion*
Now this week or so that I've spent trapped here, my brother has introduced me to a thought provoking series called Extra Credits. It is largely a commentary on the status of gaming, but I see educational application. Stories are stories and while I specialize in literature, film, and graphic novels my brother is the true gaming guru.
Watch the following video and address the following in a well thought out blog post in paragraphs--not just 1,2,3 answers. There are SEVERAL of these that will be available--also VOTE in the darn poll :) Yes it is extra credit, no you don't have to do it, but I can tell you now--I don't do EC often during a school year. You may need to spot and go a lot with this video to be able to digest it.
- Does the gender of the protagonist define or limit him/her? How so?
- If your character were the opposite gender would the story be greatly altered? How so?
- How are the genetic differences between men and women explored in the work (specifically child birth)?
- How is motherhood or fatherhood explored in your work? In what way?
- How do the societal constructions and gender role expectations affect your character in the work?
- How does your character react to the gender roles and societal constructions? Do they reject them all, struggle with some, change a few or accept all? Why do they choose these courses of action?
- What does the societal pressure encourage your character to do or not do? Why?
- In what ways does your character stand apart from society ?
- How is your character forced to reevaluate their role in society through the text?
- Are the characters stereotypical or realistic?
"True Female Characters." The Escapist: Video Galleries: Extra Credits: True Female Characters. Web. 18 Jul 2011. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2868-True-Female-Characters>.
Yes, that's right, I said it, SEX. Now some of you may already be uncomfortable, but considering what some of you have been reading this summer--are you really shocked that this is here? I've spent over two weeks arguing with everyone from my family to colleagues to friends in other countries about whether or not to offer this as extra credit.
The arguments have been the same, you can't do that with your job, you can't expose kids to this, what are you thinking? My counter point has been so wait, the kids can go download it from the internet, have it shoved in their faces in music videos and movies, bombarded by it in the radio, and even read about it in "classics," but we can't have an academic discussion of it? Seriously? I feel that sometimes education doesn't keep up with the environment and that's a disservice to everyone.
Anyway, enough ranting. Look, if you haven't had the sex talk with your folks or you're not comfortable writing about your thoughts and opinions on the subject that is fine. Now, realize that themes of sexuality and intimacy will plague everything we read in some way or another. So if you can't do it today, it may be something you want to work up to. This is not a mandatory assignment, and no one should feel forced into discussion of these themes.
Now with all those disclaimers out of the way, onto the assignment. Fair warning, some of the images are risque- and possibly offensive. You don't necessarily have to watch the first video to complete the assignment, but it might get you thinking the right way.
Watch the following videos and address the following in a well thought out blog post in paragraphs--not just 1,2,3 answers. Yes it is extra credit, no you don't have to do it, but I can tell you now--I don't do EC often during a school year. You may need to spot and go a lot with this video to be able to digest it.
("Sex in Games")
("Sexual Diversity" )
- Why is sexuality an ever present entity in art? (Literature, Paintings, Film, etc)?
- How are sexuality, intimacy, and sex different?
- How does the author represent and craft the relationships, or lack there of, between characters? Is this necessary on the work?
- How does the author achieve a sense of intimacy, or lack there of, between characters? Does this add or detract from the book?
- How does the author treat sexuality (shameful, empowering, as a currency)?
- What instances and discussions of sex and sexuality are present in your text? How would you describe them? (exploitive,noble, bestial, superficial, pandering, hyper sexualize, shallow, childish, violent, realistic, unrealistic, ignorant, confused) Why?
- If your books include forced sexual encounters (i.e. rape or molestation)? How does this add or take away from the piece as a whole?
- Is the idea of sexual fidelity, or lack there of, addressed in your work? How so? Does this connect to gender roles? How so? Is this in line with or breaking with societal expectations?
- In the sexual situations presented, who takes control? How does this connect to gender roles? Does this meet with societal expectations?
- Do any of your characters struggle with their sexuality or sexual orientation? How so?
- Are there any orientation choices that are forced onto your character? How so and by who?
- How does your character's society affect your characters sexual orientation?
- Are your characters comfortable in their gender or do they feel trapped in their gender because of physical constraints? Or societal constraints?
- Would your character's life be better or easier of they changed their sexual orientation or gender?
- Is the sex a necessary component to the work as a whole or is it completely out of place?
- How are issues of sexuality engrained into us as a nation?
"Sexual Diversity." The Escapist: Video Galleries: Extra Credits: Sexual Diversity. Web. 21 Jul 2011. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2520-Sexual-Diversity>.
"Sex in Games." The Escapist: Video Galleries: Extra Credits: Sex in Games. Web. 21 Jul 2011. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2505-Sex-in-Games>.
The Diversity is , obviously, the first episode of the series I've been choosing from. The reason I put it last is because I felt we would need a review by the time we got this far.
Watch the following videos and address the following in a well thought out blog post in paragraphs--not just 1,2,3 answers. Yes it is extra credit, no you don't have to do it, but I can tell you now--I don't do EC often during a school year. You may need to spot and go a lot with this video to be able to digest it."
The Escapist : Extra Credits : Diversity
("Diversity")
The Escapist : Extra Credits : Race in Games
("Race in Games")
What is true diversity and is it needed in an art form (games, movies, literature )?
How does the author interject their feelings about racial issues into the text?
What are some of the racial issues faced by your characters? How does your character react to them?
Are the issues faced by your characters exclusive to your character's race? How so?
If your character is a part of the dominate racial culture, how do the racial issues of other characters affect this character?
What are some conscious and subconscious racial issues that your characters deal with? How do their actions define them as a character?
What emotions do other characters that look on at a moment of racial discrimination show?
At what point does your character stand up and take action against peers in a social scenario about racial inequality? Or do they not? What is the catalyst for this change or reason for this stagnation?
How do the racial issues in your text provide a context for interpreting your text?
How do the issues of race, gender, and sexuality impact a work of literature?
Hey here's a time waister to provide insight into yourself and others!
Take an Alignment test :)
I'm a Neutral Good type with a Chaotic Good leaning--you may want to look up these terms before you walk in my room. I'm interested to see how world views will represent each of you :)
