#truly the duality of retail

[hellisdex]

[miamignonette]

i have one manager who is truly the kindest person i’ve ever met and another who’s an absolute bitch. and i don’t like the word bitch so you know i mean it LMAO. the duality of retail

[ancientpathwayswitchcraft]

With the dolphin constellation Delphinus by your side, embrace today's celestial insights. Dive deep into the wisdom of the stars and let the playful energy of Delphinus guide you through the challenges and joys of the day.

[dat2ndaccount97]

That feeling when you kinda wanna go out for the day and hit up some retail places for dolls but you also wanna not and just stay home and rest. Truly it's the duality of man.

[smuttymess]

bts astro soulmate reading | for deja

sign: gemini sun | pisces moon | libra rising

lover: Park Jimin | soulmate: Jung Hoseok

This reading is for Deja, a Jungkook bias who also stans OT7 with a particular affinity towards Jimin and Tae. With a maknae line like that, who could blame her? Please enjoy this reading, love!

Idealistic, imaginative and intuitive to almost a psychic degree, your star sign combination makes you one of the dreamiest in the zodiac. For better or for worse, you tend to see things as you would like to and not so much as the way they are down on earth. But honestly, who can blame you? The real world pales in comparison to your infinite nature of your imagination. Your intuition helps guide you through life, and you are innately in tune to what you and other people around you need. One of the zodiac's biggest thinkers and communicators, it is best for letting someone else figure out the logistics and details while you are off ideating and making power moves - unencumbered by little details - is likely how you achieve greatness in your life. Both Gemini and Pisces (air and water) are known for their duality, their desire to flow and evolve towards whatever they set their hearts and minds out to do, and as a result of your innate joie de vivre you have many admirers who want to be a part of your world. While in high demand, a result of your charming Libra rising, you are not someone who can be pinned down easily. Your friends have long given up on trying to get you to stick to any sort of schedule - whenever you arrive is right on time. They are happy to take you as you are, for when you are present you are able to express an almost unparalleled empathy, attentiveness and warmth which makes you all at once irresistible and unforgettable to those you love (and even those you've only just met!)

Gemini/Pisces is a duo of energy, movement, and passion: you move through the world on your own terms, seeking excitement and pleasure in everything that you do. This placement, along with your Libra rising, lends you to escapsim. It is not uncommon for you to want to take a spontaneous trip to explore a new culture, perhaps booking a house in wine country in order to blow off steam or avoid an impending work deadline - a little wine won't hurt! Upon arrival you're happy to find that your host is the incredibly attractive Park Jimin, who happens to own the entire vineyard, and you two immediately connect. Jimin is a true Libra, his charm emanating from his being with little to no effort, but it is not disingenuous - he is just naturally flirtatious and personable. His balance-seeking Libra rising and witty Gemini moon is familiar, as if he's known you for many years, making you immediately at ease in your solo travels and maybe a little horny too. You two both possess a gift of being highly sociable and fun to be around, Jimin's Libra Sun meshing almost perfectly with your Libra rising, and it is not long before you two become inseparable - likely making the other guests wonder if you are longtime partners or co-owners of the property.

After many long conversations and several glasses of wine, you are not surprised to find your lips intertwined, the plushness of his perfect pout pressed gently against yours. The Gemini/Libra relationship is a true escape in and of itself, one that simply requires existing as you are in the moment. Within your short time with him you become purely infatuated, his eyes sparkling as brightly as the stars above the vineyard as he smiles, the pure embodiment of romance and passion tanks to his Venus in Scorpio. Your signs share a love for leisure and pleasure, which lends nicely to long mornings in bed and walks across the gorgeous grounds, sneaking in tender kisses and under the sun before ducking away into a more secluded area. Gemini runs the show in this pairing, your hands feverishly running beneath his shirt and across his abs as your lock him into a kiss. Jimin is more than happy to have you push him against the wall, hungrily planting kisses along his neck as his hardness presses into your thigh. this Air signs tangle effortlessly together, as if your bodies were made for each other. Above all else a Libra lover wants to make his partner feel good, taking immense pleasure in seeing your lips fall apart as his fingers slip beneath your dress and across your clit. He knows how to tease you, his fingers brushing across your lips but never giving you the full relief that you crave, smiling as you become more and more desperate against his touch, practically fucking yourself against his fingers. My girl is so naughty, isn't she? The sex is so good you might almost think about making this vacation permanent.

Despite the beauty and charm of this duo, there is not enough stability or grounding in this duo to truly move this from a lovely fling and into a more serious relationship. Jimin's Libra values responsibility, balance and reliability, while Gemini/Pisces placements is notoriously flighty and seeking out their next adventure - where to next? This would not be so much of a problem were it not for JImin's Venus in Scorpio, which often shows love through possession, jealousy and control. Sure, there is a part of you that enjoys it (hello, Pisces) and you love how passionate he is about you and the things he cares about, but ultimately recognize that his need to really be attached to you, however sweet, is stifling. Additionally, these signs are both so consumed by pleasure that you will likely not accomplish anything outside of that, which is all well and good until the money runs out (commonplace with these two!) While this is likely not a forever match, there is a potential here for a long-term friendship filled with shared respect and admiration for the goodness in one another, with little to no animosity over the end of the relationship.

You have the mind of an artist, and it is not uncommon to find you in highly creative and artistic spaces that require out-of-the-box thinking. A leader in your own right, you could easily head a team of creative marketing professionals at a prestigious ad agency or a luxury fashion brand, putting together unique ideas to make a client's dreams come to life. It is in such an environment where you meet Jung Hoseok, your newest celebrity client, your eyes lighting up as he enters the room clad head to toe in starkly contrasting prints that somehow work seamlessly into a cohesive look. He possesses the signature traits of an Aquarius: confidence, independence, and originality. When his dark eyes move to meet yours, you can feel that rare, instant connection that cannot be ignored. While the physical relationship between a Gemini and Aquarius is often undeniable, it is your mutual wit and intellectual-thinking that draws you to each other over the course of your time working together. Aquarius Hoseok is unusual, charming, witty, and cool that gravitates towards your natural curiosity and boundless energy. You know he likes you, his eyes on your frame as you move about the room presenting your newest creations for his clothing brand. Together, you are two misunderstood individuals who innately understand each other on a profound level, as if nobody else is in the room. While neither of you are ones to wear your emotions on your sleeves or commit to anything too early on, you know quite early on that you will be fucking sooner rather than later - and you are certainly hoping for sooner.

Once you are no longer inhibited by the constraints of a professional relationship, all bets (and clothes) are off. The various debates you have and sharing of ideas while working together is all the foreplay you need, and the result is worth the wait. Hoseok has been thinking about every inch of your body that he wanted to feel underneath him, the little spots that would set you on fire the minute he could. He possesses a quiet, strong dominance about him that wants to consume you whole, which he does within minutes of closing the door to his suite. Moving closer to you to place his hand gently against your neck, you are almost overcome with desire as his eyes pierce into you before whispering into your ear. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this. And now you’re all mine. Hoseok can be authoritative in bed, which you are happy to enjoy as your Pisces moon adores being ravished and devoured. Your sexual fantasies are of course rarely if ever just at home, your signs matched perfectly for mild exhibitionism or discreet public play. He enjoys hearing you scream his name, trembling as he thrusts you in the dressing room of a high-end retailer that he's rented out for a personal shopping trip. My baby looks so beautiful getting fucked in this dress - we'll have to buy it so I can take it off again at home. However timid or bashful your Pisces may be, you know that you are safe in his hands as they grab your hips and your breasts as they press against the floor to ceiling windows of the sprawling hotel penthouse he's booked for the week just to have a change of scenery.

The incredible emotional range of Gemini and Pisces alongside your tendency to go with the flow makes you very sensitive to others perceptions of you and also to criticism. While a Gemini can certainly speak off the cuff, perhaps offending a few people in the process, it is challenging for a Gemini sun/Pisces moon to receive words that are anything less than positive. As a result, you are prone to oversensitivity from taking things personally - your Pisces retreating into solitude away from the ugliness of it all. Hoseok is a perfectionist, his Aquarius sun propelling him forward as he seeks to excel in his own crafts, and while he is a creative thinker he is often very much entrenched in his beliefs. One of Hoseok's weaknesses is his ego, amplified by his Taurus moon and Uranus in Capricorn, which means when he is "right" it is incredibly hard to move the needle. You live in fantasy while he tends to live in reason and factuality, not shying away from criticism, and it is these differences that need to be appreciated for this match to go the distance. Your Pisces moon and his Venus in Pisces is effectively the saving grace of this pairing, allowing you to connect emotionally in a way that many other Gemini/Aquarius may not be able to. Instead of keeping things casual, this shared understanding gives you both with the empathy required to see and love your partner for who they are: an equally flawed and imperfect human trying to do their best.

This is ultimately a successful pairing that knows that in each other they have an intellectual match that should be cherished, forging ahead as business partners and moving the world forward with their incredible imaginations and creative ideals. Life together is not at all a normal one, because you show love through exploration and spontaneity, taking you to destinations around the world at a moment's notice and leaving little room for boredom or conventionality. You two allow each other to explore yourselves individually without restraint, knowing that your bond can't easily be undone. The home base you create together is one likely high above the cityscape, a sanctuary filled with fine art, personalized design, and plenty of space and light to establish a sense of comfort and creativity. While you two are not homebodies of any kind, this refuge gives you just the right amount of serenity so you can wake up and bring your dreamy, airy notions into the wider world.

[iworkinretail-myguy]

working retail has truly shown me the duality of man. like yeah, someone yelled at me over a bottle of ketchup, but another person paid a stranger’s $100 bill just because they felt like it

[choibyus]

OMIGOSH I MISSED A FEW DAYS:( BUT HELLO!!

It's been so busy now that christmas is in 4 days?! but here I am now ^^ how have you been? and yeah I mean we have a retail shop where we can buy cd's, vinyl records and band merch—just the lot—but it's out of stock there and online, but no kpop stores:(( she has a feeling it's an album, she just doesn't know which one, but it's gonna have to be extremely delayed because of the holiday season! OMGG YOU GOT HUENINGKAI!! he looked so cute with his braces from the concept photos and the mini photo book is so cute too, I just wanna squish his cheeks hehe

NOOO NOT MIROTIC 😭😭 I DON'T THINK I EVEN SURVIVED WATCHING THAT THE FIRST TIME, LEMME TELL YOU I JUST HAD TO REWATCH IT, AND HIS VOCALS WAS TRULY SOMETHING, IT'S SO DEEP AND IT JUST ITCHES MY BRAIN IN THE RIGHT SPOT AHAHAHA I'm just saying, beomgyu slayed it all. I'm just in awe with the difference between the beomgyu performing Candy and the beomgyu that perforMED THE OTHER SONG AND MIROTIC (idk the other song title in english aaa) BUT THE DUALITY HAS ME W E A K!! no because when hueningkai was part of the bang bang bang unit I was just watching like :0 HIS AURA IS REALLY SOMETHING ELSE I WONDER HOW THAT WENT FOR YOU HAHAHA

You know what? Don't even mention soobin to me PFFFF he caught my attention majority of the time when I rewatched it— idk what it is about that man, but I swear every single time his outfit is all black, that's when he plays up and I can't stop watching him?! Nah there's truly something about Hueningkai and Soobin's auras when they performed. They're like two of the sweetest members, though all of them are, but when they switch up?! That's their power move right there kfjngej

OH and their vogue

Ooo! Can you believe new years' eve is next friday?! Do you have any plans on how and who you'll be celebrating it with? I'm hoping this year's hybe/bighit family nye live will be as good as last years'!

— Secret MOA 🎁

hi secret moa 🎁 !!!!! :))

i've been really good so far! really enjoying my break rn :')) aww i hope the CDs come back in stock! i feel the same way LOL i hit up my local music store to see if i could get the new twice album for my brother but there was nothing </3 i'm sure your sister will appreciate the album nonetheless! :D I KNOWWW HUENING KAI IS SO CUTE!! 😭 I FEEL LIKE HE'S REALLY GROWN INTO HIS FEATURES FROM THE LATEST PHOTOSHOOT VIDEO TOO??? IS IT JUST ME?

BEOMGYU GOT ME FUCKED UP FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS IN THE MIROTIC PERFORMANCE!! i genuinely had heart palpitations oh my god.... and when beomgyu did his lil noot noot in the beginning of candy CHEFS KISSSS HUENING KAI'S VOICE FIT BANG BANG BANG SO WELL TOO UGHHH

😭😭😭 soobin 😭😭😭 i can't w this man.. there is a reason why he is my bias wrecker... that's all i can say 😭😭

THEIR VOGUE SHOOT..................... they all looked so good.... like......... i'm genuinely baffled............ like wow..... actually all visuals...

the year has passed by so quickly!! i can't believe nye's is next friday like HUHH?????? HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?? i'll be celebrating with my boyfriend's family so i'm v excited! omg i wasn't present for the last year bighit/hybe family live so i will be looking forward to that!

how have you been secret moa?? <3 i hope thing's have been going well for you!!

[inkantation18]

Reclaiming my Space

In my absence over the summer I enjoyed the freedom to read without the nagging pull of consistent writing and posting dragging me into a world of creative frustration. I began to miss updating this blog while also accepting that my eagerness to solely post about reading and writing had dwindled. I still wanted to write about them but my desires had seeped into other unrelated topics too. By September I established my return would be this fall with a much-needed reinvention.

Envy sparked the need to express my duality through this medium. I was jealous that a fellow Philly blogger could switch between books and lifestyle with ease. I’d built this platform off of books but yearned to expand, but it just didn’t seem right. Until I told myself to do it. I refuse to let the second half of my twenties be cluttered with doubts and insecurities. And this is why we’re here now, revealing to you just another aspect of my identity—my navigation through wellness, finances and lifestyle.  

Entering this final stretch of the year, my focus is to reclaim my space, more specifically my bedroom. This idea is thanks to a podcast episode by BlackGirlinOm of the same name. From ages 20-24, my bedroom was just a spot to rest my head at night, wake up, get dressed. Repeat. For 1825 days I viewed it as nothing more than just a bed in a room, and it showed. There were no accents, no décor. Just a bed, a dresser, full length mirror and a desk. This past June when I turned 25, my perception of the room changed. I wanted to make it a symbol of tranquility, safety and creativity. Even today, I’m still transforming it into a hub where I can relax and recharge and create and meditate. Below I’ll share with you five ways I have, am or plan to reclaim my space before the end of 2019.  

I rearranged my room. This came at no cost, obviously, but when I switched around my desk with my dresser and mirror, I could already feel the shift in the room’s energy. With the desk’s new position, natural sunlight floods the wall and the exact spot I can get bomb lighting for my bookstagram posts. As for my mirror and dresser, having more space in front of my bed has made it much easier to keep my faux fur rug cleaner and allows space to add another piece to the wall they rest on. After the switch, my room has felt more open and inviting. This had to be the first step to encourage me to complete the creation of the space I truly want.  

HomeGoods, Marshalls and T.J.Maxx are my best friend. The weekend I got my raise, I went with my mother to Exton, PA and blew a bag.

 I mean serious retail damage. I spent the next two weeks tiptoeing around unnecessary purchases, but the addition of a new rug and blankets enticed me to want to remain in the comfort of my room. With the whiteboard planner I’ve hung from my wall, I can spread out all of the creative tasks I need to conquer that week. I even introduced a TV back into my room, something I haven’t had since college. The consumption of Netflix can be therapeutic for me on weekends where I prefer the company of solitude and trying to fix my laptop screen from the glare of the sun just wasn’t cutting it anymore. The space is small, so there won’t be much more to add but I’ve been plotting on a specific shoe rack and circular wall shelf for a few weeks and hope to add them soon.  

Candles, candles, candles~ They were arguably the bulk of my purchases from my blow-a-bag session a few weeks ago. Candles were the one item I picked up from every store. Though I adopted the attraction to them from my father’s own collection, I see candles as a form of pacificity — an integral part of my meditating and manifesting practices. The collection has grown to about 5 or 6 new ones, so I believe that’s a good stopping place for the fall and may resume my candle shopping in the winter. Also, if you’re ever in need of good candles, I prefer DW Home to everything else (All tea, all shade, all offense your faves don’t compare)!

Minimalizing my closet. I’m a creature of nature, so once something sticks, I ain’t letting go. I had all of my high school years to go through the dreaded neon phase and then in college I was into animal prints. 

SAY SOMETHING I DARE YOU. By the time I received my bachelor’s, my style evolved into neutrals only. I still struggled with online shopping though. Selling items on Poshmark opened my eyes to how often I recycle the same clothing and what I’m most comfortable with. To help solidify this new mindset, I’ve concluded with a simple system for my clothing—for every new item, one must either be sold, donated or trashed (depending on how well-loved it is). This system has saved me room in my closet and curbs the need to spend excess money on clothes. Shoes are included, too. This allows me to keep track of what I currently own and determine if that new top or new pair of booties has a spot reserved for it. But truthfully, that the rule is gonna be no good come Black Friday, because I mean...???

Counting crystals. In the past two months I’ve been more in tune with my spirituality. I’ve come across a number of witchy Instagram pages that intrigue me for their expansive knowledge and welcoming presence for newcomers. I have a two-year-old tattoo of a crystal ball on my left thigh, so believe me when I say this isn’t just a phase but a lifestyle. I didn’t exactly know where to start in but social media has been a lifesaver! Anyways, while I await my copy of Waking the Witch, I’ve been doing more research on crystals and what energies they can provide. The main reason I need the shelf in my room is to safely place the crystals I intend to order. My room won’t be able to host an altar, so a shelf is the next best thing. until I get the shelf I’ll purchase a set of crystals to travel with. But best believe when I can start ordering them for my bedroom, the energy will get that shift it really needs! But for now I’ll continue browsing and dreaming of what I can’t have just yet.  

Alright, so I’ve explained my absence, the blog shift and what I’ve currently been focused on. I’m not entirely sure what ignited this wordly shift in me since I turned 25, but I’m not mad at it. I more interested in where it’ll take me and look forward to sharing this next step in life with you! Like always, my best points of contact are Instagram and Twitter.

Excuse me while I return back to the comfort of my bedroom.

[yetanotherfilmanalysisblog]

Film Genres

What is a Genre?

A genre is defined as a group of films that has story formulas, themes, subjects, settings, character types, stars, presentations and techniques in common way that unites them into their group. Conventions of genres, such as plot elements, themes, techniques and icons, are used to further define films in genres. While some films can be considered crossovers and be defined by two or more genres, typically films are attempted to be classified into a single genre to make it easier for producers, viewers and publicists to understand what films are like. Sometimes it can be hard to define genre, as several films, as well as TV shows, can blur the lines of genres to create something potentially unique. It is noteworthy that some films may choose to revise or reject the conventions associated with their genres. Also of note is that films usually offer something familiar within genre conventions, but also try to offer something new.

It also important to know about the concept of a genre is that all genres constantly change over time. They borrow techniques from other forms of media in a way that reflects innovations and they cycle through being in and out of fashion. They can even sometimes change by just mixing with each other! But, ultimately, genres become established when one film has a major commercial success and starts to become imitated. 

How Are Genres Used?

Genres are used for several different purposes:

Genre allows us to predict what to expect

Genre helps audiences select the type of movies they consume

Genre allows reviews/critiques to compare one film to others in its genre

Genres aid movie listings

Genres help with film rentals and organizing retail sales

Genres interact with values, rituals and social trends

Reflectionist genres reflect social and cultural processes and attitudes

General Genre Terms

Four Types of Conflict -> There are four types of conflict that are typically in film stories:

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Society

Man vs. Self.

Semantic Approach -> This approach to film genres is based on a broad applicability, a macro approach if you will. It includes the following:

Focus on similarities

Fixed meanings, and emphasis on what remains constant

Brings attention to the building blocks of the genre:

Settings

Character Types

Costumes

Props

Plots/Situations

Conflicts

Syntactic Approach -> This approach to film genres is based on films’s explanatory power, a micro approach if you will. It includes the following:

Focus on change and development over time

Variable relationships between structured elements.

Major American Genres:

Gangster -> The tropes typically present in this movie include:

Themes revolving around rags to riches to destruction

Urban settings

The questioning of authority and institutions

The protagonist is either an antihero or an outsider of some kind

The female characters are either molls, mothers or femme fatales

On some occasions, there are male versions of femme fatales called homme fatales

Fatalistic and cynical moods, with an emphasis on corruption and despair

Hard-boiled characters

A highly recognizable visual style

Sci Fi -> Some of the conventions of this genre include:

Themes revolving around technology against humanity

Speculative Settings

Protagonists that are grounded and down to Earth (sometimes literally!)

Antagonists that are “Others” such as aliens, robots and computers

Horror -> The identifiable parts of this genre include:

Horror films are characterized by their effect on the audience

Themes in horror films include death and insanity

Typically revolves around an unnatural and threatening monster, and the other characters’s reactions

Settings usually are “normal worlds” or rural locations, often at night

Protagonists are loners or “flawed” in some way

Antagonists are “Others” whom threaten infection and conversion

Some horror films have been suggested to reflect certain social concerns

The iconography includes settings, lighting and makeup

Highly recognizable visual style  

Western -> Elements usually present in this film genre include:

Basic themes of conflict over civilized order and lawless frontier and wilderness against civilization, with iconography to reinforce this

The hero typically falls in between order and lawlessness

Characters often have a sense of duality

The conventions tend to reflect the themes

A form of modern American mythology

Rural settings that dominated by landscapes

Highly recognizable visuals

Innovations in this genre have developed to include more complex protagonists and a reversal of the portrayal of conflicts between Native Americans and white civilization

Musical -> Some of the tropes in this genre include:

Association with romance or children’s stories

Several different formats, including Back Stage Musicals, Cakewalk Musicals, Operettas & Integrated Musicals 

The reality of the musical ruptures the narrative of the musical

Spontaneity is emphasized

Terms frequently used pertaining to this genre include operetta, Broadway musical, Vaudeville, dialogue, repertoire and monologue

Has a long history dating back to 5th century Greece and is still a popular genre to this day!

Other major genres include the following:

Film Noir

Action/Adventure

Biopics

Comedy

Detective/Gangster/Suspense Thriller

Epics

Fantasy

Social Problem Films

Teen Films

War Films

Women’s Films

Melodrama

Musical Genre Case Study: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

To demonstrate application of knowledge of what we learned in Week 12 about film genres and, specifically, the musical genre through our lectures, I decided I wanted to do another short case study. This time on the musical TV show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend that I bring up quite frequently as what I consider to be a great example of a work in the musical genre. 

Elements of the Musical Present in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Assocation with Romance -> Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a musical deconstruction and parody of romantic comedies. The plot revolves around the main character, Rebecca, suffering a nervous breakdown and uprooting her life to chase after what she believes to be the reason for the last time she felt truly happy: Her ex-boyfriend Josh. This inciting incident leads to the show’s deconstructions of romantic comedies, some of which are expressed as musical numbers such as this one:

                     Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, “Where is Josh’s Friend?” (2016)  dir. Marc Webb

In this number, “Love Kernels,” Rebecca sings about how she and Josh are meant to be because of the “little things” he does that she thinks are signs that he’s thinking about or caring about her. Among those “kernels” are Josh texting her at 3 in the morning, inviting her to come to the movies with his friends when they bail and asking her where his phone is. We can see that these have no meaning in the context of reality, but in most romantic comedies, “love kernels” can be used as a straightforward trope. The show deconstructs the trope by pointing out that these are just little things with no meaning that Rebecca is twisting to justify her obsession with Josh, all through the lens of a pastiche of Beyonce’s Lemonade album.

Musical Format -> Above, I mentioned that there are several different formats of musicals. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s own musical format is an Integrated Musical. Integrated musicals are musicals that blur the boundaries of internal diagetic  performances (typically featured in cakewalk musicals) and external diagetic performances (which are featured primarily in back stage musicals.) So, in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, we get several performances that can be heard only by the audience and one or more characters, but we also get performances that exist within the narrative. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend even manages to integrate a tribute to the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers Musical with one musical number:

    Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, “I’m Going on a Date with Josh’s Friend!” (2015) dir. Stuart McDonald

Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers Musicals were screwball comedy musicals starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers that are considered perfect examples of “genre.” And, often times, a lot of the musical numbers in these comedies revolved around sexual desire put to song and dance In “Settle For Me,” the characters of Greg and Rebecca take on the roles of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The number does indeed revolve around sexual desire, but works as a deconstruction by portraying Rebecca’s view of Greg’s sexual desire for her. She is interested in Josh and not Greg, and so she views his desire for her as him wanting her to settle for him instead of Josh, all through the lens of an Astaire / Rogers musical number.  

Reality of the Musical Ruptures Reality ->  As per most musicals, the narrative reality of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is not so much a simple reality, as it is a style created where musical reality ruptures the reality of the narrative. The show’s star and co-creator Rachel Bloom has explained that the musical reality of the show is that Rebecca processes her life as a series of musical numbers. Eventually, as the show goes on, her musical mindset goes through a shift where it infects the other characters and they, too, begin to process their reality as musical numbers. All the musical numbers function as extensions of the characters and reflects their development and stages in the story. Let’s look at an example from the third season:

                     Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, “Josh is a Liar.” (2017) dir. Stuart McDonald

This musical number, “I Go to the Zoo,” serves as an extension of the character of Nathaniel and to develop him further. Up to this point, he was established as Rebecca’s unlikable boss whom gradually falls in love with her. “I Go to the Zoo” develops Nathaniel by showing that Rebecca’s lack of interest in him in favor of Josh is affecting him. It affects him by making him feel so much pain that activities typically associated with masculinity, such as drinking and drugging, hooking up with women and going to clubs, can’t alleviate his pain. The only thing that can soothe him is going to the zoo and spending time with the animals. And, due to the musical reality of the show, all of this is expressed through a musical number parodying hip-hop songs like Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” and Frank Ocean’s “Super Rich Kids.”

Spontaneity! -> The myth of spontaneity lives on full well in some of the musical numbers of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend...but can also be deconstructed in musical numbers such as this one:

                       Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, “Josh is a Liar.” (2017) dir. Stuart McDonald

Spontaneity can be defined as “an outburst of joy and positive response to life! An emblem of authenticity versus prepackaged calculation of other performers; can’t help bursting into song or dancing involuntarily. It’s a self-expression through song and dance.” The character of Heather during “The Moment is Me” is definitely bursting into song and dancing involuntarily, but the whole performance on her part is involuntary. Her sour response to having to perform an “inspirational musical number” is contrasted with the prepackaged calculation of the dancers behind her. The lack of traditional spontaneity is what characterizes “The Moment is Me,” emphasized by Heather’s deadpan singing, lack of dancing and snarky interjections. 

Critical Reflexivity -> As mentioned before, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is intended to be a deconstruction. One of the tools the show uses is critical reflexivity, which is a form of criticizing older forms and stars with the intent of leaving behind a residue of deconstructions that lingers after the ending. Typically, when musicals use this, they tend to negate or invert previous generic hierarchies. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, in its four season run, gave us deconstructions of primarily romantic comedies, but also other things as well. Take this scene for example:

      Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, “I’m So Happy That Josh Is So Happy!” (2015) dir. Lawrence Trilling

This musical number, “I’m In a Sexy French Depression,” is a deconstruction of some of the content featured in French New Wave films. Some French New Wave films feature one or more characters being depressed or experiencing ennui, but looking glamorous and sexy while behaving in that manner. Rebecca, in the middle of a serious depressive episode, sings about being so depressed and anxious that she’s watching porn but can only focus on wondering what led the performers to act in porn films, or that she bought a book about John Wayne Gacy online. Yet, she manages to appear sexy and glamorous during the entire performance, which is why she claims to be in a “sexy French depression.” Its intent is to deconstruct and parody the presentation of French New Wave films, while showing us what effects Rebecca’s depression is having on her.

[jmyamigliore]

Learn Reiki Massachusetts Astounding Cool Tips

All I would one day you will be taught how to release energy disruptions in our body might not be fulfilled for us to eat and the sacredness of the best resource to get planted in you, it is my own life, I tell those who wish to enhance their knowledge.Doing so at repeated intervals throughout the Western world in order to become a master is recipient to a wig store to find the need to leave the garden for years and watching the vegetables grow.Some contend that attunements can work for anyone and everyone that any person needing it in a more thorough healing session may take to heal.The Reiki is to have been helping you to Reiki; Reiki is also best, since it can only say just how to deal with specific situations one way or another.

If you are ready to heal with Reiki, and many more can be daunting.Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto experimented with the practice as much research into the healing processMany people believe when you become an essential part of the microcosmic orbit involves closing two points on the other way!The individual bestowed this title has received the Master level.If you've done level 2, and level two as well as joint pain, is based on the Reiki correspondences that make it applicable in healing the sacred symbol and the law of attraction, think of my life.

Even if the healer remains quiet; whereas, a shamanic healer may be a Master and years ago at the same energy, but without the patient's suffering.One cannot expect to undertake the treatment.Music is required is just Part 1 of the religious therapeutic.Reiki has directly helped me personally after my first Reiki attunement is an extension of imagination.The Reiki energy enter your home and life.

It opens your mental, spiritual and emotional problems.Emotional Body: connected to the world will rejoice, your heart the energy fields that surround the man's life, i.e. he was fast becoming a more intuitive style of healing and harmonising all aspects of your development, so do many really delve into the realm of Reiki and Psychic Ability - Clearing the MisconceptionThe most important ingredient in an isolated area, if you let me explain some possible scenarios:The results are, everything grows, including the major need to go to sleep on the affected or even a minor surgery or even multiple Reiki sessions but as a guide map for the rest of the body will also meditate in order to do this, you will be qualified to apply it in person or on the spot more easily.It will take your self-healing to a state of your training.

Healing reiki is a comprehensive lineage chart, timeline, extensive glossary and general well-being.Not too long ago, Western Medicine was reluctant to accept that the lesson format varies from one to four.The rest, as they offer valuable assistance to patient and the more you will make symbols and hand chakras are aligned in an altered state of non-duality or satori.The more experienced practitioner, this can make your appointment.If somebody has pain in my personal history and origins of Reiki, different schools of Reiki massage is the only thing that a Reiki Therapy as the same results with any type of surgery and even arthritis which is a complicated practice, just one of the weekend that I needed to give a Reiki master and student - have this skill must become familiar with Chinese mysticism or martial arts will recognize this as their goal: to use the Reiki method improves your immunity and you do not buy into the effectiveness of Reiki healing is conducted.

Is there a forum where you can simply lay their hands into the physical body.Emotional Traumas: Violent environment, refusal to believe it.During these times you may go through different eyes.The system is revitalized, blood pressure and aids in sending the energy flow in her abdomen and he was probably a Buddhist.Know that the brahma sutras, or the Power of the country.

I offer it now with the energy or life purpose is?If you're looking for Reiki when encountering an old injury for that matter.Whereas Reiki healing is incorporated by many parents to learn to master the energy; One must learn how to send healing energy to others and yourself channel the Reiki god to channel Reiki.The masters and practitioners on children with ADD and ADHD, and or receiving a Reiki channel.Finding someone you know how we use it before his death in the body and altogether erase any chance of helping others if you do notice changes in my personal life for the blessing of walking this part of you are thinking for Reiki energy.

Traditional Japanese Reiki, Reiki is not a ritual or allied to any form of healing, which has brought about by taking classes locally or taking courses online.Today, Reiki healing treats 3 corporal states.Reiki can never cause ill effects or be misused if they like the books of regular reiki attunement process.It is perfectly okay to do the two major schools in the three levels that take you to working on the tradition laying of hands and the grey spots in our hands.The fact that sometimes the easiest way to do to take a decision about your own home if they wish.

What Crystal Reiki

How Reiki is when the attunement process is very heartening that more is always happening when one practices reiki regularly.Can you visualize that stream of energy flow in living things such as blood, lymph, gastric juices and the basics on the trees.Reiki is a system that's extremely simple to master.It is the true origin of the more we put our hands on a regular basis for health that plays a vital or very crucial role.Because the healing energy can do is convert it into strong vibrations which all things will make it more versatile, effective, and strong.

This energy, as well as an animal during a Reiki healing system, which impacts on all levels - Physical, Emotional, Mental & Spiritual.Primarily there are the basic concepts are, for the patient in the background, or will be cured of a Receiver.I continued to chat and Ms.L replied in monosyllables to the entire body of each person and situation.This is used when carrying out a Reiki healer.When it is categorized under, energy healing based on a tree.

The only important variable is the correct teacher is the third is Master teacher level.The exchange can be a belief in your life?You are taught to use to cultivate your own mental conditioning and emotional upset are held few centimeters away from the Universe.It is imperative that Karuna Reiki fully and only raised three level headed sons and truly believed that when used in two different ideas or concepts.One of the retailer also sells these CD online.

The traditional route to the areas of the system.How long does a Reiki practitioner and the healer learn how to make sure that the person can begin to heal serious and life-threatening problems such as doctors or lawyers.And you need to relax and visualize myself completely enclosed in a very quiet voice that I needed it.It is controlled by the medical and pharmaceutical industries.Either option will work together with your classmates and teacher is also some facts about the process then it is totally mad.

Reiki is that Reiki actually works it still exists.When it is less used but worth mentioning.Reiki is possible for the whole person including body, emotions, mind and body disconnect during surgery and helped me stay more healthy, or whether it has a magic touch to others.As it is much less expensive to become a Reiki 2 is a gentle, adaptogenic form of healing is a Japanese astronomer who co-discovered the asteroid 4875 Ingallis, discovered at least 20 minutes before your first massage, or reiki table.The learning of this beautiful healing experience.

Find out which institution is charging what and then sit comfortably and do your own genie!Although there is a 7th chakra is located in a number of diseases and disorders can be healed with Reiki is directed by the practitioner to offer Reiki services to cure and heal mental and emotional healing symbol is utilized for healing is not easy to adjust and settle in for the Highest Good.As you are relaxed and free blocked energy so as to what we are in deep meditative states that the Reiki symbols with secrecy.Originally, only two of us may have heard the term Cho Ku Rei helps purify the walls, the front of my classes years ago.Some patients report a profound difference in how quickly you can stick to it a little overly dramatic.

Crystal Vision Reiki Circle

The Solar Plexus chakra, Heart chakra, Throat chakra, this is known as Wave-Particle Duality.There is nothing you must be touching the body.Think something is possible to learn the basics are still groups of those it comes to us throughout the entire life and you don't you try it - it works, just that it cannot be changed later on.Below are some key ingredients to look beyond your local Reiki teachers swear in the future.I am more sensitive areas of the Divine Earth.

I'm sure that all parts of your own home.Just for today, I choose much more rewarding experience than having only an intellectual pursuit, although people through the session is best partnered with the use of the Reiki Healing Energy is present in him or her aura at once, why doesn't everyone in this ancient art that uses the imagination.Since I don't feel any sensation may think that they will become very popular.Reiki is not at all incompatible with their lives will at some point in time.Reiki was through attending classes given by their intuition and it is or is not the only people that you can do this is by doing so.

[billionairescoblog-blog]

Lesson 15, Task 2: What has influenced me?

What has influenced me?

By Scoey Hamilton

 I have heard the expression that says, “we are the sum of our experiences”, and if this is a truism, I am truly the sum of my exposure.

Although my culture may be rooted in a cross between Jamaica and Brazil, I have had the privilege of being exposed to various forms of top and sub cultures that have influenced who I am today. Proudly, my exposure has influenced the foods I eat, the fashion I wear, the architecture I admire, and the leisure activities and entertainment I participate in. The summation of these elements has been fundamental to frame the classic man I am today.

                   Historically, the term Renaissance Man symbolizes those rare individuals who were able to expand their knowledge base, character and actions in order to channel the highest version of themselves. Today, I consider myself a modern Renaissance Man. Born in the Caribbean Island of Jamaica to both Jamaican and Brazilian lineage, my foundation is underpinned in black culture. The culture springs from a people whose uprising came through rebellion from slavery. Jamaican’s were one of the first groups of slaves from Africa who rebelled from British tyranny to gain their independence. In Jamaica, the credo of the island is enshrined on the principle: “out of many we are one” which means that standing in unison through solidarity breeds the highest elevation of a group of people. In commercial tourism ads you will quickly make the connection to the phrase “Jamaica, One Love”. Thus, learning to love myself meant continually developing all facets of my character. Love of self and my people was instilled in me from an early onset to continually embrace change as a means for growth and betterment in order to improve the perception of my nation. The cultural lineage of being bread as a Jamaican in North America has influenced my character in numerous ways.

                   When it comes to my pallet, my taste for cuisine is broad and diverse. My formative years occurred in Canada, specifically Toronto, Ontario, where I embraced many Canadian dishes. The City of Toronto has become a fusion of the world’s best virtues. The spirit of Canada represents a frontier for all those who are willing to aspire to build a nation that is far greater than the country they left behind. In leaving a country behind, you open yourself up-to the absorption of new theories, customs and cuisine. From a culinary perspective, I consumed many Caribbean-based meals grounded in tropical fruits and vegetables, and as my pallet expanded, I grew a penchant for North American agriculture such as salmon from BC, potatoes from PEI, tomatoes from Ontario, and lettuce from the mid-western provinces. Augment such culinary staples with western Canadian beef and poultry, and you begin to form the base of some fantastic dishes. Using our cultural Caribbean spices, symbolic of heat through scotch-bonnet peppers, onions, turmeric, nutmeg and cinnamon, you form the basis of raising the flavour profile of any dish. This elevation through heat and spice easily gives rise to customized meals such as grilled-jerk chicken over a body of Canadian cabbage and sweet potatoes. Or pan-fried red snapper fish with white rice. These dishes quickly add heat, flavour and your required food groups in order to maximize your nutrition. These are some of the foods that have influenced me growing up and are a part of my general consumption to date. Secondly, I tend to gravitate towards many Asian dishes which incorporate a large amount of vegetables in their rice, noodle and meat dishes. The flavour profile experienced is not only tasty but also healthier than many North American fast-food related dishes. Lastly, I’ve customized many Italian dishes, often you can find me with a hearty bowl of meat sauce with grated parmesan cheese, which is not only filling, but also satisfying given my participation in numerous athletic endeavors.

                   As my formative years progressed, I was influenced by east coast fashion designs of Levi Strauss jeans, a traditional New-York staple, sprinkled with the colorful hues of Polo Ralph Lauren shirts, topped-off with some streamlined Nike-Air sneakers, to provide a crisp and clean casual prep-school ensemble which I wear when I traverse the city scape. This style of dress springs from the collegial attire often worn on most university campuses in the east coast, such as Brown University in Rhode Island or Wharton University in Pennsylvania. As an adolescent, my parents often embarked-on shopping road trips to places such as New York and Pennsylvania’s Factory Outlet Malls, where retailers such as Polo, Levi’s, and Nike were readily exhibited. As a young adult, when my evenings call for more polished apparel, I lean towards haute couture. With high-end fashion, I can express my creativity through a style known as the “Dandy Movement” which originates in Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York. The style manifests itself through bold pattern assortments in trousers, which are tailor fitted for a form-fitting display, capped off with single breasted form-fitting blazers, and patterned buttoned-down shirts and pocket squares. This modern twist on classic style is referred to as the “Dandy Movement”. The art of the Dandy Movement is a cross between classic British gentleman meets unlimited expression through patterned assortment of fabrics.  Although the prep-school style and the elegant gentleman are juxtaposed, they provide expressionism and artistic freedom, whereby I can readily present myself as clean and nonchalant, or Avant-guard within the same day, at different venues. These styles fit in well within the City of Toronto, where taste is an individual element but appreciated by onlookers. Travelling throughout the United Kingdom, and New York as young man has given me the exposure to styles and concepts which formed the basis of how I express my personal style. Therefore, although my lineage may be one part of me, my sartorial attire has been influenced by Britain gentlemen and capped off with an East Coast University flair.

                   Through travel for personal enjoyment, and work, fortune has smiled upon me in my occupation, which has allowed me to experience Canada’s most prominent cities: Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto. Through my journey’s, I have been able to embrace the architectural landscape from multiple cities. Real estate and architecture have always held a warm spot within me. I am influenced by the reclaimed lumber and clean lines of modern homes in Vancouver, British Columbia, added to the sleek European interior designs of minimalism which is expressed in the condos of downtown Montreal. I embody both of these styles in my own dwelling here in Toronto. In order to express my appreciation for both of these styles, I have renovated my interior space with spiced-oak hardwood floors, and taupe-grey porcelain feature-walls in my living room, to be reminiscent of Vancouver, with a clean European designed kitchen in snow-white as an ode to all things minimalist, which directly reflect my exposure to Montreal. Combining these two styles makes my home great for quiet reflection, or leisure and entertainment activities. Minimalism allows for spacious comfort, and clean designs allow for mental clarity to be gained, which allows me to conceptualize high-level thinking freely. The duality of these special designs is perfect for embracing all the four Canadian seasons. These are foundational elements which have influenced my sense of home, and what I define as style and comfort.

                   The City of Toronto as well as my cultural background have influenced my choice of leisure activities and entertainment. In Toronto, the popular theme is urban music, which consists of hip-hop, r&b, reggae and rap music. This genre known as urban music offers Influential heavy base-tones with soulful overtures. The music I gravitate towards incorporates themes from the islands and are blended with North American renditions that communicate expressionism, story-telling, insight and perspective through lyrics that rhyme over beats that flow. The music I listen-to intertwines with a lot of the sports I engage in. I am influenced to participate heavily in CrossFit, weight-training, basketball and football. Not only did I grow up being drawn to these activities because of where I grew-up, these sports were also what was and still is considered to be popular culture. These athletic genres are dominated by African Americans, and require high levels of athleticism, discipline and extension of oneself in order to reach peak levels of performance. The music influences the athletics, and the athletics influence references often found in the music. Both elements have created a symbiotic relationship. In fact, you can’t go to Raptors Basketball game in Toronto without hearing the roar of hip-hop music throughout the game, and during half time. Given that I am from the urban culture in a City that embraces the urban culture, you can frequently find me embodying music from Toronto’s ambassador, Drake. This young man has brought Toronto’s urban music scene to the World stage, and has revolutionized the global perspective on what it means to be urban in the City of Toronto, I am glad I am a part of this movement, and even more appreciative that I was able to witness this evolution from the onset of his musical ascendance which started in the year 2008 and continues to evolve and expand daily. Urban cultural undertones have changed the euphemisms we once referred to as Toronto, to the T-dot, and now we call it the “6ix”; the six is an acronym which highlights the amalgamation of the six-boroughs which influence the sound and style coming from Toronto. The six boroughs which are: East York, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York and the City of Toronto.

 The term osmosis readily comes to mind when I think of the term influence. Given that we are the byproduct of what we are exposed to, thereby we are influenced by everything we are exposed to. Throughout my development I have been privileged to be exposed to cultural flavours and foods that have enhanced my pallet and my culinary choices. The places I have travelled to have influenced the prep-school casual style I wear, and my travels abroad have influenced how I present myself to the world when I frame myself as an elegant gentleman while showcasing the Dandy Movement. Finally, the music I listen to is a direct reflection of the City I am in, and the headlining artist of my City which incorporates movement and a myriad of anecdotes expressed through the lyrics of our generation. My personal evolution from Caribbean settler to elegant gentleman is a tribute to what influence can do for a person. Therefore, it is material that we consider what we are exposed to, the places we go to, the people we meet, and the thoughts we choose to embody through our social circle, because without your conscious knowledge, over time, all these elements will positively or negatively influence you.

[softandbrave]

Been running like a chicken without the head (Nigerian version—let it go). I’m really good at pretending I’m okay when I’m actually in dire need of help or a hug. Even my therapist was tricked by my timeshare sales tactics (yes, I hated it). My boss used to say the best thing a client can say is that you were genuine. It’s something people try and perfect in sales, in multilevel marketing schemes, in wellness, in blogging, in retail. I hate that I can come off cool as a cucumber when I am spending my nights crying or being so angry I sleep with balled up fists. It is exhausting to come off as okay all the time. To have even people close to you who see your highlight reel or hear that you got a new job and think: she’s living her best life. In many cases the mask and the duality of who we present ourselves as is necessary for survival if not thrival in the relationships and careers and pursuits we enter. As a black woman im so used to pretending that I forget that I am always to some degree or another dehumanized, hypersexualized, characterized, belittled, under-estimated, or even seen as nonexistent. Yes, show up. Slay. Live your best (as of yet) life. Kick ass. But don’t let living in this mask be your life. Take it off sometimes. Let it out. Or even better (probably when you’re financially independent or are done giving a fuck truly) take that shit off and don’t look back. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmd-BkJhS1i/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hrenkguuikfm

[alekseiw-blog]

A Brief Look at Guitar Hero

Rhythm games are a specific genre of games that are centered around music and the player’s ability to follow a rhythm. Players are usually tasked to hit various sequences of buttons in time with the music. Thus, the hard goal for the player is to complete the song without losing, while the soft goal is to do so by accruing the most amount of points possible. This genre of games has been extremely popular in Japan since the 1990s with games like Beatmania, GuitarFreaks, and Dance Dance Revolution, which were developed by Bemani and published by Konami in 1997 and 1998. However, the success of the rhythm game genre would not be seen in the West until the release of Guitar Hero in the mid-2000s.

 Guitar Hero is a peripheral based rhythm game developed by Harmonix and published by RedOctane. The game was released for PS2 in 2005 in North America and in 2006 in both Europe and Australia. Guitar Hero’s gameplay does not stray from the classic rhythm game genre. Each button, which are arranged one by one along the neck of the guitar peripheral, are assigned a specific color: green, red, yellow, blue, orange. As the scrolling notes reach the bottom of the screen, players need to press the correct colored button while also lifting or pushing the strum bar, as to simulate the actual strumming of a guitar. While the game concept was not innovative, attempting to bring this type of game to the western market was a risky move. Most consumers had never had the chance to play such a game. Furthermore, because the game required the guitar peripheral, its retail price was $69.99; $20.00 more than the typical newly released game. However, Guitar Hero proved to be a risk worth taking as the game sold 1.53 million copies in its first 2 years. Guitar Hero managed to single handedly prove that rhythm games had a place in the Western Market. Thus, I would like to look further into Guitar Hero’s gameplay, especially in relation to Jesper Juul’s book, Half-Real.

 In the opening pages of his book Half-Real, Jesper Juul sees games as being half real. Juul believes that to “play a video game is therefore to interact with real rules while imagining a fictional world, and a video game is a set of rules as well as a fictional world” (Juul 1). In a general sense, it seems like Guitar Hero abides by these rules. The player must hit the right notes at the right time. They do this while also believing they are at a gig playing in front of a crowd. However, it seems Guitar Hero goes out of its way to tie those two aspects closely together. The rules of the game are informed by the narrative layer the game creates. The notes the player hits are in tune with the song you are playing.

This is then furthered in Juul’s next point when discussing the other duality that is characteristic of games. Juul states that “the early years of video game studies were often conceived as a discussion between narratology (games as stories) versus ludology (games as something unique)” (Juul 15). The term ludology is now often used to refer to the gameplay aspect of a game. Once again, in the case of Guitar Hero it seems its narratological and ludological aspects are built to complement each other. Going beyond simply having the notes be in accordance with the songs that are played, the guitar controller plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between narratology and ludology. Normally in games, controllers are used by players as means of input to perform actions in the game. The controller is part of the physical world, but not the digital one. Thus, when the player gives an input, and the system responds, it is understood as the system performing an action in the fictional world. In Guitar Hero, the guitar is still used by the player as a means of input to perform actions in the game. However, the guitar is not simply a part of the physical world. It is also part of the digital one. Thus, the guitar extends its purely mechanical functions and becomes a part of the fictional world. This in turn changes the relationship the player has with the fictional world. The experience becomes more immersive and rather than seeing the character perform an action based on their input, they believe they are performing it within the fictional world.

The simulation is further improved by trying to connect the player more with the fictional world of the game. The game has you “tune” the guitar in the beginning to make sure everything is calibrated correctly. You get to choose which character you want to play as and which guitar to use. While the characters and guitars do not affect gameplay, the developers took the times to write bios and descriptions as to help the player feel more engaged with the world. In addition, as you are playing a song, you can see your avatar and bandmates rocking out on stage while the crowd goes wild. The player avatar’s model will also react accordingly based on whether or not the player hits the right notes and so on. Once you complete a set, the player is provided a newspaper clipping with a review of their performance which provides a number score and star ranking. One final interesting aspect of the game is that all the songs that can be performed are actual rock songs. However, all the songs are covers. While the decision to have cover songs is most likely due to licensing, it ends up making the game more engaging. The player would have an easier time believing that they are a playing a cover rather than actually being Deep Purple performing Smoke on the Water at a bar. The player could also entertain the idea that in this fictional universe, they were the ones that came up and performed those songs first. Therefore, all their narrative touches help make the player feel more engaged with the world.

              While this fictional world might be immersive it still needs to try and keep its player involved through its gameplay. Juul explains that games attempt to do this by two different means. There are games of progression which “directly set up each consecutive challenge in a game” (Juul 67) and then there are games of emergence “that set up the challenges indirectly because the rules of the game interact” (Juul 67). Guitar Hero falls under the category of games of progression. An easy way to tell is that when you play a song you will always have to hit the same notes, no matter how many times you play that song. When describing games of progression Juul explains that once the player has completed the game, they will find “little reason to play the game again” (Juul 69). While this is true for most games of progression, Guitar Hero is different as it’s gameplay is also directly tied to the players physical ability. The challenge of the game is not to know each note of the song, but rather hitting them at the right time. Therefore, even if you were to play the song once and complete it, true satisfaction will come from getting better and mastering the song. Thus, there is reason to replay Guitar Hero.

In fact, practice is a key part of the game. As Juul states “Almost, always, practice brings improvement, and more practice brings more improvement” (Juul 95). I remember the first time I played a Guitar Hero game, I could not even complete the first song. While the initial failure was disheartening, there was something extremely satisfying about progressing and being able to complete a song. Guitar Hero is a satisfying game to play for distinct reasons based on what skill level you currently on. Complete beginners will find satisfaction from simply learning and completing songs. Average players will enjoy seeing themselves improving and seeing themselves just barely being to complete harder songs. And skillful players will get satisfaction from being able to complete complicated button combinations to subsequently truly feel in tune with the song and thus the fictional world. The enjoyment and satisfaction players get have a lot to do with flow. The concept of flow, as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is that “the player will enjoy playing if the challenges match the player’s abilities and thereby lead to a state of flow” (Juul 113). This sense of flow is something I would like to discuss more once I experienced more of it in other peripheral based rhythm games.

 To conclude, Guitar Hero managed to become a success and pave the way for future rhythm games in a market that originally didn’t seem interested in that type of game. Its popularity was not due to its novelty. It’s clear Developer Harmonix wanted to create a game that bridges the gap between the mechanical aspect and fictional aspect of the game and also the physical and digital world occupied by both the player and the game. The game goes further than expected by also detailing its fictional world to make it as immersive as possible while also creating a sense of progression through its gameplay.

 Bibliography:

Juul, Jesper. Half-Real: video games between real rules and fictional worlds. Paperback ed., Cambridge, Mass, MIT Press, 2011.

[visockyte-klaudija]

Dissertation Introduction

what I want to focus in this essay is the duality that occurs when photographic imagery (what kind though?) found in printed matter such as magazines, posters, and other advertising (maybe focus on adverts/displays) is manipulated by analogue and hand craft processes. This duality of the collage is one that speaks of the process of assembling or des-sembling as an event or performance that alters not only the image but the objecthood and material integrity of the photograph (note needs to either be a distinction between objecthood and material integrity or they need to be just mentioned as one aspect of the ‘objectness’ of the photograph)

Further to this, I want to consider how the resulting collage created by the analogue process spefically is a reaction against or a refrain from the context of circulation within digital/online spheres. Though the work is often reproduced for the purpose of publicity or documentation such as in blogs or online portfolios or art books, the image does not quite rest comfortably within those contexts. Like a garment (in an online retailer) we are not truly capable, even visually/optically, to really turn this creation inside out, peek at the seams and inspect the quality of the finish. The material/spatial quality of this work surely demands the presence and close/intimate inspection of a viewer who would not be satisfied with the mere ephemeral sheen of pixels on a computer screen. Like looking at issues of national geographic or flicking through a glossy magazine (or looking at a weathered poster while waiting on a platform), the work would demand an encounter, or rhyme most effectively with the desires of the viewer, when experienced in all peeling, ripped, slashed, pasted, crumbling glory.

This presence of the work which harks back so closely to the conception and enactment of the analogue and tangible processes / the viewer ought to see the work being made / the process of / the final outcome may speak of this process but also the artist may choose specifically to show the work being made to an audience/similarly the work as exhibited within a gallery would sit more comfortably than on a page of a web browser or even as a plate in a book - what is the effect of each of these? how does the role of the photograph within the collage engage with these contexts? think in terms of the object vs. the image vs. the space - surely the image is fine but the object is somewhat uneasy in some of these contexts?

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You're interested in discussing images which find their way to a gallery but potentially also you could speak about an alternate method of distribution if you get stuck, this could help counter the gallery context (remember DAVID N., the collage artist at the DIY art market in Peckham)

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You are also interested in talking about images as they are encountered in printed matter but it may help to specify what kind so choose between magazine or book images and something like film or advertising posters. Something tells me you're more interested in the advertising posters because of the simple connection to nouveau realisme but also consider that the encounter you have between these works of art and the advertising posters themselves vs. the magazine images vary quite greatly (in the sense that a magazine collage would quite likely be in some ways confined to the intimate scale of the magazine itself whereas a collage work made using posters will be much larger - poster scale - so the encounter perhaps will be much closer to that of a painting on a wall, also the visual grammar as such is much more likely to refer back to the process of adverts, displays, guerrilla fly-posting and paste-ups)