Final Story After Interactions Pic
1 media/Screen Shot 2019-11-18 at 4.25.37 PM_thumb.png 2019-11-18T13:29:05-08:00 Alyssa Hill ef191762993698a91ee3be8e6c183d06354a6c5f 35591 1 Loss Undersea D. Fox Harrell plain 2019-11-18T13:29:05-08:00 Alyssa Hill ef191762993698a91ee3be8e6c183d06354a6c5fThis page is referenced by:
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2019-11-13T14:26:42-08:00
Loss, Undersea - Choice
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2019-11-18T21:03:57-08:00
As Loss Undersea comes to an end, the figure changes to a final form and the screen fades black. Finally, the story replays for the reader including all of the choices that the reader had made throughout. This gives an illusion that the story was under the control of the reader, but truly it was not. The story actually allowed a window into the real world through a metaphor of having no control. Having very few similar choices made it easier to control the reader because the reader was under the expectation that he is in control of the story, but truly the story has little variety by offering the option to change very few words.
It is possible that Harrell is attempting to draw attention to something real with the false sense of control that he offers his readers. Perhaps he is acknowledging the lack of control that we truly have over our own lives and even over our society. This makes logical sense with the theme of loss, struggle and mentality of individuals that he puts forth in the narrative. It even agrees Flanagan and Nissenbaum’s Values at Play, where they argue that video games have the power to alter social practices, personal beliefs, and even public policies(3). With this in mind, it is possible to wonder whether Harrell was hoping to influence readers to recognize their lack of control and attempt to take power over their own lives.
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2019-11-13T14:27:51-08:00
Loss Of Tradition
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An example poetry within the text
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2019-11-18T14:18:35-08:00
The image to the right is an example of one of the floating stanzas that can be seen through the entirety of the virtual world created by Andy Campbell and Mez Breeze. These floating stanzas are interesting in a multitude of ways and not solely due to their contents. When first emerging into the world created by Andy Campbell and Mez Breeze one of the first things the reader takes notice of are thesis glowing lines of text, the reader is drawn to them due to their bright color in contrast to the black surrounding as well as the fact that they are all moving in there own unique way be it vertically, horizontally, or in place. These floating stanza only become more interesting when you start to consider the text being displayed, all of these floating lines of text are composed in Mezangelle, a form of poetry meant to mimic computer code. Within this specific image, the use of this form of poetry is clear as the lines within the stanza are constantly broken up by specific formatting that is common within most computer coding languages. The authors of The Dead Tower use these specific visual and formatting choices to make a statement regarding the loss of tradition. This statement is made clear when considering the fact that traditional poetry is considered to be a very fluid and rhythmic, Andy Campbell and Mez Breeze form of poetry contradicts this on many levels. As seen in the image above there is not much rhythm represented in the stanza, the lines are concise and jumbled together and the use of specific coding elements breaks up the words and lines further decrease the futility of the stanza as a whole. The author’s specific use of such poetry is used to make a claim regarding the antiquity of traditional writing. This concept of the loss of tradition is further emphasized when considering the formatting of text as a piece of electronic literature rather than a classic poem. This concept of traditional writing not being enough within this technologically advanced age is not a new one either, as stated by Dwight Longenecker, “As text dwindles what will be lost? In fiction, the most important loss will be the activity of the imagination as the reader engages with the text. Screen storytelling leaves nothing to the imagination, but audio-visual communications may.”( Dwight Longenecker). This quote helps to show the potential rise of new forms of narrative within this day and age. alsdkfjas