Percy Jackson series

 I love the entire genre of High Fantasy gods ( urban fantasy) I think that it puts newer perspective of religion with a modern twist.  one of the recommended reads what American gods but honestly I much rather re read the Percy Jackson series an anything else Rick Ryorden writes because it always complex, layered and dynamic in terms of characters, writing and subject matter.  I feel as though you can fit this series into teen fantasy which I hate because I feel like its beyond that kind of stereotypical teen fantasy and I personally think that if the movies where done better it would have the cult following that harry potter has.  The series just does such a good way of explaining pubescence, mythology and friendship that thats the key reason we don't respect it a much as we do other huge series. However, I think its good for adults to be reminded of these things because sometiems going back to those things puts life into perspective, but those are just my thoughts.

Harry Potter

Since it has come up, I guess its finally time for me to put my thought about this series into words.  Personally the entire culture that is solely based upon 7n books is quire remarkable.  I personally love this series and personally would dedicate aspects of my life to this series.  And So my Rant today will not be about the books themselves but how this transformed and entire generation and created an entire subculture that has theme parks dedicated to it.  when we start to talk about world builders, we can thank episodic tv series for the basis of modern day fandom and obsession.  From Fraisure to friends, to the office each cult like following has create and entire culture dedicated to a reality that doesn't exist.  DOESN'T THAT BOTHER YOU?  even though I personally am a culprit of this, I feel like this blows capitalism out of the water.  Being able to solidify an entire culture to a society that doesn't even exist is MIND BLOWING.  You and you alone can change the mind set of millions of people by a single paragraph of knowlage.  You can make millions of dollars by a single item and its scary.  Think about how our actual society works with the concept of nationalism, religion, and heritage.  ITs oddly similar and I hate thinking about it. 

End of rant

Clock Work Orange

Such a good reread I didn't think about this novel as science fiction I almost see this as a statement piece but honestly it makes sense that is is considered that.  I think its almost on the same playing field as v for vendetta? Anyway Its always a tough read but i think its necessary for everyone to read it at some point in time. Alex is one of my favorite narrators besides holden Coalfield that i could just read them talk for hours.  the district biased perspective is one that I love because there is no questioning their pov and you can see them change as a character a lot easier.  Also since I absolutely love the idea of rebellion but seeing that the rebellion and the government are almost equally as bad.  This seems to be a reoccurring thing happening in maybe half of all science fiction.  I feel as though this not only did it first but perfected the balance between the 2. 

cyber punk essay review

This week instead of reading something that was cyber punk, I decided to read the essay about cyber punk to delve a little farther into what cyber punk actually is.  All my life I thought I had a general understand ing of what cyber punk way but until this lecture I honestly did know what I was talking about before.  I felt as though the term cyber punk has been robed from the matrix series and doesn't do the sub genre justice.  I also Think that there are way more things we've gone over that can deal with cyber punk.  I didn't realize that Bladerunner was cyber punk but now it makes a lot of sense.  Personally I think the aesthetic of cyber punk is quite amazing.  The neon and technology and mustiness of futurism is quite amazing how well it works

Akata Witch

            All of the powers in this book are all derived from different problems each character has so interm yeah they are archypes.

Hound of the Baskervilles

Personally this is my least favorite of the Sherlock Holmes series.  however, the comic version made me re think that a little.  It made the series a bit more interesting and took out a lot of side dialogue and just lulls in the story.  I never really though of it as a gothic horror until I came into this class because I just thought it was considered "Love and Crime".  To me this one feel less like a burden to read and way more interesting.  Even the film adaptation I didnt like as much as I liked this version. I feel like they did a really good job at making Sherlock really creepy and disorienting which I liked even more about it.

Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake

I really enjoyed this novel.  I felt that the way it split the two story lines and almost became a tail of two cities but of the same person was amazing.  It was a little hard to follow at first about who the crackers where and how they really came to be and what exactly this disease was but after that, honestly I found that this was a very interesting and enjoyable read that I wouldn't have picked out for myself if it hadn't been a suggested reading.  I found this to be a pretty fast read which I really wasn't expecting.  The overtones of political power, religion and remarks on society I felt weren't that ridiculous.  I felt that they were tastefully developed and that the story in general was way less tacky then the log line said it was going to be.  I felt that the relationship between Snowman and almost his mind was a great way to kind of ease away from those blaring objectives and grounded us to the characters.  I especially likes the alludes to WW2 when we are in Jimmy's world .  I think it really helps put him in a timeline even though this is fictional but it definitely adds to the more realness that oddly i take away from this? Its odd that i actually find the similarities between this novel and "the catcher in the rye" remarkable? I feel that oryx and snowmans relationship actually closely resembles the hotel chapters in the catcher in the rye and also the attitudes between sex workers and relationships have a very similar tone.  I feel as though I can go on for hours bout how well loose ends are tied in this and also how the effectiveness of two storylines with seemingly 2 different characters even though we know they are the same person is remarkable.  Over all a very very good read.

Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

when talking about satirical science fiction its very hard not to go straight to the hitchhikers guid to the galaxy.  I loved the book and I loved the movie but never was able to experience the radio play.  I found it extremely different and also a little ore exciting.  Especially when you put into perspective this was an episodic and had to wait a week to hear the next part.  the voices were great and really enhanced the story. 

bloodchild

After reading this I'm not sure what my reaction is.  I like the way they explained the world slowly and we kind of understood what each term meant.  Im not sure if I liked this story to be honest.  I felt as though it was not as engaging as a story like this should be.  The story on a first read is odd I don't understand the relationship between the tlics and the Terrans. they are kind of like mother figures but also authorities? why do they have to have babies in Terrans if putting the eggs in animals work just as well?

I feel as though it had a lot to do with how people interact with each other when they are considered family.  I feel as though the main character wouldn't have done what he did if the tlic wasn't birthed from his father.  And he would have given up this crazy responsibility to his sister if she wasn't his sister.  its surprising how much giving someone a family title will change the perspective on this for this character.  its something I realise can have some connection even though personally I don't care to have

If I had to readapt this story I think it would be through web series?  I would slow down the egg portion and add a real relationship between the family members.  I feel as though id have a better understanding of the story if we establish history and the family dynamic before introducing these wild characters.  i also find it strange that the problem finds its way to their door.  its super easy to write that and i feel as though it should come more naturally. 

Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

One of my favorite authors of all time is Ray Bradbury.  and re reading any of his novels is always a pleasure especially the martian chronicles. The way he writes almost episodically into one novel is absolutely amazing.  He is almost  a predictor of the future in some ways because almost every story he writes as some bit of truth in our world today.  The portion of this book I would like to focus on is "There will come soft rains".  One of my absolute favorite portions of his of all time.  The story is so chilling and so absolutely plausible.  Right now we have so many things that are automated and easy that we really don't even need ourselves.  It honestly can definitely fall into the horror category which is so strange because I never thought it could be.  And if were being completely honest, this short story is the key to this entire class.  Syfy, horror, and fantasy all wrapped into a short almost 3 page section of this book.   I think more people should read this to kinda realize how it all falls into place and how stories can change over time to be even scarier than they were 50+ years ago

Lord of the RIngs

      In my experience of high fantasy, Lord of the rings will always have a special place in my heart.  Not only is the imagery astonishing, but the level of complexity some of these characters have is quite impressive.  Almost all of the characters, from the Hobbit through to the last LOTR, some characters have the upmost turn around.  We can start with Gandalf the grey to Gandalf the White, 

From Hell by Allen Moore

            I really really enjoyed this graphic novel because it truly is weird.  The use of dark shadows and scratchy drawings makes the story just that much weirder.  You also just get the sense that you are "big brother" when watching this story unfold by the way things are framed and how uncomfortably close you seem to be in the dialogue between the characters.  I still am not entirely sure of the whole plot even after reading it but its pretty funny in a twisted way.  Someone goes around killing 4 girls because it will save the males and also they were conspirators of the government.  Which then contradicts the later is different because they believe the government is killing all of these girls.  its a very interesting take on the ripper killings with the Moore spin of antagonizing government. 

The Grudge

           Personally, I love the J horror movies and all of the Grudges.  However I particularly didn't like Ju-on but i loved the grudge.  I think the main difference between the 2 is that since one was made americanized, I feel the threat of the grudge coming was way more real.  There are points in Ju-on that have very little rationality and almost just a jumbled mess of things going on.  Where as the American remake "the grudge" they stick to the rules of the world.  We get more of a sense that there is a way out in the American Grudge until its taken away from us because she is so powerful and really follows her own rules. 

Vampire Academy

       The obvious topic to talk about regarding the vampire academy is relationships and how abusive they where.  Instead Confinement is a theme I think is more powerful symbolically and rationally.
Rose Seems to always be confined.  Whether it be in in her room as punishment, the academy in general or within her own thoughts,  She is always trapped. Which also links to the themes of insanity and death.  Rose seems to be struggling with this idea of whats worse being insane and evil or being dead? And towards the end of the book it becomes eminent that thats what is holding her back.  She seems to come to a kind of conclusion that she is savings the souls of the wicked by killing them before doing harm. 
           Personally i didn't find this read very intersting because it almost seemed like a tween story ( which it is) and i just cant connect to those anymore.  I wish i was able but i feel as though most of the characters are whiney for little to no reason.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

            Vampire stories are one of my favorites which is why I chose to read Dracula by Bram Stoker.  Not only was that a long read but I feel as though its one of the longer reads that are just the right amount in length.  When starting to read it they actually had a very intriguing hook.  Jonathan Harker is one of those characters that has an interesting perspective and is very intelligent.  When we discover he is trapped it makes us concerned and how much of his circumstances there are true.  However as we continue he's a pretty stable and unchanging character.  I think his biggest point is when he was the first one to attempt to stab Dracula after Mina's death. 

             The most rememberable thing and refreshing thing from this novel that took place in the 1800's is how well mina is treated.  She is one of the original strong empowered females in novels like this.  As one of the very few characters, we see her past and notes and letters from her actual experiences which make her more sympathetic and like her more.  She is so liked that she it the one holding all the other characters together.  And so pure that when she does become a vampire, her usableness to be holy is super contradicting and makes her character even more complex than what it was already. She was the biggest advocate of the new woman to show women are more than their average roles.  Which starts to play into the over all themes of gender thought this entire book

         She tends to through the men off because of her confidence and "Man Brain".  I think thats why I enjoy this book so much is because Minas personality and ability to throw everyone off is almost commical.  And how them men treat her for the most part equally is super refreshing fro the 19th century

Frankenstein

Frankenstein

                     When it comes to monster stories I tend to have a love hate relationship with Frankenstein.  I personally think Mary Shelly is not an interesting writer, nor do I enjoy the format of letters.  However, I think it is an important book for people to read at least once due to the fact that it is one of the keystone books of this genre and does a very good job at a few different things


                    I think its important to realize that this book was, for the time, revolutionary for her to write this book.  It was a giant step into bringing women to the surface as not just object but as thinking and intelligent beings.

                   One of the most interesting thing about this book is that we feel for the monster which older ignorant individuals tend to forget.  The more human we make these monsters the better we can understand our own flaws.  Frankenstein's monster is the perfect combination of an abandoned child and showing the negatives to our revenge and own personal greed.   To me its quite funny when I read any monster books because we are never just scared about the monster, but what the monster represents and what it represents within us.

Watching Young Frankenstein was an interesting perspective on this entire structure of the monster movie because we are almost so accost to our flawed characters that we are more scared about silly jump scares from people than the actually scary and disturbing things.
                 
   

Horror tropes

Horror Tropes

• Fog
• Street light
• Candles
• Lighting
• Spider webs
• Rain/thunderstorms
• Tower/castle
• Violin
• Libraries / books
• Skulls
• Cemeteries
• Deformed person who isn’t the horror focus but meant to believe it is
• Footsteps
• A mysterious door with the light on
• Creepy butler
• Large staircases
• Paintings of portraits
• Howling and wolf noises
• horses/ horses being spooked
• Carriage
• Forests
• Basement
• Secret passageways
• Shadows
• Trains
• Monster
• Always something around the corner / corners
• Reveals
• Never a modern house or refurbished house
• Dull colors
• Nightime
• Full moons
• RATS