BloG PosT 6- Essay Selection for Project 3

      The essay I will be using to develop through scholarly research is “Gender-divided Video Games and the Nature of the Medium,” which is my second paper. I chose to focus on this paper in particular because I feel like the topic of video games has gained extra, recent attention than the topic of advertising. Also, I found this paper to be more of an interest to myself than the first; therefore, I believe I will be motivated to elaborate on the information already used throughout my essay while updating the information and providing viewpoints from sources, other than the two used in the first draft. Another reason behind choosing my second essay is that I had a difficult time finding sources relating to the topic of my first essay, which was the conflict of ESPN’s creation of a magazine issue of which focused on nudity. Finding scholarly research on the topic of video games and their ways of creating stereotypes, I assume, will be a benefit to my paper as I use my newly found sources to gain a clear sense of the scholarly conversation of my issue. Also, I believe that the addition of my new sources and their insights on my topic will gain further interest of an academic audience rather than my first topic from my first essay.

BLOG post #5- Paper Content: Henry Jenkins and Working Thesis

     For examining my game, “Romeo,” I will be using Henry Jenkins insights. I chose to focus on Jenkins’s concepts in his essay because he grounds his analysis of video games based on an extensive amount of research; therefore, he is credible and knowledgeable when considering my topic for my paper. Jenkins’s goes in depth about the goods and bads of digital culture and how it often falls short of what is possible. In reference to the game I have chosen, there is a great deal of reasons behind the fact the creator of this game has left out many alternatives, or has fallen short of what is possible, that could perhaps make this game of interest to both girls and boys. Although his explanation of video games should not be the blame for why children no longer play outdoors as they used to back in the nineteenth century does not really tie in with my analysis of my paper, I do think he is correct when making this statement and it helped me realize that video games really are not that bad. In addition, before reading this essay, I did not have an interest in video games whatsoever, but Jenkins’s really changed my outlook as he explained his ideas of why the games are not bad throughout his essay. Another reason Jenkins will be my lens for my paper is that he thoroughly explains how video games and computer culture has became yet one more gendered space, or in other words, they create stereotypes about the things boys like to do as to what girls like to do. This also is easily understood and will be great to add to my paper because I have already learned much about gendered stereotypes from both Kilbourne and Selfe’s essays.

     A possible working thesis I have came up with is: Because video games create virtual spaces that are aimed specifically towards either boys are girl, which idolizes gender, cultural stereotypes, game creators should be required to include specific interests of both genders into their virtual spaces so that all game players can equally enjoy them.

bLoG PoSt #4- Video Game for Paper 2

        For our Applying a Critical Eye to the Web Paper, I chose to examine a video game called “Romeo.” I found this online game from a free arcade website called FreeArcade.com. You may have a look at the game yourself at: http://www.freearcade.com/Romeo.flash/Romeo.html.
       The website posts the description of the game as follows: Help Romeo find his beloved Juliet in this fun Shakespeare-themed adventure game! Collect all the roses in each act to move on to the next! I chose to examine this online video game because it can be related to Henry Jenkins’ essay in multiple ways. Also, in reference to Jenkins’ essay, this game suggests many aspects considering gender distinctions, or in other words, “boy culture” and “girl pace.” This online video game also suggests and can bring about different point of views, or arguments. The aspect that caught my eye the most from this game is that it is quite obvious the creator of this game is trying to reach out to both boys and girls, which is hardly the case when playing video games because they seem to be known to have a target audience of boys only. The game is based on Romeo and Juliet and the idea of the game is to help Romeo get through “Shakespeare Country” to find his one and only love, Juliet. During the game you are required to get through ten levels having only five lives. Each level has obstacles allowing you to collect graphics, which look like novels and they stand for Shakespeare’s chapters from his plays, and retrieving roses that are hidden throughout each level. The way you move Romeo through these obstacles is with the four arrow-keys found on your keyboard.
       Deciding what claim I want to argue mainly about this online game is not easy. Some ideas that came to mind were to argue about the just “boy culture” aspects, or simply just “girl Space” aspects. I then came to realize that this game offers a great deal of stereotypes, which is what I decided to aim my approach of analysis towards. So here is what I came up with: While video games are understood as making up virtual play spaces that allow boys and girls to extend their reach, explore, manipulate, and interact with a more diverse range of imaginary places, the virtual space that these games suggests are portrayed as a more gendered space, they create stereotypes of boys and girls which, in reality, means that as the player of the game, you are really not being taken away from anything much different than the life you are already living in.

Blog Post 3- Main Claim on Visual Argument Paper

     When trying to decide what exactly my main claim should be for this assignment, I found it very difficult to think of which claim to use (I began with an idea of using two of the three main claims), and how to go about writing it. I want to argue that it is irrelevant to have nude photos on the cover of a ESPN magazine because they are, as a company/network, focused on sports, not sex and models. With that said, I chose to use a claim of policy. So, this is what I came up with:

     Rather than giving off an idea that there is a correlation between nudity and sports on the cover of a sport issued magazine, ESPN should be focusing on providing suitable photos of athletes to their spectators of whom are of all ages.

     I chose this to be my main claim because it elaborates on my argument of why it makes no sense to create a comparison of nudity and sports on the front cover of a sports magazine and why it should change. I realize that it is "The Body Issue," but it is created by the famous sports network, ESPN. I also added that their readers, or viewers, are of, or could potentially be of, all ages. I am a huge sports fan, especially basketball, and if I was a child and saw the WNBA player Candice Parker naked, on the front cover of a sports magazine, what ideas would come to my mind? Perhaps I need to pose nude to be good at performing in basketball. Or, I am not "cool" unless I pose naked for magazines. Children have creative minds and who knows what they could assume from seeing this type of advertising. There is much to argue on this topic, in my mind, but I will stop at that.

NEW- Blog Post 2/ Discussing Intended Audience



http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2010/10/espn_magazine_nude_water_polo.php



      After meeting in class today, I realized our "Visual Argument Paper" needed to have images of advertisements that have something to actually argue about. I felt my first post did not have images that had too much to argue about so check these ads out and tell me how you could possibly resist to bring about an argument! These are three ads, which are posted on the front cover, from different ESPN, "The Body Issue," magazines. Supposedly, ESPN is an ideal television network, which also has two editions of magazines, that is targeted to attract the attention of men. Obviously, we have a good amount of women who partake in watching, or looking at, ESPN products, ads, or television, such as myself. But, because ESPN is a "sports" network, there are many one-sided opinions that suggest anything that ESPN delivers is intended to aim at men, or young boys who have an athlete that they look up to as a role model, or simply have a love for sports. For these images in particular, I believe it is obvious the intended audience is of men, at least I can hope. I realize the magazine is explains that it is ESPN's "Body Issue," but ESPN is about sports, not naked women. As I previously said, that ESPN has many viewers of young boys, I know for a fact I would never want my little boy, or girl, to see this type of image; and how could he/she miss it? It is on the FRONT cover of the magazine. I think it's obvious to say that ESPN is using naked women to sell their product. That is what it seems to many who are not familiar with sports, but what they are really using is naked photos of amazing athletes. Who would have known? Does that still make it okay? I think not.



http://news.oxerjen.com/headline/esther-vergeer-wheelchair-ace-bares-body-and-soul.html









http://www.dipity.com/timeline/Espn-The-Magazine-S-Body-Issue/



Blog Post 2- Images and Their Intended Audience

http://inventorspot.com/articles/amazing_sports_ads_7472

     For this assignment, I found three Nike advertisements that share a common theme of running. Each of these ads are intending to reach a particular audience. The audience can be of people who like sports, Nike, running, or perhaps simply working out. Also, depending on the individual themselves, I believe these ads are targeted at athletes, boys or girls, and people who are ages between 10 and 50. I suggest such a wide range of ages because, as I said before, depending on the individual will explain whether or not these type of ads will catch their attention. For example, my father, who is 42 years old, would be drawn in to look and think about these ads. This is because he enjoys working out, loves sports, and buys Nike products. However, my grandfather, who is 82 years old, works out more than I do. He walks and stretches every single day but I am sure he would not be of interest to these type of advertisements because of his age and the fact that he may get an idea that he could never look like one of these athletes, no matter if he wanted to. My grandfather may glance at one of these ads and have no interest or thoughts towards it, whereas my father would have some type of response to the image mentally, and if it affected him enough, he could react towards it and go work out or run that same day, as I would do myself if I were to see these images. I believe Nike's goal is to reach out to people who want to look like an ideal athlete, as they are shown as an example in these ads. Nike is trying to give off an idea to their audience that if you wear Nike products (meaning they want you to buy Nike products), go out and run like these athletes shown, then you will be in shape and get a body similar to the people displayed on these images. The third advertisement shown on my blog may target an audience of men more than women because they are referring to football players. The images gives off an idea that if you run and get yourself in shape, then when or if your football team goes into overtime you will be able to have the same intensity and energy as you did in the beginning of the game because you are in shape from running. However, I still think it signals the same theme as the other images, as they show an image pertaining to the idea of just running.



http://inventorspot.com/articles/amazing_sports_ads_7472




http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/photoserve/surveillance/e3if6a7db1fa90731dd440cb50870eaf9eb





What I want to learn...

   In my English Composition class I would like to learn how to better my writing skills. Also, I have always had issues with correctly citing works of other authors and how to set up my works cited, or bibliography. Not only do I need to work on my citing but I would like to sharpen my skills in writing summaries. I understand plagiarism is a major issue in any college course and it usually ends up as a failing grade for the person who does copy work of other authors. With that said, I want to learn how to easily stay away from making plagiarism mistakes.