Noob in Academia

An Idea

2009-09-23T20:27:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing how ideas can just spring up when doing mundane things? I was rinsing dishes, loading up the dishwasher and general kitchen straightening when this sucker struck me:

If I'm going to have to wrestle with the question of the politics involved in taking something from pop culture and bring it "up" to an Academic level, why not kind of embrace it? By embracing it, I mean, why not explore this context of the Academic snootiness of Literature in bringing pop culture into the classroom (not an object to be studied)? And, by exploring literature snottiness, why not explore Composition's position in the field as well. Face it, Comp is not respected as much as literature--look at how it got started. It's background and roots is preventing it from framing itself as its on field--a separation from the idea of composition as a tool other departments use. There's gotta be a way to tie these two together. Might even have to get a bit rhetoric~y. I'm thinking of an article I found this summer for a class I took. I'm gonna have to dig that up.

Anywho, that's my note for now.

A STNG Funny

2009-09-23T19:18:00.001-07:00

Books Books and more Books

2009-09-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

I was cruising around Amazon.com, ordering a book I need for one of my classes, when I had the brilliant idea of searching for books to deal with my ideas for my dissertation. I ordered three extra books (which is barely a drop in the bucket of books I want to read for my diss, because they are just that cool). Well, two of them are here! YAY!

The two books I have are:

Murray, Janet H. Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace

Galloway, Alexander R. Gaming: Essays on Algorithmic Culture.

I am super excited, to say the least. The third book I ordered is from N. Katherine Hayles. N. KATHERINE HAYLES! I think I could only be happier about that purchase if it was Chaos Unbound I had managed to order and get on the cheap. XD

The Galloway book should be interesting. It is actually a part of a series (18 books) that has N. Katherine Hayles as one of the series editors. Again, N Katherine Hayles. /fangirl squeals

Thank you Dr. Mark Wildermuth for introducing me to N. Katherine Hayles work!

Ok, ok /fangirl shutoff I'll be posting more later about more ideas I'm having. We'll see if anyone follows along, or if I'm just shooting ideas and fangirling to myself. ^.~

You're never alone

2009-09-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, I thought this was hilarious. Sometimes you can feel a bit weird studying something different. You kind of feel alone, then you find scholars out there that are in the same field you are and that feeling of loneliness lessens. Well, whenever I feel alone I'll just remember that there are weirder things out there to study: zombies.

Taken from News of the Weird:
If society were ever attacked by zombies, we would probably be
doomed, and quickly. That was the conclusion of two university
researchers in Ottawa, Ontario, who set up mathematical models
hypothesizing zombie attacks as infectious diseases with the well-
known characteristics of zombie biology from popular fiction. In
fact, according to a July BBC News report, zombies are more
threatening than virulent diseases, because they can regenerate
(unless decapitated or incinerated, of course). More troubling was
researchers' presumption that zombies move slowly, as in older
movies, but in recent fiction, they're super-quick, making them
nearly invincible. [BBC News, 7-18-09]

Transitions

2009-09-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

Wow! I haven't touched my blog or my dancer in a while. >.> So, as I have finally decided to get my ass in gear and start to focus on my Ph.D. I've mulled it over and have decided to dedicate Noob in Academia to my goings on with my Ph.D.

What exactly does this mean? Well, it means my blog will be updated with my progress or just ideas of what I'm doing with my research and dissertation. Think of it as the blog is turning into a big giant whiteboard/posterboard full of notes and post its, etc etc.

Currently I'm still getting courses under my belt. One of the classes I'm taking will hopefully lead to a reading list. I've been exploring amazon and realize that there are many many sources out there that I need to explore as I begin to focus on what I want to research exactly.

Obviously I want to do something with gaming. In the beginning of my graduate studies I believed that I wanted to go with something along these lines: Videogames (especially role playing games) as literature. This topic is requiring some tweaking in that I'm actually entering the Composition/Rhetoric field, New Media Studies. While I do want to explore the concept, and ideas already out there of videogames as literature, my dissertation will not be dedicated to it. Though I'm thinking a chapter exploring the idea and developments that have occurred would fit in nicely. =)

Whatever the specific focus of my dissertation (which my advisor has also suggested of having a chapter using video games to teach first semester first year composition) I know I will or I want to explore address this question/idea: the politics behind popular culture entering the ranks of literature/academics.

My Little Dancer

2009-06-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

So, I'm leveling my MNK and BRD in a static. I decided that it would probably be beneficial to level my DNC as a sub job. I've decided to try and do it "old school". I've been leveling my DNC slowly, no power leveling. I suppose I'll start seeking party soon; I'd like to hit level 16 first. That way I can update my armor. I have been using Fields of Valor though, I love the bonus xp on top of the xp from killing the mobs.

It was funny the other day during MNK static, the brd in party said that he was going to make his macros all haikus, lol. I think he only really made one, for mage's ballad. But it was funny! I thought of a paper topic: Sayings in Macros: poetry in videogames. People try to take some time to make up a saying that goes with the macro for whatever spell or ability they are using. Some take lines from movies, others make something up. I once partied with a player who had Bohemian Rhapsody all in macros. It was hilarious! There he'd be, smacking a mob and then, BOOM! Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics are filling the chat log XD

It kind of says something about the players personality of what they have in their macros. Sometimes it is simple, and others it can be very elaborate. And sometimes, it is just plain annoying. I mean, take a healer who has elaborate macros for cure spells. Now imagine partying with that healer >.> Not fun!

So, macro sayings, something worth looking at, and also have a set that doesn't spam the damn chat log.

Quick Abstract and Title

2009-04-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

So, I'm gaming and doing a Dynamis-Qufim and realize: title and abstract due tomorrow. o.O Hmmm, gotta have something. Hate making titles, hate abstracts---hate freaking Nightmare Weapons hitting me with their AOE when I'm silenced and can't do anything about it! /em goes to move character further away--out of AOE range.

Okay. So ever since I was told I needed a title before presentation day (makes sense, doesn't it?) I've been ruminating and have come up with some cheesy stuff: Bildungsroman 2.0, Reading Rainbow to Reading Console, I'm sorry you're novel is in another castle: videogames as novels; From printing press to consoles: novels and greater evils (a favorite) and the like. So, I have chosen the "less" cheesier of the list:

Opening a book is as easy as selecting "start": a look into Final Fantasy X&XI

This work looks at what defines a novel--plot, character, realism--and applies those ideas to two videogames from Square Enix Final Fantasy series: Final Fantasy X & XI. While X is a stand alone game, XI is a massively multiplayer online role playing game. The work will examine the story and development of characters from X & XI as well as include information gathered from interviews of those who play XI.

So there you have it, short and sweet. And the whm in party has died like 5 times--rivaling the leading death count of the suicidal taru blm. Go go death race!

Vid: CS components

2009-04-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

not sure which "listen to my story" i want to use

Learning how to do stuff Small

2009-04-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

I went to the library today. I walked out with 5 books I really don't need per se. I think I'm planning as if this project is gonna be bigger than it is actually is or is supposed to be. Now, I know it is better to be over prepared rather than under prepared...but I'm having flashbacks to when I wrote my thesis (all I need is long typing sessions and lots of caffeine (mt dew, monster, mt dew, monster, mt dew, monster, vault, vault, etc)).

My mantra at the moment to try and combat this data overload is "plot, character, theme". Now, the matter of making my argument stronger and looking for possible arguments against so I can do a preemptive strike--that brings more and more information that I need to wade through. Plus, I'm gather articles and books that are just plain old interesting to me.

Something I've noticed: when people aren't bashing videogames for violence (think of the children! (how about we think about other videogame genres?)) people are studying them for learning simulations, economics, or in a business manner.

So, I plod on chanting: plot character theme. plot character theme, plot character the--ooo, chocolate--plot character theme.

Good guys Bad guys

2009-04-14T15:43:00.001-07:00

FFVII

Cloud

Sephiroth

FFVIII

Squall.......................................................................................................... Edea

Ultimecia (can you say Lillith myth?)

FFX

Tidus.......................................................................................................Yuna

Sin................................................................................Yevon

You're never too old

2009-04-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

skip scholarly academic conversation: let's talk about pron! (yes, I deliberately mispelled it; it is a gaming habit, just like dorps instead of drops)

What is adult content? What is art, is playboy art? I love pinups, yet others would call the work of Olivia and others crude. What about violence pron (you now, not dealing with sex, but with violence for violence sake?) Is there an age limit for sex and violence?

This man answers no to the age limit for sex question. Maybe he's the smart one.

75 year old Porn star

Question--Joseph Campbell

2009-04-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know if Joseph Campbell still holds any merit? I remember reading a chapter from Hero with a Thousand Faces talking about the cycle a hero must go through--it held merit for the class but I think I remember reading that merit was fading academically.

My Project...Kinda Sorta Maybe...Notes

2009-04-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know it's been seeming like I've been slacking. So, to counteract this, I've decided to start posting notes, references and ideas as my project goes along (plus if I post my notes--they'll be handy for the most part; and you get a better idea of how my brain works and the many jumping of the tracks the train of thought takes). This is the beginning (welcome to my little world of "ordered" chaos).

Novel as defined by A Handbook to Literature 7th edition Ed. Haromon and Holman: Novel is used in its broadest sense to designate any extended fictional narrative almost always in prose. In practice, however, its use is customarily restricted to narratives i which the representation of character occurs either in a static condition or int he process of development a the result of events or actions. Often the term implies that some organizing principle--plot, theme or idea--should be present in a narrative that is called a novel.

There is a general definition of Novel. The history of the novel is multifaceted and international. I've narrowed my focus on the development of the English novel and the American Novel. Now, if I remember correctly most early novels centered around morality, namely female morality. (Having awful memories of Ruth, and Charlotte, and the like. *shudder* The only one I really liked was Ruth Hall from Fanny Fern.) Vaguely remember term Bildungsroman--which is defined as a novel that deals with the development of a young person, usually from adolescence to maturity.

Also doing some research into the Age of Johsnon and his groups reaction to novels--I remember arguing that he wasn't against novels, but feared experience would be lost because novel readers would be locked away in their reading closests as opposed to living life. Anyone know anything?

What has the novel to do with the Noob and her precious consoles and games? Ohoho~(to quote a vid. game character from FFXI). My idea: videogames as novels. Specific focus: FF games, the three most popular(7, 8, 10) and the mmo and the favorite expansion (which for me is CoP). At the moment the stand alone games deal with plots and the growing of a character into a type of maturity (plus there is romance--which is tied to the novel according to AHtL). The MMO is going to be more arguable in that each individual's character is a main character in their story. Which now that I think about it is set up from FF10 (great line: This is my story.) So there is a progression from the stand alone game's main character story to the interactive MMO where the gamer has their story tied into the main characters story of each expansion.

Vid ideas: have 7, 8, 10's openings in the video as well as a quickie (if possible) overview of CoP. Interview with fellow gamers of FFXI--will have audio and/or text. Need to figure out if I will narrate or present text in my argument (I hate my voice, which kills my dj aspirations).

Resources: games, fan made wiki's, handbook to literature, several histiories of the english novel, as well as convergence culture, and other resources I pull from my master's bibliography. More detailed list later.

2009-04-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

I saw this on the fail blog attached to icanhazcheezburger I found it deliciously funny. TWAT: Total War Against piracy Theft/copyright crime

Carla U: Copyright on the word F**K

2009-03-30T11:23:00.001-07:00

Here's a song I found amusing--it plays in the opening of the documentary: F**K: A documentary.

Granted, this is the censored version (I couldn't find an uncensored one on YouTube). Visit her site if you want to skip the kazoo: carlau.com

Hybridity

2009-03-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

Ever since becoming a GTA, I've always had to deal with this "problem." You see, I teach, but I'm also a student. Now, the thing is I'm beginning to realize that I don't necessarily fit the English Instructor mold--I can look the part: dress professionally, hair pulled back in a bun, have the glasses. But my teaching style apparently doesn't fit the look.

What's got me talking about it this time? Last time I brought this up because a someone was complaining about me. Well, not this time (knock on wood). Actually, what brought this up was a question I asked one of my classes: what kind of music does an instructor listen to?

The first reply: an instructor or you? Now, the class came to a consensus that it is all dependent upon the personality of the instructor. But, I asked them to please explain the whole, "instructor or you" bit.

They don't see me as a traditional instructor. I don't lecture; I don't preach (too much, I heard added on in the back, along with a giggle). I'm more "like us." "You get along better with you" "you let the information soak in and help us understand it in our terms."

Now, the question is, Is this a good thing? Can I be accepted by the Academy as a Ph.D (when I get it)? Or will I forever be a student in the Academy's eyes?

I've been working on a paper comparing the Academy to the Borg Queen from Star Trek. It is true that the Borg is often used to represent any "evil" that seeks to take over society/species. Sometimes, I wonder if my holding on to my student tendencies and "language" as my small act of defiance. You cannot fully assimilate me! Yet, still I stay and try to become assimilated and get those letters after my name. Because it is with those letters I can hopefully teach in a university--the Borg ships of Academia--and share my love and passion of English with others. I do that now; but apparently in a non-traditional instructor way. Which confuses the hell out of my students, and sometimes me.

One of the best pieces of advice I received about teaching was: I simply walk into the room and wait. At the beginning of class, I get up and teach; because no one else in the room is going to do it.

There is just something about that advice, that stuck. It calmed my confessed fears of authority. I am not a big scary authority figure; but merely a "student" who gets up because nobody else is going to do it.

Here's a title for someone to yoink (or I may have yoinked it from some published material) Demons in the diploma: misadventures in getting letters after my name.

Pushup Kitteh!

2009-03-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

Free Images

1 more song

2009-03-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

I think I'm addicted to YouTube.

5 songs

2009-03-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

Link: Apocalyptica

Link: Johnny Cash

Future Project Plans

2009-03-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking for my final project of turning a part of my thesis into a video with audio recordings of my writing (findings) from the study. Video will definitely play a big part because when you're talking about a video game the terminology does not cross over to those who are not part of the community. With video some of the game mechanics will be involved, if nothing else, it'll be entertaining. My audience would be the general public (of academia?) My whole goal of writing my thesis was to show that playing an MMO to the best ability it was designed to be played is a lot harder than what it looks--there are literacies (gaming, platform, traditional, communication skills--typing, vent servers, in game emotes; slang/terminology specific to the game and in gaming) involved. Plus, it was/is an opening to the idea of RPGs being similar to or just being novels. Subject matter: um...MMOs, specifically FFXI (because it's the one I play and am "addicted" too)

I think my audience would expect a video that is well thought out as well as audio that can explain what is being seen on screen--why does that character have a tail, why is that group split up to where some people are further away and others are closer to whatever they are killing, etc) The audio will introduce and explain, the video will show as visual backup. (Go go frapps!) The only thing about the video is that it will be hard to see some of the smaller aspects that the gamer uses when playing. Menu buttons rarely stay on screen as players become used to their arrangement and can quickly go to them and use them faster than they can be read. Some things may show on screen, like macro rows, that the audio may not address. It will also be hard to show gameplay and player chat--you can really only focus on one when recording.

While I may have already done some alphabetic text (thesis) I need to go back through and pick out the ideas I'm wanting to the video to focus on. Like Poe said of short stories: it should be able to read and enjoyed in one sitting. So, I don't want an extremely long video. Long enough to serve it's purpose, short enough that peoples' mind nor bodies become numb. After choosing the ideas to focus on, I'll then gather the video showing those ideas--gotta dig out those old permission forms.

I'm composing as an individual/mini group. You see, even though I will be the "author" of the text, in an MMO to really gain the experience you need other players. They will be "authoring" as well, the chat on screen comes from our interaction. I'll also being doing this alone because as far as I'm aware no one else in class plays this game. Though it would be interesting to do a video over the different types of MMO and their shared literacies as well as some differences. And I'll always have my tech support (go go D)

I foresee my revision process as including some cursing, more cursing and chocolate. XD
I think editing the video after the intial one is made will be somewhat difficult. The problem will lie in the translation of the work that i see in my head versus what can be made to appear on screen (limiations of gameplay, permissions, time constraints, software constraints, etc)

I think I'm definitely stronger in my skills with alphabetic text; which is why I'm looking at pulling ideas and the script for my audio from what I have already written. I definitely want to improve on video literacies as well as making the audio to fit my video and ideas.

I'll most likely post this text on the interwebs. Go go file sharing sites!

WwNM: Blog-o-Readings

2009-03-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

Cooper:
I really enjoyed Cooper's chapter over Learning Digital Literacies. Personally, I kind of wish I read this chapter earlier (which is what I get for not exploring the book). I liked it that even though her five strategies kind of seemed obvious, it something that needed to be said and seen. To put it simply, it is kind of like common sense, yeah, you should know it but it takes somebody telling you, or you reading for it to "click" (and sometimes you just gotta learn the hard way...you know, like when your parents told you something trying to keep you from making that mistake/having that experience, and you ignore them, then BOOM! it happens, and in your mind you have a revelation: holy *&%#, mom and dad were right!) Yeah, like that.

Now, what I wrote in my margins were not about revelations but were questions (let's explore the ink in the margins): ""content" rather than skills" Archaic? and then, Can meaningful and Academic go together? Now, the archaic comment was at the end of the first paragraph where Cooper was talking about how teachers are afraid to teach digital literacies because they are worried that "skills" will take away from "content". Is this the new archaic, where we are so scared of the scary eyes that are watching and fear they are going to come to our classroom door and haul the instructor away from the students *dramatic high pitch cry: won't someone please think of the childre....Students!* I think that is the point of Multimodal Composition. Content can be taught with skills. Skills can help shape and inform content. We just need to be told that. Kind of like how some articles you read have you thinking: i thought everybody knew this? Well, it may be that way, but it wasn't written and published. Even though we are beginning to champion the cause of mutlimodal composition, it still needs to be written and "published" for it to become true. Precedents need to be set.

Griffin

I like Griffin. I liked it that she talked about writing centers and their position in all this multimodal happenings. I really found the section "Discovering Rhetorical Correspondences" interesting. I think it's because of the work I particpated in during my Master's about writing centers. During the work, I kept seeing the theme of tutors/consultants (whatever you label you want to give them) that when they were at a loss they turned to grammar. So, you have the idea of the writing centers begging their false persona of fix-it-shops and editing services be dropped, but the people who are asking for this are helping to perpetuate the idea of "fix-it". I'm starting to digress here...perhaps this also ties to the idea of the perfect paper, and the specific focus of the end product.

MMkay, where was I? So, I find it interesting that tutors who probably surf the web in their downtime, are afraid to touch multimodal compositions. I mean, am I the only nerd out there that when watching a movie or tv show, or even an commercial/ad just start to automatically apply ideas and concepts leaned from English classes. Really?! Some shows/movies reek of ideas, REEK! (You're looking at someone who took the movie Starship Troopers and wrote a paper over it about how it fits into ideas of rhetoric. Mayhaps the real problem is the defining and categorization of something multimodal into "Composition". We are having to update a catergory of English that still has stereotypes surrounding it. So, people in the field must battle stereotypes of what Composition and Rhetoric is, as well as defining a new category to include a new class of composition.

Small Video

2009-03-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

Here it is, my little video I have put together. I tried to make it about Academia and Assimilation (the kick I'm currently on this semester). It really isn't 5.5 minutes long; it's 4 and change.

I used screenshots from the game as well as video. I chose the music not only because they're songs I like, but also because of the lyrics. I could of had the music fade out and in in certain spots, but I kind of like the dissonance. It shows editing, a work in process that never quite reaches perfection.

Video Statement

2009-03-05T17:01:00.000-08:00

Ok. Here is my video sentence...which is either a run-on or a paragraph.

btw, I like the random audio. >.> So statements get randomly get cut off; which is kinda of funny and adds to my statement imo.

Revisions and New Media

2009-02-26T18:56:00.001-08:00

So, video projects. I am so behind because my body decided it wanted to fight my brain...so far, my body is winning :X

But here are some ideas running through my head for this small vid project which some of my classmates have already just kicked arse on.

IDEAS
Playing with Tagg's article, and the idea of that with the loudest or most piercing sound has authority: my cat. My cat loves to hear his voice in the acoustics of the hall. His voice is piercing and can readily travel throughout the home, and can be heard from outside the door and garage. So, I'm thinking of making a funny vid based on his furriness' love of his voice.

The next is one I'm currently working on with Hts. I'm working with the idea of silence and authority of academia. I'm beginning to work on a paper about how Academia is like the Borg (from Star Trek: TNG) And that idea is converging with the idea of silence as a tactic of instructors--forcing their students to talk. I admit, I'm nervous about it; but it won't cause any waves or anything exciting. I'm just a little noob mouse who likes to pretend they've become a rebel lion. XD

So there we go. A quickie update of ideas floating around in my brain.

Yoinking JPs Idea

2009-02-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

1) Visit JP's blog: The tachi...can't spell, but check the blogs I follow list.
2) Idea yoinked from JP's blog, in honor of the video section of New Media class, we give you music videos we like
3)Thanks JP! *raises idea, takes it down and passes it around*

So here we go. First I give you

Aerosmith Pink

Next: Two songs from Metallica. Here is an AMV for Unforgiven II

Next is the video for One. Now, the reason I chose this video was because when it came out I was a child and had older siblings. Older siblings, when babysitting, don't really think much (which is how I saw Poltergeist when I probably was way too young to watch it).

So, my brother used to record Nite Trax--where they played rock videos. This was one of the vids he recorded--it came on right after Faith No More's Epic (ya, the fish suffocating and piano exploding video). So, there. Oh, it is a link instead of being embedded...because they keep taking the original video down--so hurry and look before it disappears. Metallica One

Obsessive Idea

2009-02-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm taking this class: Approaches to the teaching of Writing. (Yea, taking a class. I'm a student/instructor hybrid aka Teaching Assitant/Graduate Teaching Assistant). So, in this class we're reading Facts, Artifacts, and Counterfacts. The theme I immediately pick up on: silence as an instructional tool. Students are not empty vessels to be filled by your knowledge, they need experience, and can only gain experience through you guiding them, but not feeding them the answers. Good idea, ya?

So, take this idea of silence--guidance through silence and then apply it to a student who sees writing as a violent process (not that they would say that) but they hate writing because of how hard it is--never knowing what to write about, what the instructor wants, you just don't sound academic...etc. Do you like the silent treatment being put on you?

I'm in my office trying the my darnest (yes, I said darnest) to remember the National Conversation on Writing website (suprisingly simple, I know) and so I just YouTube it. Now, I tried so many versions of writing, conversation of writing, to find the video. I never did; but I did stumble upon this vid: Violence of Writing and it made me think (which can often be a dangerous activity).... So, what do you think?

Oh, and reading the info provided by the poster, it made me think of the Sapir-Whorf Theory (I had a Rhet/Comp prof teaching me about pedagogies in Compostion and this bad boy came up in discussion--throw this with noobs trying to understand Baudriallard, and yea...) BTW, I know it is a wiki page explaining the Theory...not scholarly journal credible but enough to get an idea across in my little insignificant blog.

Philosopher Crush

2009-02-11T18:44:00.000-08:00

"You could not say, "My daughter is a philosopher." That was something that had ended with the Greeks and Romans" (O'Connor, "Good Country People").

So, to make up for my slacking last week, I give you philosopher crush. Sames as scholar crush, but only dealing with philosophers, XD.

I took a Film as Literature classed titled: Posthumanism: More Human than Human. It is in this class that I became introduced to Baudrillard and Virilio. Now, reading these guys were a work out, especially Baudrillard. But, these guys give some food for thought, and that's what is important.

Baudrillard

Virilio

Now, read, chew on food for thought, and make your brain all wrinkly with understanding.

YouTube Addict

2009-02-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

My name is The Noob, and I am a YouTube addict. If I’m bored, I go to YouTube (sometimes I multitask and go to Sporcle and have a YouTube video going on in the background.

I love YouTube. You can find smart stuff, stupid stuff, cute stuff, stuff to make fun of, stuff that was meant to make you laugh, etc. So, here I have provided two videos I really enjoy. Both can be considred fan made vids.

The first is: FFXI Matrix Yes, someone mushed two things I enjoy together and created this little gem. It has a point. No one can really tell you what the MMO is, you have to experience it. Creative and pointmaking; they have earned snaps *puts on black beret, and snaps*

The second is: Picard Song. Now the song was created by someone else, and then this video was made to the song. I enjoy both; why? One, it is ST:TNG. Two, there are some great lines in there: love the part where Picard is reciting Shakespeare to Lwaxana. Shakespeare and sci-fi, how cannot you not love it?

Game Intros

2009-01-30T10:39:00.000-08:00

Prompted by my reviewing of the Diablo game intro, I've included a link in the side bar to the Final Fantasy XI (FFXI) game intro. You see the little short characters that scream "BEHEMOTH"? Ya, that's the race I play. I only wish I could cast the spell they're casting.

Please listen to the music playing in the background. I believe that part of the gaming experience are the cutscenes' background music. Music can add so much to gaming. A memory can be triggered from music, just like emotion so you feel for your characters...even if they're 8bit.

Tell me about game intros you remember, or games you remember playing. Even Ms PacMan had a story: remember, beat stage one, and Ms PacMan has a run in with PacMan. Yeah, dig into your gaming memory, you know you want to.

Scholar Crush

2009-01-29T19:11:00.001-08:00

*in best flight attendant voice*

To your right is a section titled: Links: clicky click. In this section, there are links. Now, the links will include YouTube videos and what have you. But, there will also be links to what I am calling, my scholar crush.

Scholar crush? Nothing weird going on here, just a bit nerdy/geeky. These are scholars who I find absolutely intelligent, unique and just plan ole nifty in their scholarship (aka they rawk! \m/ ).

So check out Constance, who was mentored by James Paul Gee. And /bow down before N. Katherine Hayles! More will be added throughout the semester.

Thank you for reading Le Noob in Academia. Now clicky click.

Gamer or Instructor...?

2009-01-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

First of all, I'd like to offer this: I do not want this to become an emo blog. But I do want to include my endeavors in academia. This includes teaching; hence the following post.

So the first week of class has passed. On the first day I introduced myself, the class and did an overview of my syllabus. Know the syllabus, love the syllabus. I also hold an introduction exercise for my students where I get to know a little about them; and since I don't have them do something I would not, I introduce myself to them.

Simple, right? Maybe not so much. I'm in a precarious position here. I am the dreaded Teaching Assistant *cue the "bom bom BOM"* So, am I faculty or student, maybe I'm just a weird hybrid. But that's a different post. Basically, I'm a junior. Yes, I can get perks--hello faculty parking--but I'm also a peon.

The head of the program I teach comes and sees me today. No biggie, the faculty here is friendly like that (weird, considering the program I came from). So, I find out a student has moved from my class, and spoke to the powers that be about me. Now, I admire that the student felt comfortable to give their reasons about the transfer and talk about me. I feel that's a characteristic of a good program and department: the students are comfortable enough to state doubts and concerns AND most importantly, the faculty listens to them. Get that, listen not just hear, but listen.

So, since they listen, I got "spoken to". Yes, the concerns about my comments didn't seem normal for me. I admit, I can have a very sarcastic sense of humor--just like I can go way out there where only 1 or 2 people get me. It happens. So, lesson learned, explain my humor.

What does this have to do with gaming? Good question, dear reader (channeling Bronte, here). My humor is the same in the game as it is in the classroom. Now, in the game I can get away with it. Why? Is the idea of who and what makes a gamer completely alien to the ideas of who at what instructors are? Are instructors not supposed to be sarcastically funny? Is this solely reserved for misanthropic doctors on scripted drama tv? If you do something stupid, am I not allowed to laugh? If you give me a console and controller, do I not game? If you give me scholarship, do I not analyze? The answer is I do. I laugh at people who do stupid things. I game, I analyze. I analyze the games I play! Try explaining that in an xp grind.

So, ultimatly this rant boils down to WHY!? *melodramatic falling to knees (think something ala Shatner)* Why do we associate certain qualities with people who game? Why do we associate certain qualites with those who teach? Why can't the two blend? That's the beauty of MMOs. You're playing with people of all professions, and they are gamers. They can game chat with the best, and be crude and whatever stereotype you associate with gamers. Those people are also doctors, scholars, business execs, moms and what have you. Should they be forced to hide the gaming aspect of their personality just because the world can only define them as one thing? If so, I cry foul! Rebel...subvert authority and be who you are.

It's the end of Vana'diel as we know it.~ and I feel fine

2009-01-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

Yes, ladies and gentlemen; tragedy has stuck Vana'diel--gamers were banned. 500 accounts perma banned because of exploiting a glitch. 400 or so accounts temp banned, because a review of a years worth of logs showed that they were there when the glitch was exploited but they no longer have the hard evidence on them. LS have been taken down, the high ranking players of servers have are now gone forever (some have already switched to WoW, according to the gossip).

Some people would say karma, others merely tough shit, and still others cry foul. Why? Yes, a lot of players don't like MMOs because they are grind heavy; and a lot of complaints about FFXI are about how you have to have a party for almost everything (my favorite response to this being: go play WoW crybaby!) There are jobs you can solo to 75 by yourself people, and then just like WoW you will be forced to group up for endgame events. But I digress...

I'm not sure how to feel about the bannings. I had an acquaintance that was perma banned, and quite frankly it was shocking. Now, a domino effect is happening. You see some communities in FFXI are tightly knit--even if you aren't aware of it. Now, when a thread is removed, the fabric of the community weakens. Because of this, communties are easier to rip apart. B got perma banned, since B was banned M doesn't want to go on. Since M is "taking a break" (which usually means quitting) R is going to take a break too. Now, what's three players in an MMO? Not much really...but then multiply the domino effect because these are just reactions to one players banning (there is their main character, and then most have 1-3 mules, if not more. That's one account but 4 characters). An MMO can be fun and addicting; but it can also take a lot out of you. There is the time commited to your online character--basically for those that were perma banned; their characters life was executed for disobeying ToS. On a game based around communities, ripping out random threads of characters here and there weaken everything overall. But the question remains, whose fault was it? SE for having the glitch and making drops so hard to get that gamers felt they had to exploit? The gamers for being human and being greedy and impatient? For not following the rules laid out for them?

Who actually reads the ToS? I think something gets forgotten: your character really isn't yours. Yes, I feel that the character I play is mine. She has been in existing for five years. Five years of grinding, of meeting and losing friends. Yet, ultimately, SE does not see her as mine. I pay to play and have her in existence; but she is considered SE property. It's in the ToS. This is the same reason why you can't sell your character on eBay--SE owns them. You're paying for a privilege; this is something that's easily forgotten. Yes, your character's life and friends become your own, Vana'diel is another world in which a part of you exists. But the deities of the game are not the only ones for your character--there are also the creator of the game. Deities/creators can be loving, but they can also be cruel.

Why am I noob?

2009-01-22T21:42:00.000-08:00

What is a noob? Is a newb, the same as a noob or nOOb? No. Now, newb and noob sometimes carry the same meaning; some one who is new to something. They're just learning. nOOb, is an insult--you're incompetent in your ability to participate in this community--it is not because you are new, but you act like one even though you know better.

I've been pursuing higher education for 8 full years. I've obtained two degrees, and am working towards my third. Now, it would seem as if I'm opening calling myself a nOOb because I have been in academia for a while. However, if I was a nOOb, then the university I'm attending wouldn't have accepted me, now would they? So, that brings be back to noob. How does one have 8 years of experience yet still be noobish?

Academia--the ivy tower that people seek to climb and you can see several mutilated bodies that fell from the top as you approach. It's dangerous, but I'm knocking at the gate with my gaming consoles in hand, along with tons of books and praying the cannonical dragon doesn't come out and eat me. You see, I'm a noob because I'm daring (as some others have) to bring gaming into the field of English. That's right, English--the subject that gives many nightmares only rivaled by Math. So, how does gaming fit into a world of Composition and Rhetoric and the ages of Literature filled with white succesful men that barely have noticed that hey, women can write too. Get my point yet? This is why I describe myself as a noob. It fits, I have many ideas mulling around in my head on how gaming fits into English. It's just a matter of avoiding xp loss and fighting the NMs when they come. Eventually I'll get to the endgame events.

In the Beginning

2009-01-22T16:06:00.000-08:00

Here I am, a noob in academia. Mind you, I've chosen this path and part of me still wonders why. But hey, I can game and work that into something, so why not?

Let this RL adventure begin...