I've known for a long time that a lot of the boys in my English classes are more interested in connecting with their Xboxes in the evening than with the next three chapters of Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon." But ever since I observed their mounting hysteria over last month's "premiere" of Halo 2, the new combat game from Microsoft, I've been trying to find out what's behind the lure of video games. As the boys I teach have endeavored to enlighten me, I haven't known whether to laugh, cry, or go find a new job. What they told me has me wondering how what I teach can possibly compete with the fast-paced razzle-dazzle of this ever-evolving entertainment form and worrying about the young guys who spend so much time divorced from reality and the life of the mind as they zap away the hours before their video screens.
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if anyone doubts the potential of a 'gaming lit.' future i suggest taking a look at half life 2. still a bit sophmoric and unbelievable in terms of plot, but the feel is akin to orwell's 1984.
b-but i should also probably mention that nothing can replace the experience of reading a book, a really good book.
Posted by: robbie at December 6, 2004 11:37 AMThat last poetry website we looked at Monday reminded me of this band's website that I think everyone might have come fun with. The music is electronic-ish and they have one page where they let you mix some of their sounds. I guess it's more fun if you know the band, but check it out:
http://www.notwist.com/memory/notwistmemory_h_neu.htm
the main site is www.notwist.com - they have other fun interactive stuff as well, but this one reminded me of the reader directed poetry mixing
Posted by: Donnelly at December 7, 2004 06:30 PMAs an adjunct to the last class we had where we delved into cyberspace: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/14/technology/14google.html?hp&ex=1103086800&en=9d5c79b92752adff&ei=5094&partner=homepage
The tide turns within ENGL475!
Posted by: Faryan at December 14, 2004 01:32 PM