Asterios Polyp

Asterios Polyp

     I recently finished Astros Polyp. I was immediately hooked after the first page and continued to read nonstop through it. I enjoyed everything about it. It’s very different from the comic book’s I’m used to reading.

     First off, I was captured by the visuals. The simple straights against curves created a dynamic graphical impact that made the characters memorable. I liked how Aesterios had a lot of straights in him symbolizing his stubbornness in beliefs and personality. Hana, his counterpart had a lot of curves accenting her complimentary feminine side. I felt that these designs really were suited well for each other and complimented what each of the main character’s lacked.

     The story wasn’t anything typical I’d read in normal graphic novels. There weren’t any supernatural beings or crazy adventures. The adventure and antagonists are stem from the main character as he reflects on his situation and his life.  I find that Asterios’s situation of falling from a relationship could happen to anyone and that makes it easy to emphasize with. I thought the ending at the end was appropriate leaving it resolved but also allowing the audience to guess what will happen next. The ending was very honest of how the characters the author set up would behave. Hana is a loyal loving woman. She has a fondness in her heart for Asterios and him for her. The flash back seen when Hana leaves Asterios and Asterios remembers the little qualities of Hana that he adores so much was very impactful to me.

     It made me realize that the things that look seemingly mundane all adds up to create an emotional effect in a relationship.  Not every special moment means going on an elaborate trip or doing something risky and exciting.  I think the novel tries to communicate that simply enjoying the state of being and not taking anything for grated is vital in the longevity of a relationship.  I also think that the novel tries to communicate the true foundations of a relationship. It isn’t about mere attraction. Its about  sharing love, having trust in your partner and respect.

     All in all, I think this novel communicates a message worth hearing and provides a valuable insight on life.

Games with Literary elements.

       Unlike previous generations of video games, many modern games strive to bring a narrative element in addition to great gameplay. I remember at the arcades, Pac-man and Tetris were very popular games. Adults revered them as childish recreational activities. They saw very little value in playing these simplistic games.

     In current times however, even adults are playing games alongside of their children. Games like Final Fantasy and Mass Effect yield story to support their Role Playing Element.  Some games have even pushed the borders of Interactive Narrative like Heavy Rain. Heavy rain plays out like an interactive movie rather than a traditional game focused on action. Games Like these are pushing the borders between pure gaming and a cinematic experience.

     The most recent games I’ve played with powerful interactive narrative elements include Final Fantasy 13, Skyrim, and Bioshock 2. While having played these games about a half year to years ago, they still had a lasting impact for me.

      Skyrim and Bioshock 2 contained elements which involve awards and consequences based on the player’s choices. One can unlock different endings or powers based on how they morally behave. Everything one does can affect them later on in the game. I think that element in current games is an extraordinary addition. Before when games were treated as mindless fun, it now engages the audience even more and challenges them to think about the consequences of their actions.

     I’m also excited about the Final Fantasy Series. Out of many games I’ve played, the cinematic in Final Fantasy are outstanding. I remember that when I ran out of time and couldn’t play Final Fantasy 13 any more due to its length, I watched the play through scenes online. Watching those cinematics made me feel a sense of duality. Not only were they aesthetically pleasing, but I could recall being in those character’s shoes and aiding them forward In their quest. It allowed me to have a deeper sense of empathy than a movie.

Analyzing Auteurship on Akira Kurasawa's Films

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     For the auteurship assignment I decided to reflect upon Akira Kurasawa’s work. I watched some shorts from Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams. They included “Sunshine in the Rain”, the Peach Orchard, and Van Gogh. His style and subject matter is evidently consistent in his work.  His work isn’t mainstream and doesn’t follow a Hollywood narrative.

     Many of his works contains messages portrayed in a symbolic manner.  Initially upon viewing, I thought his works made very little sense in a literal manner.  As my mind started to look for clues on what Kurasawa’s message was, things started to become clearer. Kurasawa seems to enjoy inviting his audience to read deeper into the figurative meaning in the films.

     His main characters in the shorts I watched were characters who had traits of youthfulness and innocence. His works usually involves, but doesn’t  limit itself  to, Asian mythologies or myths. The three shorts I watched contained the concepts of right of passage, death, and personal discovery. They characters often seem to learn a lesson from their incidents they find them selves in.

      He gives the story focus in the film ( whether it be a peach orchard, fox wedding, or a painting) a higher form of supernatural existence. They are treated as Spirits in the movie awing the audience and the characters that interact with them.  I find this similar to the Japanese religious Idea of Shinto. I learned in my Japanese class last semester that It regarded the inanimate objects in nature  each with a revered spiritual force of their own.

     Akira Kurasawa also pays interesting attention to colors palletes and how they compliment the mood. For example In “The rain” The boy’s home is shown as a gray boring place. Everything looks bland and unwelcoming. It launches the boy on an adventure, which ultimately gets him in trouble. In Van Gogh, the colors are hazy and surreal, then blending into a naturalistic world. It’s meaning seems to be describing as how Van Gogh took the real world and translated it into his personal vision. Finally in the “ Peach Orchard”, there are lots of pink peach blossoms flowing in the wind as the Peach tree spirits bloom once again from the dead to please a little boy. The gentle colors seem to portray the love the boy had for the Peach tree orchard when the orchard trees came into full bloom. I admire the strong use of color and how they heighten the mood.

     Out of the three films I watched, I thought “Van Gogh" had had the most solid concept. It was about an aspiring artist who looks at a painting called “The Crow” .He is immersed in the world in which Vangoh has painted. As the character runs through the cornfield world, it seamlessly merges him into live action footage. Towards the end of the film, there are a flock of crows dispersing from the cornfield. At first I was unaware that it blended between a 2d world and live action. I really enjoyed this one the most.