Week 12 (End of Semester Reflections)

Which readings or course material did you find most interesting? Which did you find least interesting?

Of the various reading materials I found to be most interesting include Langston Hughes simple, yet elegant poem "Harlem (A Dream Deferred)." Another story I felt was exquisitely executed was Joyce Carol Oates "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" which in my opinion is practically built for a screen adaptation, though it already bares similarities to a 1986 Horror film by the name of "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer." And lastly I very much enjoyed the sign-language poetry, to think that there is an untapped source of poetry oblivious to the hearing community at large is quite astounding. As for the least appreciated works we've had to read, these would have to include Kate Chopin's monotonous "The Story of an Hour." A very dull and uninteresting tale of a woman in woe in lieu of her spouse's supposedly horrific death. That is the only tale I vehemently disliked during the entire semester.

Week 11 (Flash Fiction)

WHISKEY, ROCK, BATS

Bobby Joe Cameron, the star quarterback had been pestering daddy to let me go out with him for months. Today Daddy said yes.

"Where we going?" I asked buckling ...my seatbelt.

Taking a swig from a whiskey bottle he handed it to me and grinned. "It's a surprise."

I took a sip, grimacing as it burned its way down to my navel. Not wanting to act all prudish on my first date I took a bigger swig.

By the time we got to Shell Cave we were both giggling and stumbled just a little when we got out of the car. Bobby Joe grabbed a flashlight and pulled me inside the cave.

Seemed like we went a long way before Bobby Joe giggled again and said, "watch this". Picking up a rock he threw it at the ceiling.

Now Bobby Joe probably didn't know about that hole in the floor. And he probably didn't figure on them bats being so riled up over one little rock. He sure didn't know I had a deathly fear of bats.

Today's my sixteenth birthday and I died because of a bottle of whiskey, a rock and a bunch of bats.

Week 10 (Open Letter)

Dear Haters,

The fact that, regardless of what decade we are in, there are still people like you astounds me. I am taken aback by your unyielding pursuit to prohibit any type of change. I wish I was so involved in my beliefs. Ah, the fervent ramblings of the video game naysayer.

Of course, I would never deny that there are very bad things that happen in this world. Many people do bad things all of the time and yes some do play video games. Finding people that don’t play video games seems to be getting harder every day. Our gaming culture seems to be spreading further than we could have ever imagined it would.

And that is where you come in-the “concerned” masses fluttering to the nearest answer to why your children are so bad and why the world is so violent. The cycle continues as it always has. Our children are suffering at the hands of these immoral game publishers peddling their filth to our impressionable youth.

Hey, I get it. It’s always good to have a scapegoat to save you from any feelings of responsibility. After all, you’ve tried the whole parenting thing but who has the time, right? The kids are going to do what they’re going to do. All they are ever doing is playing those damn Gameboxes so that has to be the problem.

I picture your ancestors huddled around their televisions screaming at Elvis and all that darn gyration or playing rock albums backwards trying to decipher the messages that Satan was sending to their children. When I look back at those times it’s hard not to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

With that in mind, I applaud you and encourage you to carry on with your crusade because the fact of the matter is that Elvis is still the King and rock n’ roll will never die. Maybe someday I will be able to tell my children about the days of the “video game debates” while they look back at me in disbelief.

And then we’ll all sit down together and throw down with some Halo 18.

Best of luck,

A Gamer.