If Play Was the Process

"The process is just as important as the project." (Hammond 35)

       Sometimes the importance of a project is so imminence that a person's mind is only set on the objective of getting it done. It doesn't matter how it's done as long as the project is finished. This mentality can distract from the truth that, as the author of KaBOOM! states, "the process is just as important as the project." The process can directly affect the outcome of the project. Now, apply this to learning. Many teachers and parents have the mentality that the "project" or the outcome is the only thing that matters. There is only one fact most people consider: is the child learning or not? Sense the method is of no consequence, it is usually formed in the most straight forward approach, in a manner that is simplest for the adult. The most common mentality for learning is presented in the dullest of manners: tell them what they need to know, test them to see if they learned. A teacher stands at the head of a class of young children. He/she explained in lengthy speeches what it is the children are expected to know, then, at a certain time, the children are faced with a quiz to test their knowledge. This teachers overlooked the process. For younger students  this instructors methods are counterproductive. If a "process", in this case the process of teaching, is changed, creatively composed, and engaging, the instructor will find that their students will grasp the concept quicker, using experiences to help these concepts stand out in their minds. Hammond was directing this quote to the building of playgrounds. He was stating that the process of building a playground was just as important as the project itself. This is something that can be applied to teaching. Children learn better when the process of learning is constructive and engaging. If play is the "process" and learning the "project", the "process" will ensure the best version of the outcome of the "project".

Adventuring

     This is a topic that is close to me because I believe I had the best childhood any child could ever ask for.It is impossible to pinpoint my first memories of play. Someone on the outside might look at my childhood and say that there was nothing spectacular about it, but to me, I look back and remember that it was nothing but spectacular. Being homeschooled along with my two sisters, and later my three younger brother, is one of the many blessing I just can't express my gratefulness for. I never remember school being a chore until I was much older. Playing was my life, as it should be for every child. Every day was a different world for my older sister and me. Being only 18 moths apart, we were partners in crime. Some days we turned our room upside down, building the most elaborate tents you can imagine, setting up shop with our collections of trinkets, to trade or sell to each other. Other days we didn't need toys at all. Pretend was probably our favorite game to play. We took every movie, mostly all Disney classics, and we would step into those characters and play for hours. My sister and I had a very complex routine for playing that could only on rare occasions be broken. From secret hand signs to designated movie characters, we had it all figured out and we were very serious about it. With every movie that we decided to play, my older sister would dictate who  my younger sister and I would get to be. She would pick the main characters, and those characters would be added to a collection of other movie characters we knew as "my guys", and no one else had any right to be that character unless she said so. It was serious business then, but makes me laugh now. I, being the second oldest, didn't mind so much that my older sister, Rachel, had the best characters because I had the second best, leaving my younger sister to the rejects. It wasn't a fair system, but that's what happens when you have older siblings. We would play for hours on end. On certain days, we were lions, from The Lion King, crawling around on all fours, this was one of our favorites. We didn't play by the rules, we changed it all up, denying the facts of physics and realism.

     
      My big sister and I shared a bunk bed in those days, she would sleep on the bottom with me above her. Every night, we watched the reflection on the mirror to see if our parents had gone to bed. If the blue glow of the TV from under their bedroom door was gone, we would whisper "the cost is clear". We then proceeded with a series of hand motions and knocks on the wall to determine if we wanted to play and what we would play. Hours into the night, we would peek through the crack between the wall and our bed, which we so creatively called "the crack." It wasn't too comfortable for me as my blood rushed to my face from looking down so long. Still, we would talk, playing pretend without even moving from our beds. It was almost like telling a story to each other, each person with specific character and part. We always waited for these nightly meeting when our younger sister had fallen asleep, but she later told us that she would just lay awake and listen to us. Today, I look back and miss those days and laugh at our ridiculous traditions. Playing was an important affair for us, every one of our 50 plus stuffed animals had a name, most of which I can still remember, every nightly session of pretend was "bookmarked" until the next morning when we would pick up where we left off. Every day was an adventurer, whether inside or out.

         Now, I'm pretty sure this made no sense to those who read it, but to me and my sisters those were the "good O'l days." It wasn't until I was about l2 and Rachel 13, did we end our adventures, deciding that we were too old to be playing. We grew bored of our imaginary worlds. I miss those days, when nothing mattered, when school was for learning and I didn't dread it. I do know, that my upbringing is the reason my sisters are my best friends, why I have the desire to learn and be successful and creative, even though the process is hard. I whole heartily believe the reason I am duel enrolled in college right now is because I was homeschooled and my parents saw the importance in playing.     

“Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” 
― Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr

Behind the "Jaws"

There is only one thing more terrifying than the dark nights, the hideous beasts, and the wicked demons: reality. Slipeberg manipulated this fact to the greatest effect, constructing a movie that remains in the back of peoples' minds as they wade into the deep, daunting ocean waters. In the makings of his film Jaws, Spileberg  takes fears that are real, no ridiculous wickedness, but the unfathomable power of an animal that lurks just beneath the surface. The mechanical shark, known as Bruce, had none of the special effects that make modern movies so realistic. He was raw machinery, a shark in its natural habitat: the wide open ocean. It was a challenge filming with a massive mechanical shark out at sea. The result was an unforgettable motion picture. As fans of this movie claim, there should never be a remake of Jaws, for it was apparent that Jaws 2, though more modern, had nothing on the real factor presented in the original. The perfectness of the animated, edited, and mutated waters are an attempt to be realistic, but in being so "realistic" these films lose the "real" factor that can only be captured in a real location, in the real moment, as Jaws was filmed out at sea. Also,  modern movies tend to have a fierce protagonist that "over stay their welcome." Slideberg used the ingenious idea of eluding to the terrifying, unstoppable power of the star of this film. He knew just the right moments, when the audience had "let their guard down", to release the beast. The creator of Jaws knew what it took to strike fear into his audience, producing that addicting thrill factor. Spileberg had the audience believing that nothing could beat Bruce. He was unbeatable, yet what stopped him was a freak accidental explosion. The fear of Jaws goes beyond the screen, staying with the viewers for years and they are reminded of it every time they swim among the waves... and whatever might be swimming just beneath them.    

"The only thing we have to fear is fear it'self -nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror..." -FDR (1933)

A Better Bad

     There is nothing quite like that moment when the trials are over, the fight is won, and the hero stands victorious over the villain. In every well written book or movie, there cannot be good without evil to counter it. It is not simply just evil that is needed, though. To construct a convincing and powerful story, the villain has to have motives. A villain without motives, without reasons for their destruction, is inhuman, unreasonable, and predictable. It is truly disappointing to a book fanatic and movie buff like me to find a story that does not have a "good" villain. A villain with motives, with desires, and intentions, is far more complex than a senseless  demon reeking havoc on innocent victims for no reason. In every "good" villain's mind, they are doing the right thing. A villain that honestly thinks that they are doing the world a service, fulfilling some deep desire, or maybe acting in revenge of something they lost, makes the villain more believable. Also, a bad guy that knows the hero's weakness, knows their flaws and short comings, can manipulate those weaknesses, making themselves that much more dangerous.

      In the reading, it points out a few villains from the Dark Knight movie: Bane, Harvey, and of course, the Joker. Though I have never seen the any of the Batman movies, this article explains the disappointment in the character Bane, saying that so much more could have been done with this character. As for Harvey, once one of the good guys, was driven by his devastation, anger, and revenge. Even Joker believed he had a purpose, that the human race was held back by order and rules. He was there, in his mind, to set them free. Joker, from what I know, is a true villain, a villain that knows how to work against Batman's weaknesses, pulling out his darkness. 

        One bad guy that I consider a "good bad guy" is Loki from the Avengers. In the Thor movie, Loki was hurt by the truth that he was a Frost Giant adopted by the King, that his adopted father would never trust him to rule on the throne. These knives in the heart are what lead Loki to the "dark side" with the desire to take the throne from his brother. In the Avengers, he still thrives on that hurt and sense of vengeance, but he has a new massage for the people of earth: "You were made to be ruled, it is your natural state", he said. Loki believed that the humans were  made and meant to be ruled, that we were better off that way, that freedom was only harming us. What I found in this particular villain, and what makes him one of my favorite, is there is a sorrow on the inside and, as powerful as he is, you can't help but want to understand him, to pity him. Harvey, the Joker, and Loki are just a few of the "best" bad guys, for they truly show case what it takes to make a "good" villain, the motives, desires, and dreams. This can only make the defeat more powerful and more meaningful because the hero was able to defeat someone that was bent on a task, a purpose, and the terrifying ability to bring the worst out of the good guy. There is a lot that goes into making a successful bad guy, and a lot that can determine a "good bad guy" from a "better bad guy."  

   

A Broken Connection

   The age of books, letters, and real conversations is coming to a close. That is, these things are becoming less common. With the rapid advance of technology, people are finding ways to connect with machines and devices rather than human beings. Sherry Turkle focuses on the development of technology and how people are adapting a need for constant connection to technology in her presentation Connected but Alone?. This generation has become so afraid of being alone that they isolate themselves, relying on technology to meet their emotional needs. This might be a bit of an exaggeration for a lot of people, but Sherry shows the evidence of this reliability on machines rather than people in subtle but common ways. One thing I cannot stand is when you are spending time with a friend who waists the entire time on their Smartphone texting or accessing Facebook and such. Is my company not good enough? Is there something this person would rather be doing, someone they'd rather hang out with? It opens up a whole list of insecurities. Now I admit it, I'm not completely innocent of this, but for the most part I avoid this practice. Texting during class, a meeting, or even a family gathering is one example that this generation feels the need to be connected to the world at all times. People are afraid of being alone, of not being heard. Posting thoughts on Facebook or twitter can make someone feel like they are being listened to. Has this generation of technology consumers become so attached, so needy, that they can't trust in their own species to be there for them? Sherry Trukle talks about a women, who had lost a baby, having a conversation with a robotic seal that looked as if it was listening to her, tilting its head and batting its eyes. The women felt that the seal was showing empathy towards her, though, she knew it was just a machine, she was seeking that false empathy. That machine wasn't listing to her, it didn't care because it couldn't care. It didn't know pain, suffering, life, or death. People seek a false feeling of empathy, praise, or the sense that someone is listening. Terrified of being alone, we are isolated. Terrified of not being heard, and no one hears us. This progression of technology is degrading the ability for two human beings to relate, understand, and really know each other. There is nothing wrong with technology, it's the users that need to make an effort to take advantage of the presence of family and friends, to put down the phone and get to know the people in their lives. This generation needs to expect less from technology and more from people, to stop being "alone together", and start connecting with the human race. 

"Let the Games Begin"

   I have never really been into online games, and preferred burying myself in a good novel. Video games have always seemed pointless, and I considered reading the healthier choice. On the other hand, my brothers love video games. I always told them that playing too many video games would turn their brains to mush, but I don't think that now, not after watching Jane McGonigal's presentation, in which she talks about how games can make a better world. Video games can utilize a person's creative power, but can they really improve our world? Jane McGonigal showed a picture in her presentation of the face of a gamer on the verge of an "epic win". Urgency and excitement were displayed on the gamer's face. Jane talked about how gamer's will try over and over again to achieve something, to get to the next level. In games, McGonigal believes, that we can be our best. In games, people face obstacles and puzzles with an "I can do it" attitude, with excitement and passion. When faced with real world problems, though, people know there are real consequences, so they tend to feel overwhelmed or depressed. What if the world had more gamers that faced the world with the same attitude and creativity that they face their games with?

      Jane McGonigal says that the average child living in a culture were online gaming is popular spends about 10,000 hours gaming before they are 21! Think about this, a child will spend 10,080 hours in school before graduating! These gamers are becoming really good at what they do, but what is that? Jane tells us exactly what the 500 million gamers around the globe are getting good at. She explains that gamers are becoming experts at what she calls "urgent optimism", which is basically extreme self motivation. Then there is "social fabric". Playing games together, despite who wins, will bond the players together. She talks about how a gamer is happier working hard at their games as apposed to just relaxing, this is what she calls "blissful productivity". All of these things combined create "super-empowered hopeful individuals". These are people who will stop at nothing to achieve the goals set for them. If we could only face the world the same way we face games, we would be unstoppable. Sometimes people draw lines and limit themselves when confronted with the issues of reality because they don't believe in themselves in real life like they do in their virtual lives. Games can open our minds, pulling those crazy, creative  ideas and solutions from our brains that have been locked away. Just imagine, if all those passionate gamers out there could channel their passion into the world, to face it and say "we can do this". Although I can't honestly say I'll ever be able to chose any game over a book, I can say that, as Jane McGonigal portrays in her presentation, online gaming can, and possibly will, change the world for the better.  

Standing Up for the Human Race

There are many problems in our country today, huge problems in fact. America is trillions of dollars over its head in debt, hated by several countries, and threatened by their merciless terrorist attacks. There are millions of people out of work as our desperate economy plummets towards a dead end. Despite all of this and more, there are those that spend all their time worrying over pollution or the population of trees. It's time to stop worrying about these things and start looking at the needs of the human race, of people. There is an issue that has always tormented me. The thought that my country, the one that claims to be free, is going against its own constitution. Some American people want the practice of a certain kind of murder to be legal: abortion. There are many issues that might seam unconstitutional, or the government might be over stepping boundaries, but to me, abortion is blatantly against the constitution. What happened to the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? These are human beings, the future of America. This is not about being Republican or Democratic, this is about being human. Studies show that when a baby suffers abortion they feel the pain inflicted upon them. Innocent and helpless, they don't have a voice or defendant. No court case is held to determine why this baby deserves the death penalty. Are these the values America stands for? The methods that are used to perform abortion only add to the brutality. No discussion is needed on the argument that a women has the right to do what she wants with her body because I'm not talking about her body. It doesn't matter how it happened, these bodies, the ones that are dying, belongs to someone else. Adoption is better than abortion. Think of all the children that lost their lives for no reason that could be the people who will change what happens next. They are the change, the next generation, and they deserve a chance to prove it. Children are a blessing, a treasure,and the future of our country.