video game as literature

Georgie Landy
Video game as literature

    Zelda is a Nintendo video game that i argue, is considered a piece of literature. Although i don't consider myself to be a video game player, i have spent a good deal of my childhood watching my brother play. The one game that i actually enjoyed and partook in was Zelda. I believe a  successful video game relays on the story line. Without a compelling, thought provocative, and relatable story-line, video games become dull. Zelda is a successful piece of  literature because of it's likable and relatable protagonist character Link, it's story line, and its puzzle solving obstacles.
    The game starts out in the life of Link. You as the player, immediately begin to experience his life adventures. Link's job is to restore his precious village, rescue a princess, and kill the evil Ganandawrf. As the story evolved and became richer, as did the visuals. Links world was really lively, and it kept me interested. The theme of family was very strong throughout the whole game, as was working hard for something you believe in. The story was really rich, and looking back on the times i picked on my brother for being so invested in his games, i understand how books and games go hand in hand. Especially the game Zelda which is so cram packed with adventure, romance, and violence. As the world changes with more advanced technology by the minuet, as do the ways we receive our literature.
    As the game continues, Link grows up and becomes an adult. The levels become more thought provoking and i felt more of an urgency for my brother to beat the game and save the princes. I felt a connection to the character of Link, because he was environmentally aware and resourceful, and the more effort i put into playing the game, the stronger his character got. Link had a fairy sidekick and many creatures that  appear in his life depending on the circumstance. He always had characters that either aided his journey or that the player had to beat. The story-line subjects and promotes relationships with others in order to successfully finish his job. I Also liked how there were rewards to hard work. Link would have to earn his sword from his concurring villains or overcoming riddled obstacles. My favorite task, was learning to play the "ocarina" which i remember having the most fun with my brother memorizing which way to point the controller. Although that game was violent, it was balanced out with the sense of serenity in nature, and its real life scenarios like owning possessions and playing music. This type of game has a lot to do with the classic fairy-tale guideline. What makes Zelda memorable and a bit more successful then most, has a lot to do with the development of its characters.
    By the end of the game, you have mastered the art of sword fighting, become a hero, and conquered many other obstacles and jobs. The amount of tasks and subtasks this game has to offer, gives the player a sense of freedom and honor. I remember as a kid, i would draw many of the characters Link had encounters with. They reminded me of exaggerated versions of the real life characters that remain consistent in my life. For example, a distant relative, with all there quirks and silly traits, reminded me of the Goronon king, and Links best friend of the village reminded me of my friends who remind me of where i'm from and who i grew up with. Zelda, unlike many other video games gave you the time to solve puzzles by allowing you to choose to leave rooms, look at a map, and always had the option to re-visti old friends for advice.
    All in all, Zelda did have a big impact on me as a child. Calling it a piece of literature, i believe is very important because we must acknowledge that times are changing. Books are no longer the only form of literature. Video games have earned there spot in literature thorough intense storytelling and the chance for people to be interactive with story itself.
   

female body in media

Georgie Landy


I choose a picture of a penis to represent the female body in media. I believe women are overly sexualized and degraded through media similar and most comparable to the way women are depicted through pornography. Men dominate the media world and i believe men hold women to an unfair and unrealistic standard by portraying them as nothing more then sex objects for other mens pleasure. This is shown through the large variety of underweight models who have gone numerous amounts of plastic surgery in order to fit the norm of what we call beautiful. The reason women predominantly struggle with there appearances is due to the constant pressure our male dominated, and sexually driven society has engraved in us.