Graphics and gaming #1

      When signing up for this class I though to myself, "This is a good way to get out of my comfort zone."  Sure enough, I was right.  Not only is the material not something I am use to but there is new group of people that I didn't know. I do not typically "game" and although I find graphic novels appealing, I still needed to read more of them to completely understand.  So far, I have been pleasantly surprised.  First of all, the graphic novels that we have read so far have been really interesting and cover a lot of concepts and themes that I have been so use to in a Norton Anthology.  We have learned about the Holocaust, choosing love over religion, and now V for Vendetta has a lot of good themes too.  The only difference is that graphic novels display them in a different way.  With regular novels or texrbooks we get the words and have to use our mind to interpret the rest.  However, with graphic novels we have to focus on words, pictures, and other elements that we have covered in class so far.  Last year at this time I would have never even bothered to look at the pictures or look at the shapes of the speech bubbles.  I would have simply read the words and thought to myself "so what?"  I believe that this semester, as well as last, has helped me become less of a skeptic and more of an advocate for the graphic novel.  To be honest, I went to a book store last week and caught myself in the graphic novel section.  This is the first time I ever stepped foot in that section and I actually looked through quite a few of them.  Clearly, this class has opened me up to this new genre and I really like it!
     Moreover, I really like the way that this class is set up.  It is a kind of work at your own pace and explore things that are meaningful to you.  This approach is effective because it gives students control over what they want to do as long as they stick within certain guidelines.  It also gives the class a variety and makes it a lot more interesting than a midterm, a term paper, a final exam, and participation.  It gives a lot of opportunity for points and you either pass or fail each assignment that you choose to do.  As for the class, I am also happy with people in it.  I am so use to having the same people in all of my classes that this new mix of students made me uneasy.  However, everyone is really nice and have different experiences and personalities that mesh really well.  I don't dread going in to random groups and I appreciate what others have to say.  I think that this change in my peers is a good thing and I am not just  learning about graphic novels and games but more about different groups of people that I never would have met if it wasn't for this class.
    Lastly, I would like to express my anxiety and concern over the gaming portion.  I am still a little uneasy but excited at the same time.  When we were looking at trailers for the game and talking about the elements of it I was a little overwhelmed.  I still am; however, I think I am really going to like it when I get started.  Luckily, my partner is Nicole so I am sure she will be a great help to me and keep me on track.  I am also glad that there are others in the class that are familiar with the games so that if I am stuck, someone will surely know how to help.