Over the next few months, I will be exploring the world of nerd culture and its media through the lens of gender studies. It goes without saying that this is quite a feat. So, in order to weed through the media easier, I decided to take a page from my undergraduate studies.
It's what I like to call "The Three Episode Taste"
When I was an undergraduate, I took a class where we would have to watch many television shows. However, because a semester is as long as it is, we didn't have that much time to put into watching a multi-season show. So, what our professor had us do was this: watch three to five episodes of the show and give our opinions.
They told us to watch that many episodes because it allowed us a few things:
1. Gave us a feeling for the characters and setting of the show
2. Allowed for some relationships between characters to develop
3. Gave us a feeling for the narrative and the direction it was going
4. Gave us a taste of the art direction (cinematography, art style for animated shows, costume and set design for live action shows, etc)
5. Gave us an opportunity to get us interested in the show in case we wished to go back and watch some more
Most of the time, I often did go back and watch more of the show. But there were still those times where I was happy when the experience was over.
Over the next couple of months, I will be using this exercise to help give me a taste for a form of nerd culture media in order to judge whether or not pursuing an analysis of the media is worth it. I mean, why go through watching five seasons of a show to find out that it was a complete waste of time. If I think that the show, film, or game is worth the pursuit, I will be doing an analysis of the selected media.
The 'taste' is to see if it's worth pursuing.
The another difference between what I will be doing here and what I did in undergraduate is that I will be including all forms of nerd culture media. I will be looking at video games, Japanese animation shows and films, and live action and animated Western television shows and movies.
Now that I've given a bit of an explanation, keep an eye out for the first Three Episode Taste post!
Hi Undercover, I'm really intrigued by this recipe concept! Can't wait to find out more. Perhaps in the paragraph that starts with "Over the next couple of months," you could give us a few examples of what types of "nerd culture" you'll be exploring?
ReplyDeleteI loved your establishing statement, "I will be exploring the world of nerd culture and its media through the lens of gender studies," and how you followed up with your recipe for tackling this heavy task. My only comments would be to check for repetitive phrases. For example, you said, "I decided to take a page from my undergraduate studies....When I was an undergraduate..." See what I mean?
Looking forward to learning more!
~Twin B
So I just wrote this really long response to your writing and lost everything. Niiice. Note to self. Copy your critique before you click Publish. Grr.... Well here is what I wrote in a nutshell before I was rudely cut off.
ReplyDeleteUndercover, is your intent to look at all types of the media you described- from Japanese to Western film, tv, cartoons, etc.. and take "tastes" of them to see if they pass muster thru the lens of gender equality? Wasn't too sure about your intent, so correct me if I'm wrong. Looking forward to reading more form you especially with this really unique topic, Undercover.
Cheers,
MadMom
Hi Undercover,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great way to really get an idea of the show – certain shows spring to mind where this works perfectly (Firefly, Samurai Champloo, Sons of Anarchy) and others where it just couldn't – specifically late-second-act turnaround shows like Cowboy Bebop, a frequent changer like American Horror Story, or a show where major characters aren't introduced until later seasons like Game of Thrones or Stargate: Atlantis. I'm excited to see how this goes for you!
As for the writing, I feel that you should drop us into the action a little sooner, before leading us into the why. I also feel that in the second to last paragraph you could expand a bit upon why you're choosing the genre's you are, and how they relate specifically to nerd culture. There are also a few sections where you have some grammar and punctuation difficulties – I would do a once over specifically for that as you get to your last draft.
Hope this helps!
A