Yesterday was our final focused discussion on Fallout 2. After Terry's excellent observations last week about the persistance of technology, we tried, without much success, to find other resources for hope in Fallout's post- apocalyptic scenario. Where both Children of Men and The Road featured co-dependent interpersonal relationships at the heart of both texts's articulations of hope, we left Vault City feeling our only chance for survival was individual, often technological, power.
We also spent half the class thinking about and discussing how to approach our "Declarations of Hope in the Post-Apocalypse." We looked at a couple famous manifestos and then brainstormed [pdf] topcis we'd have to address in our own. Next week will be our last class meeting. We decided we would try to be as close to finished with our final projects as possible. In class, we will be composing our manifesto for hope post apocalypse and making any final observations.
Are Violent Video Games Adequately Preparing Children For The Apocalypse?
We had our first full discussion on Fallout 2. More specifically we talked about character creation and what it says about our expectations for the road ahead and about the cause-and-effect interactive narrative structure the game employs. Next week, we are to get at least as far as New Reno. It will be our final full class on Fallout so let's make it a good one! Come with questions/reflections.
Last class, Terry presented an argument on how to read the religious and moral discussions going on in The Road as a way of gaining perspective on the final passage of the novel. We talked about the ways in which the book sets of booby-traps, baiting us with a religious redemption or pilgramage story, while consistantly undermining those kinds of grand narratives with returns to the practical, the material, and the social. We concluded still mystified by the vermiculate trout of the final paragraph.
We also kicked off our discussion of Fallout 2 by taking a quick look at the narrative content of the manual and watching the introductory video. Next week we'll get more into the game, so start playing! I brought up three points to pay attention to as we play that were highlighted by the narrative of the manual:
Looking ahead, we have this week and next discussing the game. The week after that, we will start discussing projects. THe week after that, we will present projects. So, check out the prompt and start thinking about what sort of thing you would like to do. Soon enough we will be making proposals to the class and then developing a way to organize them into a website.
Last week Terry presented a final argument on Children of Men and we openned discussion on The Road. Really great openning discussion. We look to build on our conversation next week as we continue with McCarthy's book. Please finish the novel for next time. We will be making comparisons between it and the film, particularly comparing the interpersonal relationships presesnted in Children of Men, as, for example, between Theo and Kee, to those displayed on the book, primarily between the father and son. If, as we were suggesting last time, intimate, person-to-person, I-thou relationships are fundamental resources of hope, how is that complicated or enhanced in a father-son relationship? How is it different than a relationship between strangers? Those brought together by circumstance rather than by blood? We also brought up the place of beauty in the post-apocalyse and its relation to utility. Hopefully, we will be able to get back to that discussion, connect it to the Arch of the Arts Project from the film, next time.
We ask that in addition to finishing the book for next time, please bring some passages that you want to talk about. They can be sections you particularly significant or meaningful to you, sections that contribute to a trajectory of thought you want to test, or ones relevant our previous discussions. We'll be sharing them in class and seeing where our interests take us.
Hey all,
Last we discussed versions of hope offered by the final scene of Children of Men, which lead to a wide ranging discussion of forms of hope that appear throughout the film. We took notes. You can copy mine.
Next week we will spend the first hour of class on our final focused discussion of the film. Our topic for this discussion will be the resources of hope. In last week's discussion we talked about the many ways in which the inhabitants of post-apocalyptic England reacted to the slow death of humanity and how these reactions, like clinging to faith, preserving cultural artifacts, or scavanging for opportunities, are manifestations of hope. From the examples of hope the film gives, we may be able to abstract some common foundations, resources, from which hope emerges. Are there grounds for hope? If so, what are they? Or, is hope groundless, or rootless, as Zizek might say?
For the second hour, we will open the conversation on The Road. If you haven't already, please start reading for Wednesday. Shoot for making it at least halfway through.
Great meeting everyone yesterday! Thanks to everyone for coming and for your contributions to discussion. Here are the materials we went over yesterday:
Remember, next week we will be in a different classroom so we can screen Children of Men. Keep an eye out for an email from Terry telling us where we're meeting.
The website is ONLINE! Thanks to the snowdays, the website is up and running. Some tweaks to come so we are still under construction, but the syllabus is up for those interested. More here soon, as it becomes available.
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CHID 496N | Mary Gates Hall 278 | University of Washington |
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