Author Archives: Luke Terry

Reading Summary This reading discusses simulations, and how they are no longer that of a “territory, a referential being, or a substance. It is the generation by models of a real without origin or reality: a hyperreal.” It is essentially stating that reality no longer precedes the simulation but rather, the simulation precedes reality. BaudrillardContinue reading “Simulations 4/29”

Reading Summary This reading from Juul discusses the rules and fictional worlds that are created within video games and how these dictate how the game is categorized. Juul first highlights the importance of recognizing that while “rules can function independent of fiction, fiction relies on rules.” Some games make use of number of rules toContinue reading “Video Game Fiction”

Reading Summary This chapter discussed ideologies, what they are, and how they are depicted, giving concrete examples of specific ideologies by providing films in which they are prominent. The chapter describes an ideology as a set of values and priorities, and gives examples of political ideologies, the left and right’s different views on environment vs.Continue reading “Ideology 4/8”

Reading Summary This article from Chuck Klosterman was written as somewhat of a response to a movie review of Tom Cruise’s Vanilla Sky, which received a rather poor rating and was criticized for it’s use of the “What is reality?” theme. Klosterman writes this article in support of the movie and of the theme itself,Continue reading “The Awe-Inspiring Beauty of Tom Cruise’s Shattered, Troll-like Face”

Reading Summary In this chapter from What Media Classes Really Want to Discuss, Greg M. Smith addresses the concept of genres, what exactly they are, and the purpose they serve. Smith identifies genres as a way to help sort media works, as well as a critical tool that provides insight into the structures of broadContinue reading “Genre Shmenre”

Summary This segment from This American Life shares the stories of a group of transsexual men and their experiences after making the transition from female to male. The purpose of the segment is to highlight the struggle associated with adjustments that must be made after the physical transition, including learning what exactly is needed toContinue reading “View From the Other Half”

Reading Summary In this article out of The Atlantic, Alex Mayyasi addresses a specific ad campaign that left Subarus being seen as cars for lesbians. In the 1990s, Subaru executives made the attempt to “reinvigorate sales,” and in doing so they identified five core groups that accounted for over 50% of the makers’ sales: teachersContinue reading “How Subarus Came to be Seen as Cars for Lesbians”

Chapter Summary In chapters 6 through 8 of White Space is Not Your Enemy, Golombisky and Hagen outline the design basics of document layout, type and colors. They advise to begin with a grid to aid in organization and then explain the importance of components such as focal points, columns, aspect ratios, and additional visuals.Continue reading “Layout, Type and Color Basics”

Reading Summary This chapter served as an introduction to the tool and process of content analysis, providing history of its usage and outlining the steps and shortcomings of the method itself. The process is defined by Kerlinger as “a method of studying and analyzing communication in a systematic, objective, and quantitative manner for the purposeContinue reading “Content Analysis”

Reading summary This chapter emphasizes the importance of moving past the notion of whether a work tells the truth or not and looks instead to discuss realism as a set of techniques that media makers can implement. These techniques fall under two broad trends that John Caughie labels the “dramatic look” and the “documentary look,”Continue reading “What is Realism, Really?”