"The Game's the Thing: Working at Electronic Arts"

I thought that this article was a little lame, and definitely did not feel very inspired to go work for a video game company. For one, I have never been much good at playing them (unless you count MarioKart, circa Nintendo64) and I also could never work for a company where your writing responsibilities revolve around what a virtual-Al Pacino says in Level Two of The Godfather The Game. While I'm sure it feels pretty good to work for Electronic Arts (EA), a internationally recognized company, and while working and writing for them demands a certain level of focus in between Madden games, I cannot see this writing-arena as worthy of much more than a high score.

"The Grammar of Fun"

The most interesting piece Tom Bissell's article, "The Grammar of Fun," is the discussion of layers of meaning within "Gears of War:" a recent video game masterpiece. In the article, Cliff Bleszinski -- the creator of Gears of War -- hints to the author that apart from the "testosterone-filled chainsaw-fest" that pretty much encapsulates a Gear of War gamer experience, there is something else not-so-subtly hidden beneath the surface: a "'going home' narrative."

This got me thinking about all the levels of plot and narrative that can lie in something as virtual, and other-worldly as a video game, as well as the ways in which virtual reality becomes just another place where we project how we think the world should be. Bleszinski, also known as CliffyB, describes how he misses the house where he grew up in Boston, and reveals that Gears of War carries a parallel story, where the main character Marcus Fenix also experiences a sort of "homecoming" (but with "some of the most harried and ridiculously frantic fighting in the game" thrown in too)."When you start to peel back the layers of the Gears world," says CliffyB, "there's a lot of sadness there."

I wonder if it might be happier without the chainsaws?

Product review assignment: smittenkitchen versus The Pioneer Woman

It seems to me that over the past decade or so, cooking – and perhaps the idea of food in general – has evolved into not only a source of entertainment, but obsession. Once a fairly banal activity reserved for busy-bee housewives, cooking and entertaining have taken on new meaning in today’s society. One scroll through the popular Food Network channel on cable television says it all: the sheer variety of entertaining styles (from Napa-Valley casual to deep Southern charm) combined with unending genres of cooking (from Everyday Italian to 30-Minute Meals) and enthusiastic on-air personalities (where to begin – Giada? Ina? Rachel? Paula?) all together point to the heightened level of attention we give to our food.

It is this sense of satisfaction in creating, watching, and of course eating good food that I have chosen to compare two “products” that help spread this love to the masses. That’s right, I’m talking about food blogs.

Gone are the years when good recipes were hidden and guarded like a chest of buried treasure. In fact, it seems even the age of publishing written cookbooks has fallen a tad behind the times. Nowadays, simply a regular old search engine can instantly provide both amazing recipes and cooking tips in any food genre you can dream up.

However, as with anything mass-produced, there are bound to be some blogs that rise to the top. These are the ones you read more often, the ones you e-mail or twitter or text to your friends, and of course, the recipes you decide to try for yourself.

But there is something else, too, that draws the audience in. While describing food is the main attraction, the personalities of the food bloggers themselves – much like the charismatic individuals on the Food Network – pull people in almost as much as their edible insights. The woman (or man as it were) behind the stove has become an equally intriguing subject for the public – just ask Julia & Julia.

Based on these qualities, I have chosen to compare two of the most popular food blogs: smittenkitchen (smittenkitchen.com) and The Pioneer Woman (thepioneerwoman.com). Both written by women (and moms!), the food they create and the stories they share are worth experiencing. And, consequently, I have cooked recipes from each site.

So where to begin? How can you compare something like food blogs? Well, the answer seems to be to create easily identifiable categories. For this comparison, I have chosen to compare smittenkitchen and Pioneer Woman based on the following: food taste, recipe readability and directions, recipe variety, appearance and web design, and personality.

First: an assessment of smittenkitchen. After cooking a number of recipes from this site, I have felt pleased with not only the food’s taste, but also the ease (most of the time) in preparing it. As an aspiring college chef, my budget is tighter than most and my kitchen a little less stocked with the proper tools, but I have still found it fairly manageable to cook smittenkitchen dishes without skimping too much on ingredients, or style. Recipe readability and directions are clear, and the site also allows readers to comment, thus providing additional tips below the regular recipe from smittenkitchen followers (if you choose to view them). The variety of recipes is one of the strongest qualities of the website, providing not only an ever-growing catalog, but also categorizing the site’s recipes according to type and season. This makes cooking with local fruits and vegetables a breeze, since seasonal favorites are already highlighted for you. The blog's appearance is also a crowd-pleaser, with delicious, melt-in-your-mouth food photography depicting each new recipe that hits the homepage. smittenkitchen does, however, boast a high number of advertisements throughout the site, so be prepared for your recipes to be interrupted by ads in the margins. Finally, the personality of the author is a little mysterious. While the blog manages to include pictures of the author’s freshly born son, her Manhattan neighborhood, and the surrounding environment, you see very little of the author herself, other than the occasional hand holding a pot handle. One suggestion for this site might be to include a brief biography with a picture of the author. That way, the audience could learn a little more about her, in addition to viewing her beautiful dishes and adorable baby boy.

On to the Pioneer Woman. Where smittenkitchen leaves something to be desired in the “personality” category, “Pioneer Woman” Ree Drummond – the site’s author and creator – wears her story on her sleeve. Not only does the site provide pages upon pages of photos and stories about her family and life on their farm, but also describes the journey Ree took to get there. In a story she’s titled “Black Heels to Tractor Wheels,” Ree describes her shift from big city to country lifestyle, complete with all the trappings of a clichéd romance. But, instead of Cinderella’s magic slippers, Ree wears cowboy boots.

Ironically, however, it is this attention to detail that can detract from the site’s use as a “food blog.” This is because, in addition to cooking, Ree also includes photography tips, home-decorating ideas, and lessons from home-schooling her four children too. In this way, Ree’s attention to the actual “cooking” part can seem to sit on the back burner. Nonetheless, the taste and ease of cooking her “cowboy friendly” recipes is right on target, once you can find them. As far as variety, Ree includes recipes that demonstrate her ability to do more than make chili or grill a steak: there are delicate recipes, as well as hearty ones. And finally, the appearance, while detailed, is also heart-warming, especially in the photos she shares of her children, her husband, and friends that visit the farm.

In the end, the decision comes down to personal preference. For the online food-blog-addict that likes a direct approach, smittenkitchen’s easy-access food directory can point to exactly what you’re looking for. On the other hand, if you prefer to get caught up in a good story, or spend a few minutes fantasizing about what it might be like if you lived on a farm, take some time to listen to the Pioneer Woman before biting into your homemade cornbread.

"Surprising Facts about Product Reviews"

I find it interesting to contrast this article with the one about Walter Mossberg. Towards the end of the "Walter" article, the author mentions that Walter, probably due to his popularity within the field of technology journalism, doesn't feel constrained by the pressure many feel about writing a product review "first." I find this comforting, in a way, that he does this, since it means there are still people out there that care about truly testing a product out and aren't just hurrying through, trying to meet a deadline or beat the competition out for the "first review." I think it's cool that Walter cares about taking his sweet time, and also think it's the show of a good critic that he takes the time to consider the product and then truly present his opinion, even if it doesn't mesh with the popular or mainstream view. Those reviewers that become seduced by the quick review, probably haven't spent as much time as Walter and might not provide as complete (or realistic) a look into a product's functionality.

"Critical Mass: Everyone listens to Walter Mossberg"

I am struck by two things when I read this article.

First, it is amazing to think about how many threads of journalism there are out there, shown here in the form of "technology journalism."

Second, it baffles me that products like the "Treo," for example, can prompt blogs or social networks simply to establish a "community of [the product's] users."

How remarkable (and maybe sad?) that we are so "connected" to technologic products like this, that our sense of community revolves around people that use the same thing. No longer are our reasons for interacting based on similarities outside the technological realm... like music taste, hobbies, or playing on the same sports team. I think it is a scary thing that journalism is taking this turn. It makes me worry for the future of the larger genre, especially considering the impact journalism can have on the surrounding community (as the article's author, Ken Auletta, clearly wants to highlight).

"How to make money writing for the web"

I really like this article's emphasis on the importance of reading different types of writing, and then deciding for yourself whether it works... or doesn't. With any type of professional writing, and especially in the process of cultivating your own sense of style, it seems a must to discern what writing you like to read, and what writing makes you fall asleep, or worse -- get angry at how bad it is.

Everyone always thinks that their style of writing is the best, and makes the most sense, but until you have really read what's out there, and perhaps experienced something that does the trick better than you can, you cannot stand fully confident of your product. Reading and writing, as a rule I believe, present the most important form of "research" for anyone that wants to become a good writer. And, it's something that never stops: you have to read, and read a lot of different things, to write well. And you need to write often, bad or good, to write well.

"The Dumbing Down of the Dailies"

It is a sad thing to think that the first things to go when newspapers get into trouble are the arts. In a world where I feel like the arts are constantly undervalued and underfunded, it pains me to think that not only are writers let go, but their cultivated expertise in various realms of the arts is lost. For those of us that fail to make time for things like writing or painting or singing, critics of the arts (or those that write an arts-related column or feature-story) provide a window into that world that reminds us of its value. If I had to read about business or depressing current events everyday, I feel like my creative spark would get deflated by such uninspiring news coverage. Public discussions of the arts are not only fun and interesting to read -- I believe they are necessary for our well-being.

Critical Review: Matika Wilbur's "We Emerge"

Beginning today, the University of Puget Sound’s Kittredge Gallery welcomes the work of Matika Wilbur – a native of the Tulalip/Swinomish tribe and emerging northwest photographer. Wilbur’s reception at Kittredge opens today, from 5:00-7:00 PM, and the exhibit plans to be shown until November 13^th, 2010. The particular collection currently featured at Kittredge is entitled “We Emerge,” and encompasses a series of large, black-and-white prints that aim to explore the duality of Native American identity. Wilbur’s work successfully evokes a feeling of questioning and uncertainty, while simultaneously establishing a clear message of pride in her native heritage.

Immediately upon entering the gallery, I feel confronted by Wilbur’s photos. The gallery’s white walls stand punctuated with giant, unframed photographs, most of which contain a pair of eyes that look directly back at me. The artist’s statement – a must-read before continuing on through the exhibit – provides an interesting, and well-written description of Wilbur’s intent with her collection. Themes of identity struggle float to the surface, and it is clear that Wilbur, a relatively young artist, has experienced her own identity crisis -- trying to find a place to belong within the thin, remaining pieces of her native culture.

Especially within today’s modern world, the clash between the traditional (and rapidly disappearing) lessons of Wilbur's tribe and that of the Western mind, complete with “stimulus packages,” is more than enough to inspire “We Emerge.” Wilbur underscores this conflict in multiple ways: both in the arrangement and subjects of her photographs, but also through their form. Her decision to present an exclusively black-and-white collection lends obvious emphasis to the theme of duality by presenting, through her chosen medium, such a classic color contrast.

Moving counter-clockwise around the gallery, the first picture I meet is that of a woman, dressed in what appears to be traditional tribal wear, covering her eyes next to a paved road. This particular piece is an interesting place to start, as it is the only photograph of the collection where the subject’s eyes are not visible. Compared to the other photographs, in which Wilbur hauntingly captures human eye contact, this initial piece – entitled “Beginning” – powerfully communicates a sense of fear, and perhaps unwillingness to confront the present, as a native woman in a largely artificial, “paved” country. The symbolism of the road is another effective visual cue, suggesting an inability to see where to go next.

While many of the photographs focus on a single human subject juxtaposed against a symbolic background, a few of them contain two subjects. One notable piece shows two women, one noticeably darker in skin tone than the other, sitting next to each other in identical physical orientation. Both pairs of feet nod inward, as if the women feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, and they each look outward, unsmiling. The title of the piece says it all: “Two Indians Enough to be Indian?” Almost immediately, differences in physical appearance between the subjects stand out, with skin color pronounced as a source of struggle. While the women outwardly appear to share little in common, Wilbur indicates that they might belong to the same tribe, or share some type of indigenous identity. Here, the artist seems to play with the assumptions of her audience, particularly on the topic of race and skin color. By bringing these factors into the collection’s “conversation,” Wilbur invites anyone who has ever felt an identity struggle motivated by race to join in, to feel a sense of understanding emanating from her artwork.

One of the most provocative photographs of the collection comes near the end of my circle through the gallery. Entitled “It Was a Gift,” the photograph’s subject stands, hands out-stretched, seemingly offering the viewer two ears of corn. Moving up to view the subject’s face, however, presents a different, contrary emotion – a look of disappointment, sadness, and anger. The woman in the photo even appears to be tearing up – endowing the portrait with a much deeper, realistic level of emotion. Aligning with multiple other pieces in the collection, “It Was a Gift” confronts the viewer with piercing eye contact from the photo’s subject. Without trying, I am consumed with feelings of guilt, along with an unpredictable, and surprising level of understanding and empathy.

It is this “relationship” between viewer and subject that truly speaks to the power of Wilbur’s work. As a photographer, Wilbur has brought her own struggle with identity through to her audience, provoking the questioning of not only personal, but national identity as well. By presenting at-times harsh, yet profoundly human images, Wilbur is able to beautifully emphasize both a pride in her difference – as a remaining tribal member – but also her “sameness” as a human being on this planet. It is here where Wilbur’s search for identity can be met by those from a variety of backgrounds, working to discover the same sense of belonging. In addition, Wilbur’s images offer a feeling of support for anyone in search of identity: through the palpable sense of pride Wilbur feels, other similarly conflicted identities, whatever their form, will hopefully be inspired by Wilbur’s perseverance with her own.

Kittredge Gallery is open from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. On Saturday, the gallery is open from Noon-5:00 PM. The gallery is located on the University’s campus, at North 15^th and North Lawrence Street, in Tacoma’s North End neighborhood. To find out more about upcoming shows or featured artists, the gallery can be reached at 253-879-3701 or online at www.pugetsound.edu/kittredge.

"News You Can Lose"

Imagining what it would be like to live in a major city that lacks any type of major newspaper, as this article supposes may happen soon, is a tough pill to swallow. I agree with the author that something, hopefully, would jump in to save these newspapers (or at least the really big ones), turning them into something like a non-profit in order stay alive. And, although the most recent recession has hit hard, a part of this story plays like an old record: arts-based organizations losing appeal and support in light of economical downturn. People prioritizing their way away from the humanities, from writing, from art, from music, when wallets start to shrink. It's the same old story I've always heard, but it isn't getting any easier to listen to.

"To Save Themselves, US Newspapers Put Readers to Work"

I don't know how I feel about this article, about the idea of normal citizens (as in, non-journalists) being able to submit, and be published by regular old newspapers. A part of me is all for it -- I like the idea of getting more people to write things down, to tell their stories, and to get excited about sharing them with the world... even if they might not meet standard journalistic conventions. However, the fact that newspapers are relying on this, relying on other people to do their job for them, and perhaps even taking advantage of people's interest to share -- that I have a problem with.

"Goodbye to Newspapers?"

I think the most humbling message of this entire article can be summed up in a quote from the former editor of the Los Angeles Times, John Carroll:

Under the old local owners, a newspaper’s capacity for making money was only part of its value. Today, it is everything. Gone is the notion that a newspaper should lead, that it has an obligation to its community, that it is beholden to the public….

It is here where I stopped reading, and took a breath. Sometimes it's hard to imagine the impact newspapers have had on me, since I feel I belong to a generation that, if not raised on the internet, has certainly been slowly weaned off print media to a much easier, faster, accessible, flashier form of getting information. And I don't like it. The idea of big newspapers like the New York Times, or the Wall Street Journal, losing a base ethic to provide quality information, even if it fails to acquire the highest profit possible, offers a window into a scary world. Even now, when I compare writing a paper on my computer versus writing an entry, by hand, in a journal, or making a handmade card on a piece of paper, I'm astounded by the difference. The feeling of satisfaction, of pure creative energy going into something new.

I hope that voices will emerge to speak for the lonely newspaper, who is about to be abandoned in this world.