Elijah

Mar 192019
 

Finding Nemo a la Son of Batman

While the relationships of the protagonist in a film noire to their objective isn’t always necessarily familial, the lessons achieved from their pairings reimagines the main character undoubtably. The journey taken by Marlon is filled with strife, new knowledge and a willingness to achieve his ultimate goal; the rescue of his beloved son. A rendition of The Sopranos would be honestly life-changing as a retelling through Finding Nemo would challenge the cinematic conventions that makes such pathos in stories quite powerful. I just believe that a film noire retelling would ultimately highlight or contextual those comedic breaks offered by Dory–making her habitual forgetfulness a crutch to the overly dour clownfish.

The Night the Prescription Pills Attacked!

I’m leaning into the gothic and horror influences within my life as I think on the way prescription pill commercial play around with the fear we have in life. Whether it be hair loss, gradual degenrative diseases or the onset of death with normal age, there seems to be a pill that possibly works at curing what naturally ails us. That very, long and thin paragraph residing at the bottom of the screen details the numerous side-effects that seemed to be normalized with the removal of the pain or illness that is currently afflicting people. Imagine a scene in whcih the gloved hand grasp on the door frame of a barely light room, music slowly creeping in through the window as we gradually hear soft footsteps on the padded floor of a husband and wife’s bedroom. A pan to the dark-haired wife as she turns in her bed, eyes slowly opening in horror as a floating byline of “projectile vomiting, pancreatic ulcers and a loss of fertility” wraps its hands around her throat. Its the Prescription Killer.

Feb 272019
 

A normal attaché of funeral proceedings and rites for the deceased, eulogies are a performative genre; their success indicative by the reactions gained from the audience observing such a spectacle. It would be preferable to follow a scheme that satisfies the prospectors engaging with the medium, seeking satisfaction through this form that is supposed to provide a sense of release for those who relay the personal insights to their relationship with the deceased. But there is a line to be crossed when considering the audience and their degree of vulnerability, emotional fatigue, liberation of free thought and authentic knowledge regarding the deceased that promotes a certain form of eulogy as “desirable” or “necessary”. Humor can be an alleviating factor to emotional trauma. Emotional divulging can be therapeutic in releasing pent-up tension and aggression towards the subject. But these intense feelings would fall outside of the “speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly, typically someone who has just died.” This degree of separation with the experience of some whose relationship was tumultuous, a credible and noteworthy recall to their memories with those who passed is damning and retroactive to their reality, or authentic experience. Proposing that these reflections of the dead serve as a mode of interpretation for the regressive identity Western ideology holds with death, eulogies serves only as generalized character stats of constitution, dexterity and valor; a perversion of elegy that focuses on the agency and authenticity of the speaker. To analyze the “performance” of eulogies, I will focus on the influences of socioreligious ideals of agency, audience and authority that culminates into the bleak and life-sucking ectoplasm that reverberates throughout the chamber hall of a wake. It’s the “traditional” structure of eulogies and the existence of slight deviations from the archetype that will reveal the influence of societal pressures through what “should” be one form, but “could” perform more effectively in another.

Feb 132019
 

On video-platform websiteskids’ toy unboxings are videos watched by parents and children to distinguish the nature and importance of kid-oriented products.

I just wanted to provide some real examples of these unboxing videos just to show the popularity and existing culture present in different forums such as the comment sections and the discussions that are present. Whether it’s a Walmart unboxing or a $400 toy car, these products matter to someone past wanting to experience things outside of their perspective. It is not only children who are a part of this culture, but adults who revel in these experiences of childhood that normally wouldn’t be afforded to them when following societal conventions at 25+.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClFJ1503HL4

 

Feb 062019
 

Identify and Describe Patterns in the Genre’s Features
1. What content is typically included or excluded? How is the content treated? What sorts of examples are used? What counts as evidence (personal testimony, facts, etc.)?
The content that is typically featured within this genre focuses on the experience of the child/family with that product. Generally, it is handled descriptively, opting for the physical aspects of the product featured and its relation to those using it. A blend of personal testimony and fact are utilized within this genre and the medium its displayed through.
2. What rhetorical appeals are used? What appeals to logos, pathos, and ethos appear?
Appeals to ethos is used in this genre. Seeing as though children apply a “need” approach to most toys that they express interest in, them watching these videos along with parents reinforces the emotional fulfillment that would be constructed through this genre. Some logic is applied to adults who watch this with the intent of purchasing a toy for their child, it generally appeals to the ethos of the viewer.
3. How are texts in the genres structured? What are their parts, and how are they organized?
The structure of the video initially starts with the host opening with the product featured in its full contents. Through a methodical, fulfilling unboxing of the actual object(s), the viewer than watches the host “experience” the item through its proposed use. It usually ends with a testimony to the product’s feature, whether that be its ability to cause a mess or noise, its inherent intellectual capabilities, or general use at satisfying those who are in focus.
4. In what format are texts of this genre presented? What layout or appearance is common? How long/big is a typical text in this genre?
Its primarily through videos that this genre will be experienced though. Whether it is an internal or external landscape, an unoccupied area is warranted, the setup for the being optimal. These showings range for 5-7 minutes on average with outliers of 10+ minutes depending on the extensiveness of the unboxing, assembly if applicable and its success with the host.
5. What types of “sentences” do texts in the genre typically use? How long are they? Are they simple or complex, passive or active? Are the sentences varied? Do they share a certain style?
Sentences used in this genre are direct and impactful. Videos are utilized to give information/messages, and these unboxings are no different. In order to keep the viewer engaged to watch the entire video, attraction is directly linked to visuals and audio. While complex sentences are sometimes necessary, simple and active sentences work best. Especially considering that some of the hosts are children, their diction and speech will vary from their parents, offering variance of style and delivery that may result in a certain linguistic trademark.
6. What diction is most common? What types of words (or symbols, images, etc.) are most frequent? Is a type of jargon used? Is slang used? How would you describe a typical writer’s tone?
The diction that is most common is expressive and evocative. With a focus on descriptors, the language then used is succinct and relatable. It’s more common to hear about “fun shapes” and “bright colors” versus “innovate designs” and “cerulean hues”. Children will be able to recognize the former better than the latter.

Analyze What These Patterns Reveal About the Situation and Scene
1. What do these patterns reveal about the genre, its situation, and the people who use it?
These patterns reveal a sociological aspect to kids toy unboxing videos in that there is more science applied than one would normally believe. It hinges on a certain structure and language to attract and capture an audience and sell a product knowingly or not.
 What do participants have to know or believe to understand or appreciate the genre?
That you must be able to anticipate and cultivate a certain linguistic identity to become successful within the medium outside of this genre. Going for video or film by extension is to put a certain identity and a certain language forward and stay distinguishable.
 Who is invited into the genre, and who is excluded??
The “kids’ toy” is an identifier, the unboxing can be done by any and what interests that host the most. It can be entered by anyone. It must be preceded by a structure that allows for identification, speculation and attraction through an identity that is not only linked to visual interest, but audio as well.
 What roles for writers and readers does it encourage or discourage?
For writers, it encourages an ability to choose what linguistic features they wish to employ to engage the audience that is being sought after. For readers, you must be aware of what is being employed that piques your interests and how that aspect of absorbing media influences you. Make conscious decisions on what is being viewed, how it is affecting you and why that is.
2. What can you learn about the actions being performed through the genre by observing its language patterns?
This is a fun exercise because its video being played so a lot is being conveyed through language without having to “see” what’s happening. Pitches in tone involves shock, interest or disgust. Specifically, in the choice of words, you can tell or infer to the amount of investment that exists through certain stresses on words throughout the sentence.
 How is the subject of the genre treated? What content is considered most important? What content (topics or details) is ignored?
The subject is treated with care due to the importance of the product that is in focus. Without much emphasis on the relationship between product and host, anything outside of that realm is superfluous.
 What values, beliefs, goals, and assumptions are revealed through the genre’s patterns?
What’s revealed through the genre’s patterns is the assumption of the writer/content creator that their unboxing will garner an audience. While it does reveal a belief of meticulous application and reliable authority over the subject, there is a fine line of fact and fiction that permits these videos to continue.
 What actions does the genre enable? What actions does the genre constrain??
The actions that this genre enables is the expression of opinions regarding what the general market perceives of society and its interests. Toys are subject to trends that persist. For the moment, it’s slime and miniature figurines. Two years from now, who is to say what will dominate the market. While these unboxing videos don’t allow for much departure from the system that employs tactics that warrant us to buy products, this genre opens the world to more public displays of necessity and reliability regarding the products that interest us.

Feb 032019
 

1. Identify your tentative “underappreciated” genre (or subgenre)
Kid Toy Unboxing Videos
2. What is interesting to you about this genre? Or, why might it be significant or otherwise worth paying attention to?
Since its conception under the YouTube platform, the amount of views and revenue accrued from these videos conceptualizes the relationship between content creators and a viable audience that hasn’t been realized.
3. Tentatively, define/describe your corpus (collection of texts/examples)
From collective research on YouTube, and a cursive search through the internet for reputable reviews and analyses of this genre and its growing influence over an incumbent generation of toddlers and adolescents, its not going anywhere. They describe children and/or the family being filmed while they are experiencing unopened toys and/or kids’ related products. Whether it’s the participants finding the products more than intellectually stimulating or rudimentary in its concept, it’s the experience of these individuals that relates to its audience who may not be able to experience these commodities.
4. Provide links (and/or titles) of five samples. (Try to gather samples from more than one “place” [or type] in order to obtain a diverse and accurate representation of the genre. For now, choose samples without significant deviations).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zf6blVaP_k


Describe the Context

1. Setting: Where (in what context or medium) does the genre appear? How and when is it used? With what other genres does this genre interact? How?
This genre appears in a video format specifically because of its apparent purpose and execution in showcasing the effectiveness/fulfillment of the kids/family product being shown in the video. This genre meets written toy reviews due to the videos eliciting specific reactions from the audience due to the perception of the reviewers and the level of bias and authenticity showcased through the edited product released on the content creator’s respective channels.
2. Subject: What topics, issues, ideas, etc. are common to this genre? When people use this genre, what are they communicating about?
Depending on the product, whether it be a small car that can be driven in or an action figure from the most popular children’s tv show, branding and marketing are explicitly and implicitly shown throughout these videos. The effectiveness of the toy in its ability to relate with the child in their fantasies and interests plays a big part in these video unboxings. While it may not be pertinent to the child for the product to have substance for them, a parent reviewing and unboxing in a video would discuss the impact the toy has in its longevity and positive influence. The issues that come up with these product unboxings in the editing and seemingly forced scenarios of children “enjoying” products. In the media culture of today, audiences find it necessary for the creator and by proxy, their content, be authentic.
3. Writers: Who writes the texts in this genre? Are multiple writers possible? What roles do they perform? What characteristics must writers of this genre possess? Under what circumstances do writers write the genre (e.g., in teams, on a computer, in a rush, for their profession? for fun?)?
I believe this genre wouldn’t find as much success through writing, although I couldn’t say that it’s an impossibility. I think that with the access permitted through cameras visualizing lives outside of our own, watching people experiences a toy that costs hundreds of dollars allow for a measure of fun and pressure for the child(ren) and their parents, respectively. This genre doesn’t necessitate a calculated hand in capturing the best moments that relays the emotions that wants to be conveyed by the editor(s) who may, and sometimes are, the parents/hosts alongside their child(ren).
Readers: Who reads the texts in this genre? Is there more than one type of reader for this genre? What roles do they perform? What characteristics must readers of this genre possess? Under what circumstances do readers read the genre (e.g., at their leisure, on the run, in waiting rooms)?
Again, working with the medium that this genre is situated in, the audience/reader for these kid toys unboxing videos are mainly children who are looking for toys that they may or may not already possess. Regarding my last comment, it is the authentic experience of others in this digital age that impresses people, for better or worse. It is at their leisure to consume this content, and with the anonymity of the internet that doesn’t require your government information to gain access to these videos, the true representation of this audience remains to be seen. It can be generally assumed to children who express interest in new toys or parents who want to have some measure of existing knowledge about a product they may consider spending their money on.
4. Exigency/Purpose(s): Why do writers write this genre, and why do readers read it? What purposes does the genre fulfill for the people who use it?
It is a form of life fulfillment for the audience/reader in one way or another. Through this form of consumption, life experiences are being commodified. The views that are being accrued translates into ad revenue, while children halfway across the world view Play-Doh being unboxed in its new packaging. While the consensus is out there—that the execution if these videos remains in a place of childish excitement and fulfillment—this form of media consumerism allots millions of dollars to children by the time theyre seven. It moves beyond a child’s experience and shifts into new territory.