Celebration for Lying Cotton Review

This Wednesday, we held a small celebration together with another two English classes to celebrate our current achievement for journal Lying Cotton Review. It is a simple but lovely ceremony before the end of this quite busy semester, which is organized well. We had two more professors include my history professor Harrison joined together with us, talked our thoughts and experiences about the process of making this journal, and presented awards to those make great contributes to this journal. The short video made for the ceremony is nice with our journal members’ photos, Jeniffer's short speech, and also beautiful music. Though the most exciting part is the moment to cut and eat that big cake looked like a thick cloud and tasted not bad. I am glad had joined in designing and editing for this journal, it was a new experience and I have learnt some skills from it. Also, all the members involved in creating this journal had worked hard and did a very good job. I hope that the Lying Cotton Review can keep making progress and will be developed better and better in future.

Thoughts on Journal Work

This is almost the last week for this semester. The weather is getting colder and our study is going to the last busiest phase. Till now, for our Journal Lying Cotton Review, my mainly work to design the art section webpage and design posters have been finished generally. I am happy that the website our group designed and continually revised has eventually received good comments when it was displayed in this week’s group presentation. In fact, the process of designing was not so easy, sometimes there were unexpected problems appeared that troubled us, and we need to figure out reasons (sometimes can be just website’s own system problem but it takes long time to figure out) to fix them. The procedures to design and edit by using WordPress was also more complicated than blog and also had limitations with different factors. But anyway, this project is going to be accomplished and everyone involved in had put effort on it. Next week there is going to be a party for the journal and I am expecting it. 

--Dec.12

Infographic -- Design

This is our Design Team Infographic for Journal Presentation：

Discussion about Appropriation of Images

As we have discussed the difference between copy and creation for the appropriation work earlier, if an appropriation is considered as only copying and derivation, then this work must be just simply copy the elements from the original one such as its image, style, or similar ideas; and for the creating, it is necessary to change many things from the original work, not simply the appearance like the image and style, but also create a new meaning which is to subvert its original meaning and has a strong distinction. With this idea which is agreed by most in this class, we looked at the image “Mrs. Richard Yates” which is an original work by Gilbert Stuart. The subject in this painting is a noble madam sitting with an elegant posture. However, her expression is bored, disdainful, and superior, which creates a distance from audience. Then the other image is the appropriated work by Rodney Pike, he used the iconic of Mr. Bean to replace the distant face of Mrs. Richard. This created a striking contrast that Mr. Bean is characterized with humorous and funny, it gave audiences the friendly feeling and relaxing which subverted the original meaning. I think this gives a good example to understand the difference between creation and copying in appropriated work.

Thoughts about Design for Art Section

Our webpage’s design is still changing and tries to make progress that provides a more professional appearance which also matches the theme and topic of the journal. My mainly work for design team is to design and edit the art section webpage and design images like posters. For the design of art section, I think those art works chosen for the journal are really worthy to appreciate. The art section is a particular and part for our journal which contains many great writings, it is an area we can relax and enjoy the beauty of those photographs which came from our real life. It gives quite different feeling when reading this section of the journal, and might inspires the audience when looking at the specific images with some thoughts or emotions from photographers recoded at the bottom of photographs. 

Discussion about Hypertext Essay and Electronic Literature

Discussion about Hypertext Essay and Electronic Literature

The hypertext essay can be usually seen from the internet in today’s network world. It is the essay published in the electronic platforms, and has richer elements and contents combined with the texts. Hypertext essay has the advantages for extending details and information related to the original essay, which provides audiences who have interests to these aspects to understand more specific knowledgeable. However, for readers who just search to learn general information about some specific subjects, the hypertext may causes distractions that make readers misunderstand the main idea or neglect some important information.

The electronic literature as a new literature carrier is popular which can be read with various forms and in different platforms on website. The electronic literature can change version, be updated regularly and revised easily with computer technics, but at the same time, unlike the print literature, it is directed by poster rather than self-directed, and its contents focus more on information than plots. The resource from electronic literature may causes money for its value, and its permanence cannot be guaranteed.

The Benefits and Detriments of Electronic Literature

How is electronic literature different from print literature?

Difference

1. Need electronic reading devices

2. Used many hyperlinks in the website

3. We can revise something even though it has already been published.

4. Used to a lot of digital images to match certain texts; combined with digital arts

5. Used code to make the website such as CSS to change the size of texts.

Benefits:

1.    Easy to preserve

2.    Production cost is low

3.    The transmission is wider

4.    More convenient to revise

5.    Easy to search information

6.    Larger capacity of information storage

Detriments / Limitations

1.    Higher technology requirements

2.    IPR protection

3.    Read Habit

4.    Lower creditability 

Response to Class Question on Monday

It was once thought that electronic literature would be hypertext essays. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?

I think it is true that the electronic literature would be hypertext essays, for the reason that the hypertext as a way of connecting pieces of text is frequently used in the electronic platform and is familiar to netizens. To follow the tendency, it is much possible that the electronic literature would be hypertext essays in the website or at least with this feature, so that the audience could find more extended information with the hyperlink created for the electronic literature.

What does electronic literature look like now?

At the present time, the electronic literature is widely accepted and read with the forms of digital texts by some electronic reading devices. It is rapid developing as a new literature carrier, and has the tendency to get equal shares with print literature. But moreover, the electronic literature can also be showed in the website with various forms and richer contents which include not only essays but also visual and audio elements, and its platform is still increasing with technical and its own improvement.

Art Section Design for the Journal

It is the webpage screenshot of art section I involve in editing for the journal Lying Cotton Review. There are more information and detailed elements added into the page after improvement, such as the main sidebar which has hyperlinks to provide easier access for readers to find specific art work with its information, and the page also added the awards and winners part according to the voting results this week.

Ending of Killing Alec

Ending of Killing Alec

When we are thinking, Alec is standing quietly. He looks quite beautiful, almost perfect, shinning in the sun and makes both himself and the surroundings look illusory and unreal. We are still thinking, more deeply and quietly, as if the time is freezing. We actually love this static so that we can enjoy appreciating our pretty Alec in a moment without disturbing.

Well, finally our thinking have a result when Caroline speaks first to break silence. “It is a quite lovely place, I just not really satisfy with the grave for Alec. It does not match him.” We then look around, pick some beautiful flowers and cobblestones to intersperse the grave Alec dug for himself, and decorate it nicely. “It is the time.” We are happy when saying that, there are no regret leaving for both us and Alec. He looks at us, soulful, and Tiffany gives him a drink with pills dissolved in it. “Have a lovely dream, Alec.” He says goodbye with gentle smiles, and lying into the grave.

Things go smoothly and nicely. We drive home with a happy mood, and everything about Alec will then be a lovely memory of every of us.

Appropriation

Appropriation

The Original Piece is named Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer who was one of the greatest painters of the Dutch, but his life was miserable that he didn't sell one painting when he was alive, and he had been forgotten by people for more than one century after he died. Until the middle of the 19th century, his talents and achievements were finally recognized.

This oil painting is one of his famous works which drew a girl who wears a pearl earring is watching towards the painter of the audiences. Her lips open slightly, as if she is telling something. And her eyes are beautiful and pure, which just like the pearl that symbolizes the pure soul of the beautiful girl.

 This is the new image I appropriated. The icon I use is Marge Simpson, who is a cartoon figure in the famous animated sitcom The Simpsons. This animation by showing family lives of the Simpsons to humorously satirize the lifestyles, social and cultural phenomena in America.

For the appropriation, I subvert the original painting which is beautiful and makes people feel comfortable and serene into the new image which is funny. The appropriation gives the new meaning that when the girl is looking at you with the face of Marge Simpson, it has no longer the feeling of pure beauty which is aesthetic but restrained and distant. Instead it gives the sense of humor and intimacy, which makes audience feel easy and closely as if she is looking at you as your friend. 

Reconsider Traditional Definitions of Love

How to get the reader to reconsider traditional definitions of love (or at least not dismiss the new idea immediately).

From the fiction Killing Alec, it is clear that the love showing in this story between Alec and his four girlfriends is not a love in traditional meaning. To consider the traditional definition of love, it should be loyal, devoted, kind, and harmless. However, in the story Alec is dating with four girls at the same time, and the girls therefore plans to kill him. The story makes this causality quite naturally, which is wired and makes us doubt the real definition of love. The girls actually quite love Alec, but they are also very excited when discussing how to kill Alec, and seem enjoy the process of killing him a lot. And Alec, on the other hand, although is dating with four girls, but he shows his sincere love to them all. Therefore, although it is a bit unacceptable to many audiences, there is the possible that the romantic love between people can be un-single. It may be alike to family love that we love the one as much as we like another. So maybe the universal love is not less than the exclusive love, and though it is not well-recognized, we could not reject it. 

When Does Appropriation Become Creation?

Answer to the question: "When does appropriation become creation? When is it only copying and derivative?"

Firstly, to define appropriation, it is an action to borrow some ideas or similar elements from the original work which is famous or well recognized as successful one. In my opinion, if an appropriation is considered as only copying and derivation, then this work must be just simply copy the elements from the original one such as its image, style, ideas, or the similar meanings. It is the same when we say “appropriation” in a painting or picture. The copy does not have its new creation but merely piece two different icons or images together, which seems like to have fun and tell others never be too serious to art. However, if we want to make appropriation become creation, it is necessary to change many things from the original work, not simply the appearance like the image and style, but also create a new meaning which is to subvert its original meaning and has a strong distinction. The contrast will be showed striking and make the audience to think the new meaning rather than what it used to express. 

Response to the City of Tanfy

Response to the City of Tanfy

It is an interesting fiction that the story happens in a strange place Tanfy with many strange things occurrence. Firstly, the story creates the overall atmosphere of the city very well, which is unknown, mysterious, and wired. It arouses the feelings of a bit scary and curious which make the audience want to understand more about Tanfy. Secondly, the story is quite creative. From the plots the narrator begins to know the strange custom of the city has that people eat cold food and they dance in a crazy party. It disturbs narrator, the consumption of cold meat is threatening and makes both narrator and audience feel uncomfortable, and the description of the taste of meat makes it seems like cannibalism. Then the show up of the butcher makes the plots change a bit that he seems like a helper that brings the narrator warm food, or in another possibility he could be the evil person who condemns him to a bad end. Generally, the story puts a lot effort in making the city Tanfy more mysterious and has many unknown factors; nevertheless, it also brings audience much confusion without giving enough information or explanation in the story. The writer mentions lots of issues but not describes them clearly, and some the plots are not connected very closed or naturally.

The Story "Killing Alec"

This fiction tells the story of four girls (include narrator) who find out they have the same boyfriend named Alec who is cheating on them, and therefore they decided to kill him. In the story, it can be seen that all the girls love Alec very much and they care about him a lot. But yet they still decide to kill him without hesitate but even feel very excited when discussing which way should he die. And Alec is a careless and muddleheaded man. At first, he made the mistake that dating with four girls, but then when they decide to kill him, he did not agree but also not show strong opposition. He even took a stand that he liked manhunt most as the way he died.

I think what is working in this story is the element of absurdness. The whole events happened in this story seemed very abnormal and wired, but the narrator tells them in a very normal mood just like they are the ordinary things happen in daily lives. And this feeling makes the story more interesting and mysterious that the reader wants to know more with the story developed. And the thing need to be change is that this story seems to please the reader with absurdness and unreasonable plots which is very interesting and creative but also make confuses. So maybe in the end of the story there can be something happen that are more rational and arouse the audiences’ emotion which gives the story a meaningful ending.

Visual Art Appropriation

Visual Art Appropriation

The Original Piece is named Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer who was one of the greatest painters of the Dutch, but his life was miserable that he didn't sell one painting when he was alive, and he had been forgotten by people for more than one century after he died. Until the middle of the 19th century, his talents and achievements were finally recognized.

This oil painting is one of his famous works which drew a girl who wears a pearl earring is watching towards the painter of the audiences. Her lips open slightly, as if she is telling something. And her eyes are beautiful and pure, which just like the pearl that symbolizes the pure soul.

This is the new image I appropriated. The icon I use is Marge Simpson, who is a cartoon figure in the famous animated sitcom The Simpsons. This animation by showing family lives of the Simpsons to humorously satirize the lifestyles, social and cultural phenomena in America. For the appropriation, the new image looks funny because of Marge Simpson is identified as a comedy character. But also, she is a mother and wife that full of tolerance. So when looking at her eyes, in some moment I can also feel the tender emotion just like I feel to the original one.

Poster Design for the Journal

Poster Design for the Journal

For this Wednesday, my small group (Martin, Sherry, and me) designed a poster for the propaganda of our Journal Lying Cotton Review. We will send this poster within the e-mail for this journal, and also post it in school buildings.

1.  

2.      We decided to use this one as our propaganda poster. In this poster, there is the Oscar statuette which is a trophy for the winner. It suggests the meaning of competition as the title written in the below, and also to attract more people join this competition and win an award. 

(The final poster will make a little change than this one.)

Website Design for the Journal

Website Design for the Journal

I am one member of the design team for our journal Lying Cotton Review. For the designing of website, we try to decide the main style of our webpage at first. For this purpose, we divided ourselves into small groups, and every group designed the webpage with different styles from each other.

Our group designed two webpages by using “MIX" website design software.

1.      Website style: traditional, artistic

2.      Website style: entertainment, colorful and youthful

Here are the links of all five different styles our team designed for journal website:

http://lyingcotton.wix.com/lyingcotton

http://lyingcotton.wix.com/lyingcottonsimple
http://zhujing.wix.com/art-style
http://zhujing.wix.com/entertainment
http://lyingcottonreview.wordpress.com/

Reflection of the Story about Vietnamese Priest

Reflection of the Story about Vietnamese Priest— “What does the story want to be?”

We watched the two film clips tell the different stories of the Vietnamese priest. In Marty’s story, the characters are not complex and the plots are too simple. The Vietnamese priest is an entirely anger and vengeful person who does not show any other emotions in the film. There is a scene he kills people in a very violent way that shows the intensity of his anger, but this violence and anger have no real meaning actually, which are gratuitous. And the hooker in the film is just sexualized and objectified. She is careless and ignorant, and lacks depth and emotion. Ultimately, the story tries to be interesting and complex, and it uses the intense historical violence of the Vietnam War to give it certain meaning. In Han’s story, the characters are much more complex. The Vietnamese has violence directed but is also extreme selflessness that he self-immolated to protest the war. This story reflects his destruction in a much more complex and meaningful way than Marty's story. And the hooker in second clip is more humanized and emotional. She has a high level of education, and she has pity for the priest who burns himself in the end. Generally Han’s story corrects the problems or flaws in Marty’s story, and he makes it much more complex and meaningful.

Response to Billy's Story

Problems:

1.      Jack shows up in a graveyard alone and unarmed to return the dog and get peace, while he knows that the mafia boss is a psychopath.

2.      The gunfight just begins without any reason or forebode.

3.      One of Jack’s friends is carrying a white rabbit when he is shooting.

4.      Marty is taking notes during the gunfight and did not get injured.

5.      Kaya just wanders in during the gunfight to say sorry and she loves Marty, and she’s got killed. Billy says her head does come off.

6.      The Mafia boss’s head exploded after being shot with an arrow.

7.      The story ends with all the people are died except Marty and Hans, but the animals are both survived.

8.      Every character in Billy’s story is simple and not thoughtful.

To fix the problems, I want the characters in this story become more complex and have more contact with each other, to make the story plots more reasonable. In new story, Jack gets the Mafia boss’s dog and asks him to release Marty’s girlfriend Kaya who is kidnapped by Mafia boss. They make a deal and Jack agrees to meet Mafia boss in a graveyard tonight. He also asks some of his friends include Marty and Hans to come together with him in case of emergency. However, something unexpected does happen. The Mafia boss is inconsistent, and he just shows unsatisfied to the deal they already made, and disagree to give Kaya back even if they will return his favorite puppy Bonny. He is overbearing and impatient, and since Jack and Marty not allow him to break his promise, he gets really angry and orders his men to kill then all. So the gunfight begins. Jack and his friends are not afraid. They are very brave and they fight back. Marty is the smartest one of them that he observed the overall structure of this graveyard and brings his notes here. With the help of notes, he presumes the most possible place the Mafia hide his girlfriend Kaya, and he finds her successfully. Kaya is also a clever and calm girl. She distracted the people who monitoring her by persuading them to help their associates who are fighting with Jack and his friends. And she gets out eventually when Marty came to find her. They escape, but right before they reach a safe place, the Mafia boss noticed them. “Don’t try to escape from me!” He lifts the gun and aims at them. A gunshot rings out. But the Mafia boss falls down slowly. And they see Jack in behind, who still looks tense with a gun in the hand. This is a successful rescue, Jack finally gets to save his best friend Marty’s girlfriend. He sets Bonny free before they leave the graveyard, which he believes is a right way to get peace.