week 8: Science fiction

Question: What does Dick(1995) himself theorize about the I Ching?

Answer: The I Ching or the book of changes, maybe the oldest book in our human history. Although its primary function is to provide knowledge about our past, present and future situation, the simplest way to extract your answer is to throw three coins six times, what you think of the question and record the result. According to Samuel (1974), the I Ching consists of 64 hexagrams(gua) and each gua contains a text. Through throwing coins each time, you will be given either positive (unbroken) or negative (broken) line. Overall, there are 64 possible combinations.  As Samuel (1974) illustrates, I ching is dissimilar from a conventional book and it has acquired the status of a book of wisdom. Samuel (1974) stats that the hexagrams reflect our current situation and it will point out whether we are in harmony or not. Furthermore, if the forecoming issues will threaten our inner equilibrium, the hexagrams show us warnings to help us avoid tragedy.  Phillip K Dick is considered as the first sci-fi author who discovers the I Ching far ahead of most people in US. He primary got involved in this book after he read a Chinese translator’s work on 1960. According to Dick(1995), he did make use of the I Ching at storyline junctures for his characters in one of his masterpiece ‘The man in the high castle’. However, in the end, Dick(1995) found I Ching was unreliable and the problems of those characters still unresolved. As Dick(1995) stats, the information that I Ching provides will initially giving you what you expect to hear. Once you have given your faith to it, the results would in contrast to the previous ones and it frustrating people. On one hand, Dick(1995) admit that I Ching may clearly lead the path and does help to access to success in some cases. On the other hand, he has recommended people not to make significant decisions on the basis of it.

Reference

Dick, P.K. (1995). Schizophrenia and the I Ching. In Sutin, L. (Ed.), The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick (pp.175-182). New York: Vintage.

Reifler, Samuel. (1974). "I Ching: A New Interpretation for Modern Times". Bantam New Age Books.

week 7

Here are some links of chinese anime and Korean anime:

http://www.chinanim.com/CHINA/show/hist/50.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDrPx3RCqCE

http://myanimelist.net/anime/548/Wonderful_Days_(Korean)

Week3&4

Q. What are some archetypes (e.g. common character types) of fantasy fiction? 

Fantasy fictions have been loved by everyone for a long time, regardless of age and gender. I think the reason is that there are characters who we hope that we become and are helped by in reality. Because of this reason, the characters have never been changed in fantasy fiction, in spite of other story.

Firstly, there is a hero in fantasy fiction, but the hero is not special but common like us. Although the hero is common, he becomes stronger through a travel. For example, there are Harry of Harry potter and Frodo of The lord of the rings.

Harry didn’t know that he was wizard, and he knows the truth at eleven years old. So he goes to the wizard’s world and becomes a student there. As growing up, he learns magical elements, and he become stronger through the lessons.

On the other hand, Frodo of The lord of the rings was one of common hobbits before inheriting the Ring from Bilbo, his cousin. With the Ring, he was stronger, but he lost the Ring. While he travels for the Ring, he already is stronger without the Ring.

Secondly, many heroes always have mentors. Most mentors are old, and fantasy movies use white and long beards to express their appearance. They are very helpful characters to heroes as wise men. For instance, Albus Dumbledore of Harry potter is represented.

Albus Dumbledore of Harry potter is a principal in Hogwarts. Rowling expressed his wizard in Harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban (1999). Professor Dumbledore is very old, but he always impressed other people. He had long silver hair and beard. He was usually regarded as the best wizard of the age. We can find her expression through other fantasy fictions or movies. He also plays a helpful role for Harry and his friends.

Reference

Bunker, L. W. (2001). Albus percival wulfric brian dumbledore: data. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/dumbledore.html

Jimmy. (n.d). A frodo christmas. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://ibelieveinhumans.com/index.php/a-frodo-christmas/

Naver. (2006). Harry potter. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://movie.naver.com/movie/bi/mi/photoView.nhn?code=37883&imageNid=5325538

Paramount35. (2006). Albus Dumbledore. Retrieved September 17, 2012 from http://blog.naver.com/paramount35?Redirect=Log&logNo=90002728651

Rowling, J. K. (1999). Harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban.

Wikipedia. (n.d). Harry potter. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter

Wikipedia, (n.d). The lord of the rings. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings

Week 3 & 4

How is science fiction different from fantasy, according to Le Guinn?


There are no limits when writing a fantasy story, where as science fiction there is.
The difference between the two is that one is built around a fictional world and the other in a non-fictional one. For a science fiction story there has to be explainations to why all the incidents take place and how, explained in a science related way to make it seem real even though it is not. A fantasy based story doe's not have to do this, as they can make a fantasy story fake and unbelievable as much as they want, and people would still enjoy it because it is a fantasy. Le Guinn metions that, “fantasy is far more direct in its fictionality than either realism or science fiction. Its contact with the reader is a different one.” I think this means that with a fantasy genre people can take it in how they want to take it in, you can approach the genre form any angle and still it makes sense, because it's fantasy!


What are some archetypes (e.g. common character types)of fantasy fiction?


Frodo in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings is a very good archetype, as he sacrifices his own well being in his journey to destroy the ring to save middle earth. His journey is guided by Gandolf the wizard who plays the role of Frodo's mentor. Also Harry Potter is a similar case with Frodo, as Harry sacrifices his own well being in his journey to find and destroy the Hocruxes in order to destroy Voldemort ( the villain). For Harry his mentor is the great Albus Dumbledore (headmaster of Hogwarts) who helps Harry to find the Hocruxes.


Reference

Le Guinn, U. (2005). Plausibility revisited what happened and what didn't. Retrieved from http://www.ursulakleguin.com/PlausibilityRevisited.html

Week 6-7

According to Lent (2000), what place does animation occupy in Asian societies? How different is this across Asia (ie comparing China and Japan)?

As Lent(2000) states in his article, animation has served both political and economic goals in Asian societies. For instance, since the Cultural Revolution Interference (1966-1976) in China, the Chinese animation industry was practically put on pause during the Cultural Revolution. As a result, the majority of Chinese animation is produced to favour Nationalist Party and President Mao’s campaigns. In the meantime, the establishment of Vietnamese Animation indicates the Vietnam War and the violation of the human right.

Turning to the economic aspect, animation is considered as a significant cultural export of Korea. For example, some famous characters of Korean animation have thousands of spin-off products and according to the Souel (the capital of Korea) business agency; these characters will generate global sales of over one billion dollars annually. Another example is the establishment of the Disneyland theme park in Hong Kong. In 2006, Hong Kong Disneyland ranked among the top five most popular places to visit in Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong tourism Boards Statistical Review. Furthermore, numerous researches have implied that Disneyland theme park offered a boost to the local services sector in the form of over 12 million visitors each year. As Lent(2000) emphasizes, Hong Kong Disneyland provides employment opportunities for nearly 4000 performers, technicians and other supporting staff. In my opinion, the economic benefit is countless.

Lent, A, J. (2000). Animation in Asia: appropriation, reinterpretation, and adoption or adaptation. Retrieved from: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/screeningthepast/firstrelease/fr1100/jlfr11c.htm