The First-Person Shooter

In my case study, i will explore the history of video games from the perspective of the evolution of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre of gaming tracing back to its birth in the late 1970s. This is a genre which is constantly teeming with potential, as there are frequent advances in progamming and the processing power of video-game consoles. There are many notable titles which introduced new concepts in gaming which have been emulated (literally and figuratively) by programmers around the world.

Freewriting 3

On Jib-Jab’s "This Land"

Jib-Jab’s “This Land” is a popular internet video that was released before the 2004 Presidential Election, during the campaigns of George W. Bush and John Kerry. It cracks witty jokes on each of the presidential hopefuls throughout a song parodying Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Our Land.” As far as literary genres go, this piece would most likely be placed in the literary genre of theatre or satire and in the sub-genre of comedy. Another literary genre that would be arguably more fitting would be a political cartoon, something found in a periodical like The New Yorker, or Time.

"This Land" would also fall into a few different visual genres, as well. It could be considered an animated short film or also as a music video. It is a sort of anti-propaganda political satire as well, reminiscent of television programs like Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park or Seth McFarlane’s American Dad. It picks out specific widely known qualities to bash on each of the two candidates, but does not take the side of either one of the presidential hopefuls. I would describe it as a “political cartoon in motion,” a combination of literary and visual genres, and like South Park, knocks everyone, taking no prisoners.

This piece, unlike most of the other available selections found on the Introduction to New Media weblog (Basho’s Frogger, Bembo’s Zoo, etc.), is a non-interactive video clip. It was a short film, probably composed using Macromedia’s Flash or some other type of computer animation software. These types of videos are becoming amazingly popular, despite their mild crudity, because of their ease of production. They can be very easily distributed as data via e-mail, instant messaging software, online communities, and various other vessels.

One of the many great things about this short is that it was very well-produced by insightful creators. It was a collaberation of many different people. There is probably someone at Jib-Jab to do the voice imitations, someone to write the song parody, and of course the animators. This is one of Jib-Jab’s most popular videos which eventually gave way to sequels called “Second Term” and “2-0-5,” both of which feature songs which are also parodies to other old American folk songs.

cut-up experiment

The following was composed using the cut-up method.
Very little has been added, a single word or pluralization here and there to maintain clarity. It is made up of four songs:

(1) Dazed and Confused - Led Zeppelin
(2) Let's Go Get Stoned - Sublime
(3) Stand Up - Dave Matthews Band
(4) Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd



Been dazed and confused for so low y’all!
Stand up!

I woke up next to woman, never bargained for you. You look so good naked next to me. Them know, soul of a woman was crowned up! I feel like a drug is tellin’ all your lies. Run around, in and out of my mind!

I’ll shoot you. Hypnotize. Sweet little baby, I gave my soul! Stand up! Smell! Gonna love you baby, here I come in us all. You dropped me in bringin’ home my hard-earned pay.

Stand up!

Hello? Is there anybody? Push me away. Don’t know where. You or me. Is there anyone at home? You’ve been sweet, little baby. I’m going down. Well I can ease you, confused for so long.

It’s not true! RELAX… I’ll need some. Bargain. For you. Take it easy. Be cool. Facts. Can you show me where will… where will your tongue wag? So much receding.

A distant ship, swear sometimes you’re taking me and coming through in waves. You’re… you’re a whore. I swear but I know you’re saying when I was a child, everything is such a bore. Last night like two balloons. Now I’ve got… you made me sick.

I saw you in your brain.

Explain.

You would not understand, dick! Oh my goodness!

My friend, me.

Comfortably numb.

Ok, just a fault. Said it’s time that it happened more.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

But you may feel so much more than a blow. So I do believe it’s working. Good. Get low.

Waiting for the tide. E show. Come on, it’s time to go, motherfucker. Like three, the hard kind.

A distant ship, smoke on the, upon the wall. Tell me baby, would you get high in waves? Your lips move for me but what if I was a roach on a tree?

When I was a child I caught a glimpse of lights, put me in a trance in the air of my eye. I turned to look. Wanna dance? I don’t gamble, but my finger’s on it now.
The child is getting a cigarette just because I am becoming comfortably numb.

Monkey on my back.

Boys… get upping it’s not true. Wanted an angel singing in my head.

Yo, lots of people talk and few of them are angels in my bed.

Stay seated below! You hurt and abuse, cookin’ in my veins. Still, I’m sound sweet baby, Lord how they up again!

Stand up!

Water won’t know where you’ve been. Like smoke and fire it’s burning again. Every day I work so hard, water! Lift me up! Save my soul!

Try to love you baby, but are you even there? Just nod if you’re goin’, only let me know just where. Come on, now. I hear your feelings. Want you again. Been dazed and in pain, get on your feet again. You. Wanted a woman, never information first… just the basics, baby. Let them say what they intend.

It hurts? There is no pain you’re having when I send you the bill. I smoke on the horizon. You are only for granted. I swear sometimes lips move but I can’t hear. There ain’t no reason. Cuz, I had a fever. My hands felt just right.

I had a dream. Lord, it’s that feeling once again. I cant breathe. You’re in the bedroom sucking someone else’s… This is not how I am.

I have become all laughed, said it was my little pinprick. There’ll be nothing pinned to me, but I know it will make me a little sick. Can you stand up? No. I’m waiting for the tide too. That’ll keep you going through when things get low.

I said let’s rock this, there is no pain! You are receding away! If I was an ant crawling toward the horizon, you’re only coming through. It makes no difference at all. I can’t hear what you’re saying. Would you smoke me? Bright, fleeting glimpse out of the corner of the house. that music makes me.

But it was gone I cannot put up my fight. I bet I’m gonna die; if I don’t grow, the dream is gone. I always play the mack.

bizarro!