FIRST, OH MY GOSH! your picture cracked me up. i hadn't seen that one before. HAHAHAHA! i know santa...
And, i suppose my question for you is -- how did you decide upon rhetoric as a major? i'm sure it will come in handy teaching because you'll already be so used to being in front of people. also one more, are you wanting to teach middle or high school?
Well, it was a rather unconventional journey. I started off wanting to be a police office; so naturally, I was a Criminal Justice major. But if found that boring, so I switched to Political Science, which was equally as dry. Haha. Some friends of mine were Rhetoric majors and they had been telling me about it for a while at that point. I tried it out because I needed a major and fell in love. I want to teach High School. I helped out with the middle school group at my church when I was in high school, but it wasn't for me. And that picture is wonderful.
How similar are airsoft and paintball?? I've never done either but something about shooting some one with a ball of paint really intrigues me as an artist.
Well, I would argue they are quite different. Air soft is cheaper and I believe more fun. Granted I have never played paintball, but I am referencing other testimonies. It is a very fun sport/hobby. I had camouflage and a ghillie suit, and all sorts of gear. I went all out. I think airsoft guns look more like real guns, sometimes you can't tell a difference. That is what I liked about it. I was able to be a soldier without the risk of dying.
I think video games are an art. I think it is a very important medium and I despise all ban video game rhetoric, and the discourse that leads to believing video games are hurting the youth. I think it is a bunch of crap. Yeah, I have been emotionally affected. The one I remember the most was Grand Theft Auto IV. I felt so bad causing random violence. I had to stop playing it. I was getting a bad vibe. I have not. Though I have seen it and it is beautiful and awesome.
As a fellow gamer I can say I agree with your points. Games are a wonderful medium for art. They are compilations of music, storytelling, graphic design, and many games offer the player an individual experience. My emotional moment comes from TellTale studio's The Walking Dead. It's based off of the comic, not the T.v. show. The very end forces you to suffer the consequences of your actions and choices throughout the game. As a man, I can say this was one of only a small number of games to actually make me cry. I say mall number because many games are simply copy pasted for entertainment purposes. In a similar fashion to the film industry, the pop out all of the summer hits that are simply meant to numb your mind, while every once in a while a great film comes along that changes your life. Many games are fun, but only a special few make you stop to truly appreciate them as art.
Walking Dead by telltale is really really good. It should be checked out by anyone who appreciates storytelling.
Ben, from what you said about Grand Theft Auto I have to simultaneously recommend and warn you away from a game called SpecOps: The Line.
It is a fairly generic war style shooter, except it has a truly inspired storyline which was somewhat inspired by Heart of Darkness. The primary themes of the story deal with the horrors of war, especially those horrors which a soldier may be forced to inflict on others in the course of his duty.
Amazing game, really intense and hard to handle at parts.
I have heard about the SpecOps game before. It was deemed quite controversial, or at least that is what the developers wanted. I am very picky when it comes to video games, but I might pick it up at some point. Oddly enough, there is a thread on reddit right now about video game is an art. Here it is if you are interested: http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1gyfxk/as_gamers_do_we_really_care_if_video_games_are/
My favorite movie is probably Gladiator and the Two Towers and V for Vendetta. Haha. I cannot pick one. I have tried for years and I am convinced it is not possible. My favorite tv show is probably Mad Men. I find that show endlessly fascinating and it is so well written and acted.
Thank you. I was worried it was too brief. I would rather talk to people face-to-face about their life and use the "autobiographies" as a sort of conversation starter to expedite the process. That is a question that leads to a very odd question. I have always (since Middle School) wanted to teach something (history at a college). However, I became attracted to law enforcement for some reason, maybe because I wanted to impact peoples' lives even at a routine traffic stop. Also, I have watched a lot of crime dramas and read a lot of those mystery books. After essentially walking blind through college, in terms of setting my sights on a vocation I kind of wandered back into teaching and here I am. There wasn't really an epiphany; it just seemed like the right fit. I credit the Lord for helping me, because I wasn't to diligent with figuring out my life.
First of all, the professors in rhetoric are very close friends of mine. They seems like they would be such cool teachers. I am very envious!
My question for you is, to what extent do you think video games could be used for educational purposes? Before you answer, you may want to check out some of the TED talks on gaming in education at http://www.ted.com/talks/tags/gaming. Also, remind me to tell the class about the research on why education should be more like video games.
FIRST, OH MY GOSH! your picture cracked me up. i hadn't seen that one before. HAHAHAHA! i know santa...
ReplyDeleteAnd, i suppose my question for you is -- how did you decide upon rhetoric as a major? i'm sure it will come in handy teaching because you'll already be so used to being in front of people. also one more, are you wanting to teach middle or high school?
Well, it was a rather unconventional journey. I started off wanting to be a police office; so naturally, I was a Criminal Justice major. But if found that boring, so I switched to Political Science, which was equally as dry. Haha. Some friends of mine were Rhetoric majors and they had been telling me about it for a while at that point. I tried it out because I needed a major and fell in love. I want to teach High School. I helped out with the middle school group at my church when I was in high school, but it wasn't for me. And that picture is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHaha. This is embarrassing.
DeleteHow similar are airsoft and paintball?? I've never done either but something about shooting some one with a ball of paint really intrigues me as an artist.
ReplyDeleteWell, I would argue they are quite different. Air soft is cheaper and I believe more fun. Granted I have never played paintball, but I am referencing other testimonies. It is a very fun sport/hobby. I had camouflage and a ghillie suit, and all sorts of gear. I went all out. I think airsoft guns look more like real guns, sometimes you can't tell a difference. That is what I liked about it. I was able to be a soldier without the risk of dying.
DeleteInteresting. Yeah, I have seen some pretty fierce looking airsoft guns before that I would have sworn were real guns.
DeleteWhere do you stand on the "Video games as art" debate?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been emotionally affected by a video game?
Have you played Bioshock Infinite?
I think video games are an art. I think it is a very important medium and I despise all ban video game rhetoric, and the discourse that leads to believing video games are hurting the youth. I think it is a bunch of crap. Yeah, I have been emotionally affected. The one I remember the most was Grand Theft Auto IV. I felt so bad causing random violence. I had to stop playing it. I was getting a bad vibe. I have not. Though I have seen it and it is beautiful and awesome.
DeleteAs a fellow gamer I can say I agree with your points. Games are a wonderful medium for art. They are compilations of music, storytelling, graphic design, and many games offer the player an individual experience. My emotional moment comes from TellTale studio's The Walking Dead. It's based off of the comic, not the T.v. show. The very end forces you to suffer the consequences of your actions and choices throughout the game. As a man, I can say this was one of only a small number of games to actually make me cry. I say mall number because many games are simply copy pasted for entertainment purposes. In a similar fashion to the film industry, the pop out all of the summer hits that are simply meant to numb your mind, while every once in a while a great film comes along that changes your life. Many games are fun, but only a special few make you stop to truly appreciate them as art.
DeleteWell said. I think that sums it up well.
DeleteWalking Dead by telltale is really really good. It should be checked out by anyone who appreciates storytelling.
DeleteBen, from what you said about Grand Theft Auto I have to simultaneously recommend and warn you away from a game called SpecOps: The Line.
It is a fairly generic war style shooter, except it has a truly inspired storyline which was somewhat inspired by Heart of Darkness. The primary themes of the story deal with the horrors of war, especially those horrors which a soldier may be forced to inflict on others in the course of his duty.
Amazing game, really intense and hard to handle at parts.
I have heard about the SpecOps game before. It was deemed quite controversial, or at least that is what the developers wanted. I am very picky when it comes to video games, but I might pick it up at some point. Oddly enough, there is a thread on reddit right now about video game is an art. Here it is if you are interested: http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1gyfxk/as_gamers_do_we_really_care_if_video_games_are/
DeleteWhat is your favorite movie? TV show?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite movie is probably Gladiator and the Two Towers and V for Vendetta. Haha. I cannot pick one. I have tried for years and I am convinced it is not possible. My favorite tv show is probably Mad Men. I find that show endlessly fascinating and it is so well written and acted.
DeleteI enjoyed your brilliantly brief autobio.
ReplyDeleteMiddle school is terrible.
When did you decided/realize you wanted to be a teacher?
Thank you. I was worried it was too brief. I would rather talk to people face-to-face about their life and use the "autobiographies" as a sort of conversation starter to expedite the process. That is a question that leads to a very odd question. I have always (since Middle School) wanted to teach something (history at a college). However, I became attracted to law enforcement for some reason, maybe because I wanted to impact peoples' lives even at a routine traffic stop. Also, I have watched a lot of crime dramas and read a lot of those mystery books. After essentially walking blind through college, in terms of setting my sights on a vocation I kind of wandered back into teaching and here I am. There wasn't really an epiphany; it just seemed like the right fit. I credit the Lord for helping me, because I wasn't to diligent with figuring out my life.
Delete* answer
DeleteFirst of all, the professors in rhetoric are very close friends of mine. They seems like they would be such cool teachers. I am very envious!
ReplyDeleteMy question for you is, to what extent do you think video games could be used for educational purposes? Before you answer, you may want to check out some of the TED talks on gaming in education at http://www.ted.com/talks/tags/gaming. Also, remind me to tell the class about the research on why education should be more like video games.
Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?
ReplyDeleteI would say my youth pastor when I was High School. His name was Adam Parker and he was such a great mentor to me.
DeleteVictory has defeated you!
ReplyDeleteAHHHHHHH!!!
DeleteYour picture is hilarious! Was that a job or just for fun?
ReplyDelete