High School Is Hell

I thought that the High School Is Hell reading was really interesting! I've always liked metaphors (I try to use them in my creative writing), but I never realized that they were used so liberally in Science Fiction. It may sound dumb, but I've always seen Sci-Fi shows (not unlike Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as straightforward interpretations of the future. Period. I've never really taken the time or effort to understand the symbolism and metaphors in the shows. However, after reading High School Is Hell, I'm actually interested in watching Buffy, and many more Sci-Fi shows for that matter. All of the metaphors from Buffy were creative and relevant, but one stood out to me: the title! As the paper stated, many critics (myself included) originally dismissed the show for its cheesy sounding title. However, if one takes the time to dig a little, they'd realize that the title is a play on the shows irony. Buffy is a blonde, girly high school student with the power and responsibility to combat the evil of the world. Ironic! I can't help but think that I've ignored other shows simply because I prematurely judged their title. It's pretty humbling, actually. I've really realized how reckless some of my 'opinions' are. When push comes to shove, this article has completely changed my perspective of Science Fiction. I feel like I have a new appreciation for abstract literature.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog: Thoughts??

I really really liked Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog! Though it started off a little slow, I was pleasantly surprised by the well timed sarcasm and hilarious symbolism. Like seriously, it was pretty funny. For example, Dr. Horrible's arch nemesis, The Hammer, is obviously given the name of a tool for a reason. He's a complete tool. He's that guy, if you get my drift. Anywho, the real reason I loved this show was because it turned out to be one of those comedies that ends up surprising you in the end. I expected some slapstick and an explosion or two, but I wasn't prepared for a gut-wrenching twist! I don't want to give too much away, but the final 5 minutes of this show are bound to shock anyone. I thought I saw the end coming, and then show went a completely different direction. Let me say this: if you like goofy musicals, you'll love this show. But if you appreciate shows with underlying meanings and symbolism, then you'll like it even more. I'm not a big musical buff, but this show was pretty great. Watch it!

Science Fiction & Me

Hmmm Science-Fiction... I've never really known what to make of it. I've been exposed to Sci-Fi for the greater part of my young life, as my mom has always had a slightly unhealthy obsession with all things intergalactic. Whenever I come across something Sci-Fi related, I instantly paint memories of my dear mother donning her beloved pastel moo-moo at 1:00am, propping herself up on our living room sofa and nursing a Diet-Coke while watching an episode of Star Trek that she must have seen seven or eight times before. I myself never really caught on to the whole Science-Fiction craze; it's a bit too far-fetched for my taste. Add to that, I consider myself more of a non-fiction guy. I used to be addicted to those Disney books that introduced eight-year-olds to different cultures from around the world. They’d tell you all about skiing in Switzerland, sailing across Greece, eating puff pastries in Pari…okay I’m getting off track. But in Science Fiction’s defense, I never got around to giving it a fair try. I guess I’ve always been a little intimidated by the complex dialogue and alien-human love triangles. But alas, it’s only appropriate that I finally grant Science-Fiction the opportunity it deserves. Who knows...you may see me at the next Star Trek convention! Okay, probably not. But I’ll almost certainly watch another episode of Firefly if I get bored.

Firefly: Thoughts??

Wow! I was pretty surprised by the first episode of Firefly! It took me a while to get used to the country-fied science fiction thing, but I think I started to understand the whole concept of the show by the end of the episode. My favorite scene was when Simon explained his sister's twisted story to the other crew and passengers. Up until that point, the audience was led to believe that Simon was the antagonist amidst other innocent passengers. The director used music, costume, and shady mannerisms to contribute to Simon's dark image, but ultimately, he turned out to be nothing like he originally appeared. I thought that the episode had a really solid plot, and I especially appreciated all of the twists and turns it threw. I'm curious to see how this show develops over the course of a season, as the first episode felt more like a movie than a television series. All in all though, a really great first episode!

All About Me (kinda)

Hey everyone! My name's Cameron Brown, and I'm from Dublin, Ohio. I'm currently majoring in Biology, but I plan on changing that soon to Exercise Physiology on a Pre-Med route. In my free time I love to play sports and hang out with my new dorm friends. In particular, I love running (as you probably assumed, given this blog's obnoxious url...). I ran a half marathon over the summer, and I hope to run a full one sometime next year. My favorite tv shows are 'Family Guy' and '30 Rock', and I'm sort of a techie...it's pretty embarrassing. I actually like writing, so this class should be a nice break from all the chemistry and math I'm being bombarded with. Haha. I look forward to meeting everyone and reading your blogs!