Going through my previous post, I noticed I had not covered comprehensively the view-ability aspects of the series. Alright, maybe it wasn't much more than a fan rave. Seeking to undo my wrong, I set upon the forging of another post that delves deeper into the plotline and emerges as a review for the blessed series. (Archaic language, courtesy of Soul Reaver 2).
First, the plotline. Oh, the plotline. Giving out the slightest of details would constitute a spoiler. For a series that is an incoherent stampede of episodes, the plot holds up rather well. The first few episodes introduce the main characters of the series sequentially (with the exception of the first episode itelf, which, to cut a long story short, is disorienting and interesting). Compressed into 13 episodes is the story of a girl, Haruhi Suzumiya, combining the genres of Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery and plain, old, high school life. The direction of the series is exceptional, with subtle imagery that mimics the events in the story.
Next, the graphics. As good as any other well designed anime, TMoHS captures the emotions of its characters with a good degree of accuracy (ex. the insanity on Haruhi's face). Its not something that you could watch the series for, but it satisfies nonetheless.
On to the music. The fact that the seiyu (voice actor) Aya Hirano won multiple awards for the songs in the series (especially Bouken Desho Desho, which, is awesome) should speak for itself. The beginning and ending songs epitomize the ideas the series prescribes.
Finally, the characters.( *Must... fight... Fanboy rave urge...*) Well, they're good. Really, really good. Each character is developed with a specific purpose that is revealed over the course of the anime. The depth and detail devoted to each character is unimaginable in the age of hack-and-slash franchises like Bleach and Naruto.
Overall: A great series for anyone looking for a good story. If you watch with a mind open enough, you could even be influenced by the series (Yes, this is to blame for some of my weirdness as well). If the concept of having fun has always caught your fancy, you're sure to like it. As I said in the previous post, do watch it. You won't regret it. A little Haruhiism never hurt anyone.
The Phenomenon of Haruhi Suzumiya
Let's start with a friendly word. Anime is not cartoon. Ignorance is not an excuse.
Before we get started on the (pending) post on TMoHS, it would be a good idea to get a clear picture of what anime is. Ben10 is a cartoon. Cartoons are primarily for kids. Anime, on the other hand, caters to as wide a range of viewers as chocolate, i.e. everyone. You have the childish run-of-the-mill fantasy series (like Bleach), the types that beckon with childlike beauty (like Chobits), the complex types (like S. E. Lain) and the types best left without mention (ask me in person). These broad classifications are but examples of the most typical genre. Add to this a thousand series, each having a devoted fan following and you have a whole new order in your hands. Sadly, however, for the inexperienced viewer, anime falls into the worst of classifications (hentai and cartoon). I can only ask you to watch some good ones before you take your side on the 'anime is for kids' debate. There are amazing examples that are shorter than 26 episodes. Eat that, sitcom addicts.
On to what this post is really about. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (TMoHS, as mentioned earlier). TMoHS is one of the best pieces of art I have seen - and that's putting it lightly. It isn't a series that I would suggest for someone getting started on anime. It certainly isn't a defining work. And most important of all, it is a heady mix of a number of genres. Watching it twice will probably be necessary before you fall into Haruhi's fandom (and eventually start worshiping her). The sheer brilliance of it all does not come out until the end (Hell, the first episode, provided you watch it in the right order, leaves you wondering what you saw). Choosing a non-linear narrative is a nice touch that brings the right amount of suspense to the mystery that is TMoHS. Oh, and do watch it in Japanese (with subs).
To see the aftereffects of TMoHS, a google search will reveal how far things from the series have entered our world. Apart from huge fan bases (and related rabid fangirl/fanboy attacks), the show has even inspired flash mobs in full cosplay that start dancing at busy intersections. The prison inmates at a filipino prison (yeah, the same guys that brought us the Thriller dance) added the outro of the series to this their dance numbers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xx4tszZ-DE).
Just like any other series, TMoHS has its critics, who, despite being hammered by fans, pick at the anime. I guess there is a price to pay when you adapt a long manga and shorten it to 13 episodes (that's less than half the running time of the average english season). The depth and the ideals brought out in the series make up for most of its shortfalls. The songs from the series, which are among my favorites, If you've got the time to download and watch it, do it right away.
On another note, I'm trying to figure out something fun to do for New Year's. Any suggestions?
Before we get started on the (pending) post on TMoHS, it would be a good idea to get a clear picture of what anime is. Ben10 is a cartoon. Cartoons are primarily for kids. Anime, on the other hand, caters to as wide a range of viewers as chocolate, i.e. everyone. You have the childish run-of-the-mill fantasy series (like Bleach), the types that beckon with childlike beauty (like Chobits), the complex types (like S. E. Lain) and the types best left without mention (ask me in person). These broad classifications are but examples of the most typical genre. Add to this a thousand series, each having a devoted fan following and you have a whole new order in your hands. Sadly, however, for the inexperienced viewer, anime falls into the worst of classifications (hentai and cartoon). I can only ask you to watch some good ones before you take your side on the 'anime is for kids' debate. There are amazing examples that are shorter than 26 episodes. Eat that, sitcom addicts.
On to what this post is really about. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (TMoHS, as mentioned earlier). TMoHS is one of the best pieces of art I have seen - and that's putting it lightly. It isn't a series that I would suggest for someone getting started on anime. It certainly isn't a defining work. And most important of all, it is a heady mix of a number of genres. Watching it twice will probably be necessary before you fall into Haruhi's fandom (and eventually start worshiping her). The sheer brilliance of it all does not come out until the end (Hell, the first episode, provided you watch it in the right order, leaves you wondering what you saw). Choosing a non-linear narrative is a nice touch that brings the right amount of suspense to the mystery that is TMoHS. Oh, and do watch it in Japanese (with subs).
To see the aftereffects of TMoHS, a google search will reveal how far things from the series have entered our world. Apart from huge fan bases (and related rabid fangirl/fanboy attacks), the show has even inspired flash mobs in full cosplay that start dancing at busy intersections. The prison inmates at a filipino prison (yeah, the same guys that brought us the Thriller dance) added the outro of the series to this their dance numbers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xx4tszZ-DE).
Just like any other series, TMoHS has its critics, who, despite being hammered by fans, pick at the anime. I guess there is a price to pay when you adapt a long manga and shorten it to 13 episodes (that's less than half the running time of the average english season). The depth and the ideals brought out in the series make up for most of its shortfalls. The songs from the series, which are among my favorites, If you've got the time to download and watch it, do it right away.
On another note, I'm trying to figure out something fun to do for New Year's. Any suggestions?
Liminality at Pragyan 2010
The tech fest of NITT is around the corner. This time, with a dull website and interesting events, the interest thus far has fallen a mile short of overwhelming. The prizes are as good as always (I still cherish that coffee cup I won in my first year). Offsetting that is a surge in the number of events (some of them, surprisingly, are good). In this freshly sorted heap, is Liminality; The first event Pragyan has seen that takes your mind away from the technical and technological indulgences that have become something of a bore.
I'm sorry the picture isn't that good. I didn't have enough time to work on it.
Now, back to Liminality:
The basics - Limi is a digital art event. We'll be giving the participants PS (CS 3 or 4) and let them paint the town pixelly. Artists that use graphic tablets are also allowed to participate and they're allowed to bring their own brushes and fonts. We'll also be putting up a PS101 for people that haven't tried it before but are eager to.
The cash - 3,000 if you win. Slightly smaller amounts for coming in second and third. And if your initial submissions are good enough, we might even be printing T shirts with them :D
There is no restriction on the genre; In fact, we'd like to see some variety in the submissions. Any thing from pixel art to photomanips is allowed.
If you're into art, or know friends that are, please pass this on. The topics are not your standard love, war and peace (We nearly made them Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik but decided to avoid copyright entanglement) and the people reviewing it might actually understand pop culture references you make. There are also bonus points for using lolspeak in your image.
Link: Liminality
Pass it on, won't you?
I'm sorry the picture isn't that good. I didn't have enough time to work on it.
Now, back to Liminality:
The basics - Limi is a digital art event. We'll be giving the participants PS (CS 3 or 4) and let them paint the town pixelly. Artists that use graphic tablets are also allowed to participate and they're allowed to bring their own brushes and fonts. We'll also be putting up a PS101 for people that haven't tried it before but are eager to.
The cash - 3,000 if you win. Slightly smaller amounts for coming in second and third. And if your initial submissions are good enough, we might even be printing T shirts with them :D
There is no restriction on the genre; In fact, we'd like to see some variety in the submissions. Any thing from pixel art to photomanips is allowed.
If you're into art, or know friends that are, please pass this on. The topics are not your standard love, war and peace (We nearly made them Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik but decided to avoid copyright entanglement) and the people reviewing it might actually understand pop culture references you make. There are also bonus points for using lolspeak in your image.
Link: Liminality
Pass it on, won't you?
The end and the beginning
With 12 grueling hours topping off a largely similar week, my work draws to a close.
What this means to you: Articles on everything I've mentioned in the past but let slip.
What this means to me: Life. Liberty. The pursuit of the fairer sex. Or, as a friend put it,
Rather than leave this a stub, I thought I would put in a few pieces of junk that are too small to occupy their own topics and interesting enough to warrant mention.
First, visit Wiki: Balls by Picasso for a well written entry that describes the literary society of NITT. Depending on when you decide to pay a visit, the status of availability of said site will vary. If you have a wiki account, post in the Talk section and vote against deletion ^_^.
Second, and with a slight shade of importance, are quotes. Not the quotable kind you get in RD (Ex. Love people. Use things. Never confuse the two.) but the kind that must be shared with the intensity of a roll. Mentioned below are actual snippets from a conversation we were having with a professor who is overseeing our project.
Prof: So, you're from Trichy. You know, that place is fit only for night schools. Because it is Tiruchi Raa Palli.
Us: He He... yeah...
Prof: Do you have all the data I gave you?
Us: Yes sir, we have it all filed.
Prof: Oh, that's not possible. Only if you're in Mech Engg., you can file everything.
Us: Ha. Ha. *cough*
Prof: Tell your friend Harshavardhan to be nice to people, or he will be called Harsh vardhan.
Us: Yeah...
Prof: (In MS Excel) Ah, I just managed to add 3 rows to the sheet. Now, I can order the same brand of tea (Go figure).
Prof: In a North Indian restaurant, there is limited variety - Rotis, sabzi and raita. Each is kept in a separate row. A customer eats there and complains that the sabzi provided isn't hot enough. Why?
Us: ??
Prof: Because it was kept in sabzi row!
(WARNING: Grand finale)
Prof: It is the year 2020. There has been a variant of avian flu that has killed most of the chicken on the planet. All the people are sad since tasty wings are out of the question now. I create a device that manages to cook crows (they aren't that tasty normally) and brings KFC back in business. Now, to patent my invention, what do I call it?
Us: *Blank stare*
Prof: Mycrowprocessor!
Us: *Facepalm*
We hope you enjoyed it.
And I'll try to make up for this with a few good posts ^__^.
What this means to you: Articles on everything I've mentioned in the past but let slip.
What this means to me: Life. Liberty. The pursuit of the fairer sex. Or, as a friend put it,
"There'll soon be a billboard on Elliots Beach... "Wanted: Single Woman, any shape, size, age. Kindly contact the undersigned. Mod"
Rather than leave this a stub, I thought I would put in a few pieces of junk that are too small to occupy their own topics and interesting enough to warrant mention.
First, visit Wiki: Balls by Picasso for a well written entry that describes the literary society of NITT. Depending on when you decide to pay a visit, the status of availability of said site will vary. If you have a wiki account, post in the Talk section and vote against deletion ^_^.
Second, and with a slight shade of importance, are quotes. Not the quotable kind you get in RD (Ex. Love people. Use things. Never confuse the two.) but the kind that must be shared with the intensity of a roll. Mentioned below are actual snippets from a conversation we were having with a professor who is overseeing our project.
Prof: So, you're from Trichy. You know, that place is fit only for night schools. Because it is Tiruchi Raa Palli.
Us: He He... yeah...
Prof: Do you have all the data I gave you?
Us: Yes sir, we have it all filed.
Prof: Oh, that's not possible. Only if you're in Mech Engg., you can file everything.
Us: Ha. Ha. *cough*
Prof: Tell your friend Harshavardhan to be nice to people, or he will be called Harsh vardhan.
Us: Yeah...
Prof: (In MS Excel) Ah, I just managed to add 3 rows to the sheet. Now, I can order the same brand of tea (Go figure).
Prof: In a North Indian restaurant, there is limited variety - Rotis, sabzi and raita. Each is kept in a separate row. A customer eats there and complains that the sabzi provided isn't hot enough. Why?
Us: ??
Prof: Because it was kept in sabzi row!
(WARNING: Grand finale)
Prof: It is the year 2020. There has been a variant of avian flu that has killed most of the chicken on the planet. All the people are sad since tasty wings are out of the question now. I create a device that manages to cook crows (they aren't that tasty normally) and brings KFC back in business. Now, to patent my invention, what do I call it?
Us: *Blank stare*
Prof: Mycrowprocessor!
Us: *Facepalm*
We hope you enjoyed it.
And I'll try to make up for this with a few good posts ^__^.
Anatomy of a fest
This post hopes to be a reasonable argument discerning between the various aspects of a cultural fest. If you are a fanatic that pledges undying loyalty to the likes of Saarang/MI/Any fest with crores pumped into it. you should really stop reading now. Or now. You could also go on a fast as a means of protest. That certainly works better and has far less in the form of consequences than the option of blocking me. I may not have written 4 miserable books but I do know how to use hashtags. #chetanblocks
Getting back to the topic - The reason for this post lies in a conversation-debate-argument I had yesterday that involved the analysis of the aspects of a cultural fest. Although the chat didn't lead anywhere, it gave me a lot to think about. Given the hundreds of fests out there, the possibility of a fest standing out depends on very few factors. Mentioned here are what I feel are the biggest contributors to the status of being "big". For the fanatics: Before you begin, do keep your mind open, and for blood's sake, use your brain. If there are points of contention, I hope to god they do not revolve around grammar or the incorrect assignment of *random* numbers.
Factor M aka Teh Moola: There isn't much to say here. The culturals with the biggest bank to dig from ends up on top. This can also be the sole deciding factor in many cases - from cash prizes that want you to return the subsequent year for another sweep to half page event coverage in newspapers (Yes, we all know who the Arindam chowdhury of cultural fests is), the reasons for prominence rising from monetary advantages are many. This factor also accounts for the failure of many fests.
Factor F aka Teh Fun!: This is what sustains the interest of regular participants - the people that are a part of dance/theatre/lits groups. Even if the money on offer is low, and the advertising is limited, the simple word-of-mouth spread of information drags people in. This could range from a well conducted, fair event to the presence of elements on campus that add to the charm (Yes, I mean NLS). This factor often overpowers the negatives of the monetary aspect but will not be enough to bring in participation from non-regular members.
Advertising aka Teh Face: What colleges see first when they hear of a fest is very important. The publicity video that goes out and the posters that are put up in other colleges could very well decide the fate of a fest, especially if they are lacking. The closest example I can give would be that of Festember itself - the video, on top of being found lacking, was mocked at some of the colleges that were visited. The abuse of the "headphones" pretty much killed it. Preventing a Facepalm is as simple as making the publicity material good.
Location aka Teh WhereTF: Let's face it. No matter how good a fest is, if it is at a college that is hundreds of miles from civilization, nobody is going to want to go there. Nobody, here, includes participants as well as sponsors. And without this financial backing, we are back at the dead end of Factor M.
The Analysis:
The combination of all these points at one fact - However interesting or fun a fest is, the chances of it being recognized depend heavily on the student community that supports it. If a fest banked on its fun factor, chances are, it would crash. Without good organization, it falls on its face. Without participation, there are no numbers to show to future sponsors. And without these sponsors, there is practically no hope of getting more participants the next year. Now, I'm not saying this evil circle gripped Fember. There was enough mediocrity in the organization to kill it without the other factors even playing a role. Marred by a disastrous publicity vid right at the beginning and having numerous problems during the execution (Acco, for eg.), I could even go as far as saying the entourage brought by the regulars was its saving grace.
The main point posed as argument to my statement (which is more or less what I've written here) was that a cultural fest that is good cannot be obscure. I agree to this to an extent. Any fest that people like will have its set of dedicated regulars to keep it alive but it ends there. There is no reason for the crowd coming in to exceed this basic participatory amount. There is no way that word of mouth can make up for all the other factors shadowing its popularity. You like the fest, you tell your friend. He might tell his friends about it, who, in turn, might tell theirs. Going by plain probability, the odds are not for it. It is possible, although the mathematical improbability is stacked against it.
There is a lot more to add to this that simply cannot be done by presenting to the reader my views. If I feel there is adequate information to add to this, I shall in the future. If you are a staunch supporter of some really big fest (say, Saarang), analyze exactly what makes your fest good. I have no intention of beginning a silly debate here. However, if you choose to break down the facts and look at them objectively, I would love to start our discussion there. My summary is that many fests suffer due to one or many of the reasons listed above. It would be a harsh (and somewhat stupid) move to condemn it as a failure simply because you haven't heard of it. Saarang is not the best. Festember is not the worst. And there are facets of one that better the other. Look at your own fest critically. Think.
Leave your views, replies, rants and phone numbers in the comments section.
Getting back to the topic - The reason for this post lies in a conversation-debate-argument I had yesterday that involved the analysis of the aspects of a cultural fest. Although the chat didn't lead anywhere, it gave me a lot to think about. Given the hundreds of fests out there, the possibility of a fest standing out depends on very few factors. Mentioned here are what I feel are the biggest contributors to the status of being "big". For the fanatics: Before you begin, do keep your mind open, and for blood's sake, use your brain. If there are points of contention, I hope to god they do not revolve around grammar or the incorrect assignment of *random* numbers.
Factor M aka Teh Moola: There isn't much to say here. The culturals with the biggest bank to dig from ends up on top. This can also be the sole deciding factor in many cases - from cash prizes that want you to return the subsequent year for another sweep to half page event coverage in newspapers (Yes, we all know who the Arindam chowdhury of cultural fests is), the reasons for prominence rising from monetary advantages are many. This factor also accounts for the failure of many fests.
Factor F aka Teh Fun!: This is what sustains the interest of regular participants - the people that are a part of dance/theatre/lits groups. Even if the money on offer is low, and the advertising is limited, the simple word-of-mouth spread of information drags people in. This could range from a well conducted, fair event to the presence of elements on campus that add to the charm (Yes, I mean NLS). This factor often overpowers the negatives of the monetary aspect but will not be enough to bring in participation from non-regular members.
Advertising aka Teh Face: What colleges see first when they hear of a fest is very important. The publicity video that goes out and the posters that are put up in other colleges could very well decide the fate of a fest, especially if they are lacking. The closest example I can give would be that of Festember itself - the video, on top of being found lacking, was mocked at some of the colleges that were visited. The abuse of the "headphones" pretty much killed it. Preventing a Facepalm is as simple as making the publicity material good.
Location aka Teh WhereTF: Let's face it. No matter how good a fest is, if it is at a college that is hundreds of miles from civilization, nobody is going to want to go there. Nobody, here, includes participants as well as sponsors. And without this financial backing, we are back at the dead end of Factor M.
The Analysis:
The combination of all these points at one fact - However interesting or fun a fest is, the chances of it being recognized depend heavily on the student community that supports it. If a fest banked on its fun factor, chances are, it would crash. Without good organization, it falls on its face. Without participation, there are no numbers to show to future sponsors. And without these sponsors, there is practically no hope of getting more participants the next year. Now, I'm not saying this evil circle gripped Fember. There was enough mediocrity in the organization to kill it without the other factors even playing a role. Marred by a disastrous publicity vid right at the beginning and having numerous problems during the execution (Acco, for eg.), I could even go as far as saying the entourage brought by the regulars was its saving grace.
The main point posed as argument to my statement (which is more or less what I've written here) was that a cultural fest that is good cannot be obscure. I agree to this to an extent. Any fest that people like will have its set of dedicated regulars to keep it alive but it ends there. There is no reason for the crowd coming in to exceed this basic participatory amount. There is no way that word of mouth can make up for all the other factors shadowing its popularity. You like the fest, you tell your friend. He might tell his friends about it, who, in turn, might tell theirs. Going by plain probability, the odds are not for it. It is possible, although the mathematical improbability is stacked against it.
There is a lot more to add to this that simply cannot be done by presenting to the reader my views. If I feel there is adequate information to add to this, I shall in the future. If you are a staunch supporter of some really big fest (say, Saarang), analyze exactly what makes your fest good. I have no intention of beginning a silly debate here. However, if you choose to break down the facts and look at them objectively, I would love to start our discussion there. My summary is that many fests suffer due to one or many of the reasons listed above. It would be a harsh (and somewhat stupid) move to condemn it as a failure simply because you haven't heard of it. Saarang is not the best. Festember is not the worst. And there are facets of one that better the other. Look at your own fest critically. Think.
Leave your views, replies, rants and phone numbers in the comments section.
Have u seen mah bukkit?
I am not the lolrus.
After nearly 3 years, I've started designing again and I've put up the offspring from my latest affair here. This new start also brings new experiments - the most obvious of which is my shift to 3D. Dropping plain Photoshop and adding Cinema 4D (and in some cases, a combination of the two) to my worktable, the style of my latest phase is shifting closer to jaw-dropping/stunningly realistic images. It is a long way though, and having two projects and a bit of work doesn't make the transition smoother.
The induction of C4D didn't go well either. Starting with the loss of half my installed software and a subsequent state of semi-depression that involved seeking succour on FB (which eventually degenerated into a discussion of the Group of Death) and research on methods of self-termination (where 1 page in 12 actually told you how to do it), I gradually recovered and faced less-serious-but-troubling-all-the-same problems. Like my computer hanging (which, incidentally, I faced an extra time because a friend wouldn't believe that the rendering of certain images could really cause computers to crash). The butterscotch praline on the cake was my discovery of heavy usage on my condemnably limited internet plan, which would force me to cut down the time online or shell out money. Seeing as I was incapable of performing the latter, I was (am) forced to stop fBS, among other things.
Faced with despair, I convinced myself that making little pieces of 3D art was the key to making my life a whole lot better and set about working on C4D. The results were not wholly unsatisfactory. And while you're at my photobucket album, go through the other folders as well. I could do with some positive reinforcement right now ^_^.
On a different note, some of you might have noticed the Wikipedian appeals for donations on your recent visits there. If you have cash to spare, do contribute. You may lose a week's supply of Absolut but your contribution to the sharing of knowledge helps a lot of people. And who knows, the fairer sex might even appreciate your new found sobriety!
After nearly 3 years, I've started designing again and I've put up the offspring from my latest affair here. This new start also brings new experiments - the most obvious of which is my shift to 3D. Dropping plain Photoshop and adding Cinema 4D (and in some cases, a combination of the two) to my worktable, the style of my latest phase is shifting closer to jaw-dropping/stunningly realistic images. It is a long way though, and having two projects and a bit of work doesn't make the transition smoother.
The induction of C4D didn't go well either. Starting with the loss of half my installed software and a subsequent state of semi-depression that involved seeking succour on FB (which eventually degenerated into a discussion of the Group of Death) and research on methods of self-termination (where 1 page in 12 actually told you how to do it), I gradually recovered and faced less-serious-but-troubling-all-the-same problems. Like my computer hanging (which, incidentally, I faced an extra time because a friend wouldn't believe that the rendering of certain images could really cause computers to crash). The butterscotch praline on the cake was my discovery of heavy usage on my condemnably limited internet plan, which would force me to cut down the time online or shell out money. Seeing as I was incapable of performing the latter, I was (am) forced to stop fBS, among other things.
Faced with despair, I convinced myself that making little pieces of 3D art was the key to making my life a whole lot better and set about working on C4D. The results were not wholly unsatisfactory. And while you're at my photobucket album, go through the other folders as well. I could do with some positive reinforcement right now ^_^.
On a different note, some of you might have noticed the Wikipedian appeals for donations on your recent visits there. If you have cash to spare, do contribute. You may lose a week's supply of Absolut but your contribution to the sharing of knowledge helps a lot of people. And who knows, the fairer sex might even appreciate your new found sobriety!
