Homework # 14

I read the excerpt written by Steven Johnson about how he feels reading is better for you then video games, but he did not completely put video games to shame. For me this brought up the idea, are reading and playing video games (screens) any different? They both instill a sense of disembodiment. When you read a book that you enjoy, your eyes become attached to the page and you get involved in the story being told, you lose your sense of self and your sense of surroundings. When we play video games we become part of the game, we are literally "in control" which makes it seem even more like real. I have never been any good at them but whenever i watch someone else play, the game seems to toy with their emotions, if they are playing a game where zombies are jumping out or they are a solider fighting in WWI they flinch or shrike, games that are more calm and relaxing just make the player look possessed. People always assume that one person spending 4 straight hours reading is more intelligent than the one who sits a just play video games.

Johnson made some interesting points about the perks of video games, he pointed out one that was more obvious than others, we hear it a lot, video games help with our eye hand coordination. Many people who don't play games might now know as well as others but they are more challenging then we assume. Johnson made it clear that he did not think it was fair for people to judge people who play them or generalize the games them self. He stated that video games actually involve thinking (more than some might think). One of the last questions he asked was why are video games fun? The consumer spends a ridiculous amount of money on not only the game system itself but the games which sell on average for at least 60 bucks (this is where the companies make all their money!) To try and solve complicated puzzles that most of the time we look at cheat sheets and manuals to get to the very end of the game.

The second excerpt I read was also written by Steven Johnson about television. He went through a brief history of T.V shows in the 80s (some even earlier). He pointed out that back then television shows where a lot less complex, they did not require as much thinking because usually there were a limited number or characters and not nearly as many conflicts. Modern shows on T.V today are quite different, not only are there numerous characters, there is multiple dramas in each episode. They have become more of a puzzle, certain parts need to be remembered to make the connections. Although the choice of topic may seem meaningless and extremely superficial they involve some degree of thinking.

Overall i found what Johnson had to say to be very relevant and interesting, he left room for the reader to form their own opinions because his writing was very honest and he did not write from only one side.