No. 7

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth and the Transformative Power of the Monstrous Body

An essay on the body and The Binding of Isaac, not something that I haven't exactly done before. Then again, Rebirth is a remake of the original, so it isn't like playing it isn't exactly a thing I haven't done before either. Nevertheless, the grotesque and the way that the body communicates remains a topic that I find inescapable personally. It gets stuck in my craw.

I may, however, have to spend some time this winter on a few projects that are related to this kind of idea that have been brewing in my brain for some time now (something with Watchmen at least, though there are some other things that continue to ping the back of my brain). These may be things I go to print with, though. I kind of need to move back to more formal, more traditional scholarly publications for a little bit I think.

I kind of need to make it clear that I still "have it" if I want to bother with the "right way" of doing things. I haven't published anything in print since I wrote on Palahniuk's Invisible Monsters and Choke a few years ago. Tick tock. Time to put in some time again.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth and the Transformative Power of the Monstrous Body

Moving Pixels Podcast: Choose Your Own Clementine

The following is a discussion of the final episode of The Walking Dead Season Two, a more interesting episode than the previous ones in my estimaation.

I still can't figure out if I've used this image before. It sort of seems like it to me, but I just can't recall.

Moving Pixels Podcast: Choose Your Own Clementine

Elvis was Irish

Go warn the children of God of the terrible speed of mercy.

They don't believe me, but you won't let those robots eat me.

A concern for politics is a hobby

for those who are under the illusion that they can control their circumstances.

I am under no such illusions.

Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Render unto Caeser what is Ceaser's.

And, I'm out.

And I'll cry if I want to

may i feel said he
(i'll squeal said she
just once said he)
it's fun said she

(may i touch said he
how much said she
a lot said he)
why not said she

(let's go said he
not too far said she
what's too far said he
where you are said she)

may i stay said he
(which way said she
like this said he
if you kiss said she

may i move said he
is it love said she)
if you're willing said he
(but you're killing said she

but it's life said he
but your wife said she
now said he)
ow said she

(tiptop said he
don't stop said she
oh no said he)
go slow said she

(cccome?said he
ummm said she)
you're divine!said he
(you are Mine said she)

Curses, Killings, and a Rich, Creamy Broth

I had a dream that my wife and I had been zombified and forced to make batches of a cursed soup by the woman who now controlled us. Her power over us was apparently limited, as we managed to plan a means of killing her when we finished the last batch. Sarra, however, just threw a knife into her heart just before we finished that last batch.

I then asked her why she didn't follow the plan, and she simply shrugged and said, "I don't know."

By the way, according to my dream, cursed soup has a creamy broth.

Which to my mind explains the seductive qualities of cursed soup. I like soups with a creamy broth very much.

Moonkid: A Fantasy of Powerlessness

What to say about Moonkid? It's a game about not saving the world, which is strangely related to something I said on this blog just a couple days ago (that or I'm merely projecting my recent thoughts on a game that I played shortly after thinking them--that kind of thing happens to me on occasion).

Oh, and I really love the character design of Moonkid's mom, who appears in the above picture.

Moonkid: A Fantasy of Powerlessness

Beacuse of his intonation, Ric Ocasek sounds like an alt lounge singer

Which is why I love him so much.

Someday, y'all will grow up

And realize that the world doesn't need saving.

Worry about your own bullshit.

Moving Pixels Podcast: A House Dividing

Discussion of the penultimate episode of The Walking Dead Season Two.

Light she was and like a fairy
Her shoes were number 9
Herring boxes, without topses
Sandals were for Clementine

Moving Pixels Podcast: A House Dividing

Some Worlds Are Best Seen From Outside Your Own Eyes

Some assorted thoughts on perspective in video games, the value of first person in some instances and the value of third person (which I usually prefer) in others.

Some Worlds Are Best Seen From Outside Your Own Eyes