Thursday, November 19, 2009

Lecture 22: Introduction to Transliteracy and Inanimate Alice


Today we're in the computer lab (room 5-231) for our introduction to multimodal reading, transliteracy and the online narrative, Inanimate Alice.


The class will begin with a few definitions:


Multimodality [I build upon Kress's notion: "Two logics are brought together…the logic of the written and the logic of the image” (Kress, Literacy in the New Media Age).]


Transliteracy: the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks. (This is the *working* definition, still undergoing research and development, see here)




Importantly, transliteracy for me is very much about how we read in the online environment. It means being able to critically interpret text, image, sound, video, and interaction as it occurs within the same space.


Background to Inanimate Alice


Inanimate Alice is an “interactive multimedia story” that most recently won the Premio per l'arte digitale, Italian Ministry of Culture.

Plot: bildungsroman exploring childhood, technology, fiction, reality, and how narratives can be actively created (both by Alice and the reader).

Structure: composed as a temporal progression but with each episode interactivity increases and there are more puzzles to solve; reflecting Alice's own developing skills as a game designer and animator.




Interesting Characteristics The reader never actually sees narrator/protagonist Alice, we only ever have her view

  • Various games which increase in difficulty with each new episode make demand a more transliterate reader
  • Emphasis on narrative (not only images and sound)


  • Critical Reception
    • “The story is told with child-like innocence by Alice in an almost poetic fashion and is told through some very sophisticated and design oriented animation. Very stylish work.”
    • “The sound and vision all help to propel the narrative but, at the heart of it, is always Alice's story.”






    Your Turn: Inanimate Alice and Transliteracy in Practise


    • Read Episode 1 and Episode 2 of Inanimate Alice
    • While reading note:
    • How reading this online fiction is different from reading the essays in the course books or reading the texts for your research assignment
    • What can readers infer about the identity of Alice? What traits does Alice seem to possess?
    • 1 instance of foreshadowing
    • Complete this sentence: “I think the author is trying to say....”
    • The definition of transliteracy, do you feel you are transliterate? Why or why not (explain).

    Post your responses to the class blog DURING this lesson
     




    *****Homework*****


    Research Assignment Due Next Class!

    Bring Laptops to Class



    34 comments:

    1. Reading this online fiction is different than reading an essay because it provides the picture of what is happening to you instead of you having to imagine it. It also sets the mood much better than an essay can with the music and colors.

      Alice seems to be a very paranoid and forgetful person. She’s afraid to be alone and doesn’t function well when she is alone and loves her parents a lot. Alice also seems to have a very good imagination which is why she can be so paranoid.

      I think Brad is a form of foreshadowing. I think Alice is going to find someone once she reenters civilization to help show her the way and be a friend to her.

      I think the author is trying to say that people aren’t meant to be alone in great amounts of time because you start to worry about the ones you have around you and yourself and may end up making a life threatening mistake.

      I feel that I am transliterate. I have no trouble viewing and putting together multiple medias.

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    2. This is different than reading a novel because the pictures and sounds give you a mental picture of whats going on and makes it easier to understand. The music is either upbeat,sad, or tense and this adds to the effect and makes you feel like you are a part of the story. I think this kind of story would be great for younger age groups because the sounds and images keep you interested.

      Alice seems to be independent since she moves alot and does not have many friends. Her only friend is Brad and she gets lost in a world of technology.

      When Alice describes her home in Saudi this is an example of foreshadowing.

      I think the author is trying to put you in Alice's head and let you experience and feel the things she does. When Alice is sad the images and sound add to the effect and you can understand what emotion she is feeling. The sounds and images also are relevant to her age and I think these will change as we read the other chapters and she gets older.

      Transliteracy is the ability to read across different modes and understand without just reading text.

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    3. -Reading the online fiction, "Inanimate Alice" differs from the essays we have previously looked at in class in many ways. The online fiction tells a story, has sounds, images, videos and requires physical action at times. It is written more like a story book rather than an essay.
      - Reader's can infer that Alice is an innocent child who may not be happy with her life as they seem to move around alot. She would not be able to make close friends or live the childhood most children have. And so she turns to her drawings, such as Brad, as replacement for permanent friends or parents. Alice seems to posess traits such as creativity. This is shown through her interest in drawing. She seems to cope with the hardships of her life instead of fighting them, although it is evident these hardships make her unhappy.
      -I believe Brad talking to Alice and telling her to turn or how to get out of the snow is foreshadowing what might happen in the future.
      -I think the author is trying to say that Alice is an innocent child who is being emotionally hurt by the actions of her parents even though they do not intend to hurt her or she may not realize it.
      - I did not have any trouble following the online fiction. The pictures, music, words and tasks were not overwhelming and therefore I believe I am transliterate.

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    4. My response to these two episodes of Inatimate Alice:

      How it differs from reading a book. It is semi-interactive so in a way it keeps you slightly more alert and interested. Pressing the arrow button to continue the story is the equivalent of turning a page in a convential text. The "games" or activities thrown in every so often are another form of interactivity that keeps the story progressing and keeping you interested. There is also the audio/isual portion of the "Web fiction". There are sounds and pictures to accompany the text so help progress the story. They are very crude and simple in this story, but I believe that is intentional. The story is from the POV of a young girl, so her views and story telling are also simplistic, so it adds to the theme. The audio is very context sensitive, as with the pictures. When the story gets more intense the music speeds up. And obviously the pictures relate to what is happening, as with when they are driving there are images of driving down a gravel road etc.

      What do we know/infer about Alice? Well, first off we know she travels frequently. Every episode is set in a new and exotic local. The firt episode takes place in China on a business trip for Alice's dad. Not sure why he brings his family with him. The second episode is a vacation in the mountains in Italy. There Alice was snowboarding. We also learn that they have lived in Saudi Arabia and that that is where her tutor lives, Ayisha. We know Alice doesn't have any friends. She draws a boy named Brad on her "player" who talks to her and even helps guide her. Possible case of mild schizophrenia? Desperation from lack of friends? Probable.

      One possible instance of foreshadowing is when they lose the father in the first episode. I didn't think much of it at first, but when she seemingly loses both her parents in the second episode, maybe it will be a theme? Alice is always alone.

      I think the author is trying to create a story about a young girl literally through the eyes of that girl. The story is told in her voice and thus is very simplistic. She also kind of has A.D.D. She pretty much says every thought that comes to mind. She also makes random puzzles and makes us play them. But it is all very much on purpose and adds to the believability that we are hearing the story from a very young child.

      Yes, I feel I am transliterate as I just demonstrated I had the mental capacity to make it through these two episodes of Inatimate Alice. But it doesn't stop there. In the video game Halo: ODST, there is a side story in the game itself that plays out as you play the single player campaign. As you play, you come across video diaries of a young girl trying to escape the city and find her father as the Covenant attack. So as you play through the game, you always watch and read these short video blogs and follow a secondary story.

      This concludes my response. Ta dah!

      ReplyDelete
    5. 1) Viewing an online fiction differs from reading an essay out of a textbook in numerous ways. An online fiction provides the written aspect of an essay or story, along with both visual and auditory components. Viewers are able to physically see and hear what the character is experiencing, which help makes the story both more personable and more realistic.

      2) Alice seems to posses many common characteristics that an eight year old girl would have. She seems to have a strong relationship with both her mother and father, and become worried when they are not around. Alice still seems to rely on her parents for the same love and compassion than any eight year old desires. Alice also seems to enjoy the same computer games and sports that most eight year old participate in for entertainment.

      3) One example of foreshadowing was when Alice calls her friend from Saudi. It shows her realization that her parents have been gone longer than expected and that she may experience a hardship or some trouble in her quest to find them.

      4) I think that the author is trying to say that eight year olds have a very strong dependence on their parents, and parents should choose a lifestyle that is suitable for raising a child. Child should be raised in an environment where they are able to have normal communication and participate with other children in activities that are essential to their emotional and physical development.

      5) I believe that I am transliterate to a certain extent. When there is too much media involved in a story, I tend to get overwhelmed and have trouble following along with the storyline. If the auditory aspect of Inanimate Alice was a more soft and neutral, I would have no trouble following along and analyzing the story.

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    6. reading this online text is different by means of having to incorporate sound, and motion pictures with text which can add an element that straight text may not be able to achieve. Readers can confer that Alex is a young girl who is lacking a social group. She attaches to her friend "bradley" who is a 'player generated' friend that she clings to when shes lonely. She posses a traits of one who is needing to belong; however the nature of her dads work, works against that need.
      foreshadowing occured when allace was being reassured about the return of her father by her mother, and the captation suggested a 'panic-drive', so to speak.
      Alot of video games incorporate transliteracy, with an element of more control of action in comparison to "inanimatealice." I wouldn't consider myself overly transliterate, in the sense that it may be harder to pick up all the necesessary ques from all of the audio, visual, and textual presentation.

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    7. Tasha Stevenson Inanimate Alice Assignment

      Reading this online fiction is a lot different than reading a book, essay, or text because there are many different sounds, moving pictures, and games that could distract you from the text that you have to read. It helps you to visualize what is going on; you don’t have to think about it because it is all shown to you. Also the speeding and slowing, and the type of music makes you more emotionally involved in the story. For example, in the second episode after Alice finds her parents, a softer music is playing and it gives you a sense of relief.

      The identity of Alice is that she does act like a child but she has a very mature way of thinking. She wants to do certain things but she knows what is more important. For example, in the first episode when Alice wants to play games and play with a dog, she knows that it is more important to find her father so she focuses on that instead. The traits she possesses are she spends a lot of time alone because she is always moving so she draws brad and acts like that is her friend. She has a very vivid imagination and comes up with different ways to keep entertained. She is also very creative; she is constantly making up different puzzles and games.

      An instance of foreshadowing could be that whenever she is in trouble Brad would “tell her what to do” in her mind and it always works out. Therefore, she is comfortable and trusts the Brad she created.

      I think the author is trying to say that children’s attention is easily grasped by simple things. For example, when she is in the jeep and she starts taking pictures of flowers as she drives by. The story is from Alice’s eight-year old point of view, so I believe it is about how she learns and understands things.
      The author wants us to see things through the eyes of a child and think of things in a more simplistic way.

      The definition of transliteracy is reading across many modes simultaneously. I believe that I am transliterate because I can remember more facts about a story if there are pictures and sounds I can relate the text too. For example, I remember that in the first episode of inanimate Alice, at the end when she found her father, she was talking about how she wanted a dog, and there was a dog running across the screen that was the same color (white) as the text.

      ReplyDelete
    8. Reading online fiction differs from traditional text because it allows readers to view animated images, videos, hear sounds, and be more involved. The character Alice is a clever 8-year old, she understands her mother’s fear of not finding her father and understood the answer to her questions about getting a dog, and going for dinner even before her parents answered. She is, as most children are; probably better at using technology than her parents. Her imagination and creativity created a fictional drawing of a character that Alice befriends and talks to. He is probably her only friend because of the family’s constant moving around. Alice understands many unsaid things and emotions that typically an 8-10 year old child does not perceive. This could be due to her schooling in different countries and constantly travelling. Readers should be able to identify that Alice is a child that made up a friend because of her constant travels and she is someone who seeks friendship and security through whatever means. Her electronic device allows her to create these objects that comfort her in times of fear and hardship.
      The author uses creative images and sounds to portray certain emotions similar to how a movie theatre creates sounds and images to entice the audience. This is helpful in understanding the changing thoughts and emotions that a child faces. Readers can relate more and feel sympathy for the events unfolding in the interactive multimedia story. Being able to interact and play games like Alice does brings thoughts of childhood games and adventure that a reader would otherwise be unable to comprehend if it was simply a text. I believe the author is trying to convey the different thoughts and emotions a child faces when brought up constantly travelling with very little companionship. Her mindset is that of a person much older than she is, perhaps the foreshadowing is something to compliment her understandings, and provide insight on her feelings.
      The idea of transliteracy incorporates different senses of media; for example, converging the use of appearing text, audio tracks, and visual cues. As someone who reads more using technology, I feel that I am relatively transliterate. This is probably true for many people born in during the age of internet, personal computers, and mobile electronics.

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    9. - Reading this online fiction is different from reading the essays in the course books or reading the texts because it adds visuals for us instead of having us imagine everything. It also allows us to interact with the story as well (ie: selecting the clothes she's going to wear). The sound also adds tension to the storyline.

      - Alice appears to be a very typical young girl for her age, wanting things and being curious. However she also does possess the traits of being paranoid and worrisome.

      - An example of foreshadowing would be when Brad appears. He seems to be able to let Alice know that everything will be okay or even guide her to something (telling her to be calm when she was stuck in snow)

      - I think the author is trying to say that.. it is diffucult to be alone for a long period of time without having to worry about things. In episode 1 she had to go seek for the father with her parents. In episode 2 she had to call Ayisha because she was alone.

      - I do feel that i am transliteracy because I quite enjoyed inanimate alice with all the extra visual and audio and texts.

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    10. - Inanimate Alice is the next generation of text, designed to incorporate all of the modern technologies of today. It exploits continuous interaction to spark readers interest, along with captivating images and sounds which cannot be included in a paperback text. Reading such a story is much easier in that imagery is more abundant with less actual text.
      - Alice is a social young girl that is technologically savvy. Her cleverness keeps her occupied making puzzles and her active imagination enables her to create characters such as Brad. A keen sense of adventure accompanies her courageous ability to explore on her own.
      - The video of a downward perspective on a road rapidly passing by foreshadows the hanging head of a person travelling on a rough path with an urgent purpose.
      - I think the author is trying to say that we can all relate to Alice in that we all have a subconscious character like Brad. The right decisions or actions are at our fingertips if we just listen to the voice of logic inside our heads.
      - I feel that I am transliterate since the images, text, and sounds collaborate simultaneously in my head to create much more definite imagery than reading alone.

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    11. Inanimate Alice is different from other readings because the author uses images and sounds to express the atmosphere in which the story is being told in. This allows the reader to be able to visualize what the author is trying to express and the sounds help express the emotions that sometimes the words do not. The writer presents Alice as a young girl who has been forced to move around a lot due to her father’s work. Alice seems like she does not have any friends besides Brad because she is usually stuck either in her Base camp in China or in the compound in Saudi Arabia.

      Alice though still very young seems to be quite mature for her age, she demonstrates that by when she was talking to her tutor in Saudi Arabia, knowing that if she told her that her parents were missing, she would be worried and instead had lied to her. Another trait that Alice possesses is that she seems very responsible and is quiet obedient. She demonstrates obedience when in Italy she realized she had told her parents she would meet them at the ski resort, she risked going through the snow to walk back there to meet them.

      An example of foreshadowing is that Brad is becoming more animated, he first appeared as a stick figure in the first episode but his images is constantly progressing. I believe as the episodes progress he’ll become an actual person.

      I think the author is trying to say that the constant change of environment for a child can determine how the child develops. This change for Alice made her more dependent on herself and she didn’t really have much of a childhood where she can make friends.

      Transliteracy is the ability to read across lots of different types of modes simultaneously. I do believe I am transliterate because I am able to read the words presented but also able to look at the pictures and sounds associated with it to complete the story.

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    12. Josh Taschuk wrote

      Reading online fiction such as Inanimate Alice is much different than normal essays or articles such as the ones found in textbooks. For one, the sounds and pictures used usually offer a further understanding that is not provided by the text alone. For example, one slide only consisted of the words "We're in China, far up north." However, the pictures on the slide would have the reader recognize they aren't in an urban area and seem to be isolated. Also, learning from different points of view like sounds and pictures may help readers increase their attention span, which would help readers understand easier, because they can pay attention.

      Readers can infer that Alice is a lonely person. Due to her father's job constantly requiring her family to travel around the world, it would be extremely difficult for Alice to frequently be forced to make new friends or try to keep in contact with old friends. Alice attempts to escape from her loneliness through her imaginary friend Brad that she created on her phone.

      An example of foreshadowing within Inanimate Alice exists on the fourth slide in episode one. The text reads "Mum says, John knows what he's doing, he'll be back soon. That’s what she said yesterday and the day before. But not today." This text suggests that unlike before, the mother, Ming, can no longer comfort Alice because she too may be worried about when John will be returning, foreshadowing that something may have happened to him.

      I think the author is trying to convey the idea that as we progress as a society, technology is becoming more and more vital to everyday life and that society may rely on technology too much because it may not be there for them when it is needed. For example, the author doesn’t convey his/her ideas through words alone, but also sounds and pictures are needed to understand the story as a whole, this shows technology is becoming more vital, we need it for our education. Also, Alice’s father being stranded without reception may have been prevented if he did not rely on his cell phone to be able to help him in case of an emergency.

      Transliteracy is defined as the ability to read and write across multiple forms of communication, such as handwriting, print, TV, radio, film, or digital social networks. I feel that in this day and age, a high percentage of youth are transliterate, due to the internet. In most households, computers and the internet are commonly accessed by everyone, and children eventually access it at some age, usually earlier than 16. I feel I am no exception, and for almost a decade have been learning via the web through reading, gaming, or watching videos.

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    13. The 'readings' give few words but imply many. The words only describe Alice’s' activities during one day and a few other details such as her current house or her drawings on her phone, but the reader can infer much more using the sounds and background during the story. I can infer that Alice is an only child, she does not like the constant travel with her father’s job, and sees the world a lonely place.

      Reviewing his online fiction is quite different than reviewing a text. The obvious differences include the audio and visual effects; a book may include pictures but not videos and games. One of the more subtle differences is how much is implied and not written or even viewed in this online fiction. Rather than providing lots of information to create emotion in the reader, this online fiction can replicate those emotions with so much as manipulating the way the words are shown eg. flashing them upon a dark background.

      Lonely. If I had to describe Alice in one word, it would be lonely. She craves attention whether it be from her parents or imaginary friends. Her constant travel seems to have matured her too quickly leaving her with good and bad characteristics. She is much to independent for a girl of her age but also seems slightly out of tune with reality.

      An obvious example of foreshadowing is when she hears her imaginary friend’s, Brad, voice in her head. When she hears Brads voice you know the current conflict will shortly be resolved. After experiencing this twice it is easy to predict it will happen again and possibly to a more extensive degree.

      I think the author is trying to say…more expose, emotions through color and sound. I believe that he/she is trying to break past the norms of writing and pioneer through a new branch of storytelling. They are trying to say that you don’t need paper and word to create a sufficient story.

      I’m not too sure I understand this question. I do believe I am transliterate and I think most everyone with all their senses intact should be. It would be hard to function in this fast paced world of a mix of technological advancement.

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    14. It is very different from just reading a book. Lots of images are given to the readers; it seems like we have a direct connection with Alice, because she shares her view with us. And also we can see the color of the background which represents the tone of the story, and the author uses only few words; for the book, the aurthor needs more sentences to discrible what the backgrounds look like. The online reading is easier to read and understand, but it can not carry something deeper like a book does.
      From these colorful pictures and strange voices, we can treat all these images as Alice's internal world. She is sensitive, complex and her head is full of fantasies, because she travalled so many countries and saw so many things. She does not have too many friends around her, so she creates Brad.
      Foreshawdowing: In episode 2, when Alice called Ayisha; Alice keeps saying she is fine when Ayisha asks her if she is alright, although she is scared. This foreshawdows that Alice won't tell Ayisha that she lost her parents, because Alice does not want Ayisha to be worried.
      I think the author is trying to say people's moods and situations change very fast, the faith("Brad" is the faith for Alice) helps us to overcome the problem and the happiness will come to us.
      Yes, I am tansliterated. Plenty of images and different voices took me into Alice's world; I can see what she views. All these images helps me to understand what the author is trying to tell.

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    15. Dan McDonald

      This online story is less formal and more personal than the majority of texts we have explored in this class. The visual and auditory aids envelop the reader in the story but do so at the expense of the additional information that may have been conveyed by more in depth text.

      Alice appears to be a solitudinous character with an aptitude for technology. She is obviously in the midst of an unorthodox childhood, and one can assume that this will result in abnormal development. She has created a digital friend in Brad to compensate for the lack of social integration that has resulted from her dad’s transient career.

      Foreshadowing is used at the end of the first episode when Alice is assured that her family will celebrate the finding of her father at a restaurant even though there are none in the region. This leaves the reader wondering if they will gain a greater understanding of this event at some point further on in the text.

      The author is trying to demonstrate that technology can often be used to fill a void. In this particular story, Alice seems to turn to technology every time she is in duress. It offers her a temporary distraction and allows her to escape from a difficult situation. Where most children her age would use personal interaction to assist them in confronting problems, Alice relies on her “player” and imaginary friend Brad.

      Despite the fact that this is the first encounter I’ve had with online fiction I would consider myself transliterate because I acquire information from sources of various forms. Many of these sources use components not limited to text, such as video and audio.

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    16. Tyler Chorneyko, November 19th/ 2009
      1.) Online fiction is much more visual than hardcopy literature. Online fiction uses pictures, sounds, font and layout to present different moods and settings to the reader. With hardcopy fiction, it can sometimes be difficult to visualize the atmosphere that the author is trying to describe or explain. The author of Inanimate Alice effectively uses sight and sound to attract the reader into the world of Alice. I found it easy to settle into the story, because I am a visual person who appreciates the effects used by the author. I feel that it is much easier to adapt to the setting of online fiction rather than to adapt to hardcopy literature such as an essay or a short story.

      2.) Alice is a young child who seems to struggle with the fact that her parents are always missing. Through her creation of her imaginary friend Brad, Alice finds comfort in someone who isn’t real. She may find comfort in her parents, but due to the fact that they are always missing, she is forced to find comfort from another source. Alice shows trust and comfort in Brad in chapter one, when his voice appears in her head, guiding Alice and her mother to the source of her missing father. In chapter two, Alice shows similar comfort in Brad when she is stuck in the snow, and Brad comforts her and calms her down. The first few chapters of Inanimate Alice are very simple and easy to read, but this is due to the fact that the point of view is through a very young child.

      3.) The author uses foreshadowing in the first chapter, when Alice’s father has gone missing. The author uses the image of a jeep driving in the desert to perhaps suggest that driving is going to occur in the near future. The author also uses the mother’s expressions to suggest that the father is lost, and that he would need to be rescued. By the mother saying, “John knows what he’s doing, he’ll be back soon”, and Alice responding by saying, “that’s what she said yesterday, and the day before”, the author is foreshadowing that the two will have to find the father.

      4.) I think that the author is trying to say that Alice sometimes becomes lonely when her parents are missing, and that Brad is a source of comfort to substitute for the missing parents. I also think that through the different visuals and sounds that are presented, the author is trying to present the idea that setting and mood through online literacy, not just through hardcopy paper literacy.

      5.) I feel that I am transliterate in most areas, but I lack experience in online literacy. This is my first experience with online literacy, but it seems pretty cool so far. I am going to further explore online fiction with Inanimate Alice, as it is a very intriguing form of literacy.

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    17. Online fiction is different from essays in our course books or texts for our research assignment. Text book or jounal articles mainly contain academic theories, facts, the author's analysis or opinion without sounds or video while this online fiction treats story for fun not for academic purpose. Also, this online fiction is more vivid and it helps to us can esily imagin and understand about the story by using music, image, and text.

      Alice is little bit timid and not outgoing person. She usually play with ba-xi. She loves her parents so much so that she always concern about them. And she seems to be independent, cause when she have some trouble, she does actively.

      I think her friend Brad is an example of foreshadowing.

      I think the auther is trying to show detail of Alice's thinking, situation and feeling. Image and sound is very helpful to understand Alice's mind.

      Transliteracy is a ability of combine differnt kinds of resources not just reading a book.

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    18. Inanimate Alice is certainly more interactive than your average text. The images, sounds, and text combinations do wonders in contributing to our ability to imagine all aspects and angles of the story. Though I am not sure if it is right for everyone, I do feel it certainly has it's place, and provides a great alternative for children.

      Alice seem quite technologically inclined for being 10 years old. She enjoys her multi-media device and takes it for all it's worth. She is creative and loves to draw. Quite often I found that she worries more than I think one would at that age, yet she always seem to be ok after acting on the advice of her friend Brad.

      One instance of foreshadowing occurs in episode 2 when Alice refers to her picture of Brad on her media device, and says "I take a look at Brad. He smiles, as though to reassure me." It seems as though when Brad comes into the picture, what he says is generally what is going to happen, as long as you follow instructions.

      I think the author is trying to relay the importance of technology throughout our life, and it's contribution to successful, safe living.

      I don't believe I am as transliterate as I could be. I sometimes find it difficult to absorb and interpret several different forms of information at one time. I do enjoy the variance contained in Inanimate Alice, though I feel simple text can often be enough to stimulate my imagination to the extent of its capabilities. I worry that I am continually not getting the full picture and undertones of each clip, which can sometimes be worse than not understanding any of it at all. It's not that I do not enjoy this story, I find it extremely refreshing. It will just take some practise to absorb it all.

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    19. Inanimate Alice is an adventure that includes you through her journey. The text in Inanimate Alice is definitely that of a ten year old explaining her story by the lines she’s expressed, as well as the fiction uses great contrast of music to the way the story is told either of suspense or excitement. The online fiction has more of an impact on our senses through hearing and visual interactions, from the change in music in mood, location, and emotion helps us connect with her story. The background noise of a distortion also tells the type of situation she is in. Inaminate Alice provides shorter stories, instead of using our own imagination the online fiction provides us with pictures that relate to the context of the story, which in a normal course book we tend to find a relation in our mind to connect with the text that we are reading

      Alice is a ten year old girl who has been taken from a normal upbringing of children, friends, normal kid activities, and education. Alice is brought up by her parents with emotional attachments and that of her made up friend. They are the only true people she can rely on since she does not have a set residence. Readers can infer that Alice is grown up in a rich family, from the type of lifestyle that is presented in the story from her tutor to her sitter. Alice is also a imaginative individual using her creativity to entertain herself.

      An instance of foreshadowing from Inanimate Alice is when brad is telling her to calm down in both episodes and telling her everything is going to be alright.

      I think the author is trying to say that no matter what type of situation or danger that we may feel it is best that we control our emotions so that our emotions do not get the best of our conscious.

      I believe that I am transliterate because through media I can remember certain facts of something visual in comparison to something written. Instead of rereading a certain article pictures give a more effective way of remembering and leaves a picture that is embedded in my mind

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    20. Inanimate Alice is definitely an imaginative young girl thus far in the story. But, when your parents force you to move around as much as her, I guess it’s the way such a child can cope and feel a sense of belonging. There’s a definite correlation with the interaction within the story plot and Alice’s’ age. As the episodes progress both increase in complexity of style. The growth in Tranliteracy as Alice grows in age in my opinion is the author/creators way of expressing how the general public views this mixture of media, text, and story. We’re still developing a bridge between all of our learning tools. While everyone is structured to learn how to read and write the old fashioned way, new forms of literacy tools are developing. Possible foreshawdowing could be that Brad might be a real person who enters Alice’s life later on down the road. Or something tradgic may happen to her parents.
      I also feel I’m already naturally trained at Transliteracy, mostly because of the types of video games I played growing up, and all the formal education I received in public school in regards to reading and writing. Although, I also think this goes for most of the general youth, everyone has experienced videogames, movies, media, books, or essays.
      I think this type of story is far more effect in reaching out to the average person when compared to a formal essay or research article. While reading between the lines can be harder to pick up on the main theme, as a conventional piece of writing is more straight forward. But, I think that's because the more formal approach is what's expressed more in learning these literacy abilities while growing up.

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    21. Mark Moodie
      1. This online fiction differs from books and classical texts in two main ways. Firstly, there is a lot less reading involved with this online fiction, as subscripts are shown. This results with much of the story being told through visual means and sound. The other way in which it differs is the interaction required in telling the story. This comes about in the form of games or puzzles related to the story.
      2. We can infer a lot about Alice’s from what her parents do, but we see certain traits through her choices and general thoughts. She seems to be a slightly anxious child, shown by her tone towards her missing parents, though we are never sure that they were realistically missing. Friendship seems to be important to Alice, describing herself as alone. Travelling a lot, Alice seems to have not made many constant friends. This has resulted with her creating a fictional friend Brad, and being more independent, as she chooses to hike through bad weather conditions to meet her parents.
      3. There seems to be a common occurrence in both stories of Alice losing a member of her family in a foreign country. I see this as reoccurring theme in the rest of the episodes.
      4. I think that the author is trying to say that no matter the circumstances one of the most important things to any child is the comfort and social interaction of family and friends.
      5. Transliteracy is being able to understand information within a variety of contexts, often technology or media related. Yes I would feel that to an extent that I am transliterate person as I have some knowledge of electrical and audio circuits as well as some computer programming. This so it has helped me gain knowledge of transmitting information over multiple platforms.

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    22. 1. Reading essays in class as well as the texts from my research assignment differ greatly from this online story. There is a lot less text and it is pretty simple. There is no big words or complex sentences, it gets right to the point. The sounds and the way the story puts the reader inside by making it participate while the story is going on really helps someone listen to the story better and connect. It helps make the story memorable and leave a lasting impression from the author and the message behind it.

      2. The reades can infer alot about the identity of Alice. Alice is a very head strong yet confused person. She seems really dependant on her parents and thrive for them to be around. This leads me to believe that she has spent most of her life by herself so having her parents around when they can is very valuable to her. She seems lost, having a pretend friend and not really having many contacts to talk to.

      3. I think the strongest instance of foreshadowing is found with her parents. In both episodes she has a bit of anexity because her parents or one of her parents is missing and she goes into a sort of panic because she doesnt know where they went. Also, in both episodes she tries to find them, which hints at the following episodes could show her losing them once again.

      4. I think the author is trying to say that you must always reassure eachother and that children's minds run wild and they offten need guidance and to feel safe. Without safety nets such as cellphones and such, will lead the child to sort of panic and be very afraid when his or her parents have gone ' missing.'

      5. I do i am transliterate to some extent. Inanamite alice is quite hard to understand with all the sound and interactions but at the same time i walked away from the two episodes knowing more and could relay more information then most of the essays i've read.

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    23. Zheng fang said:

      When i read the Inanimate Alice ,i think it is very different from just reading a book or texts for our research assignment.Beacuse it provides the sound and pictures of what was happened and you have to imagine it.It is also to much better than the eassy which doesn't has music and colors

      Alice is an forgetful person and timid .She’s afraid to be alone and always think the bad things. She loves her parents very much and always worried about them.Alice also seems to have a good imagination and which she can image the strange things.

      Her friend brad is an example of foreshadowing.


      I think the auther want to say the environment which is effect the child .When child is alone
      environment for a child can determine how the child develops.


      i think i am tansliterated. The pictures, images and voices took me into Alice's world and I can understand her life.

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    24. This online reading is different from traditional textual sources, in that mood, setting, and a general atmosphere are obtained via sounds an pictures, as opposed to rich and in depth text.

      From episodes 1 and 2, it can be concluded that Alice is a typical child in need of love and support. She has a vivid imagination, likely a result of her isolation from society, which is expressed through her creativity and her digital friend Brad.

      An example of foreshadowing is expressed by the speech bubble that states Alice is the girl always losing her parents. The whole scenario of it appearing seemed out of place, perhaps hinting at a hidden importance.

      I think the author is trying to say that a child's imagination needs some solitude from the harsh realities of everyday life if that child is to discover their true potential.

      I believe I am transliterate to a fair extent. While viewing the episodes, my mind became engaged with the visuals and audio, and began to compile a greater picture of Alice and her environment than would have been achievable through text, picture, or sound alone.

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    25. Reading this online reading is different than reading any other form of text, because it bring the storyline to life with real sound and pictures. Instead as in most novels or texts, the pictures and sounds are left to the imagination.

      Based from the first and second episode, it is easy to conclude that Alice is innocent and confused about a lot of things that are surrounding her.She also seems to be very educated when it comes to technology, and this gives her a creative dimension.

      Since Alice has been losing her parents all to frequently, and her reaction is always resorting to getting worried, this foreshadows that the episodes will be based on her always trying and attempting to stay with her parents instead of losing them.

      I think the author is trying to say that children are always children, and are limited in life and always resort to their imagination and innocence.

      To a certain extent, I do believe that I am transliterate, because I can take in information from various perspectives.

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    26. Hi all, this is Chris (the artist behind Inanimate Alice). So many great comments and observations here... thanks for taking the time to read/view/listen to the episodes. I wish I had time to respond to all your thoughts... but as that would take about a week I'll just say something quickly about the 'transliteracy' question.

      Transliteracy is a very interesting way to think about this kind of work. On a basic level, sometimes the visuals and sound will simply complement the text, but at other times they will have a more complex relationship: they might contrast it directly, or suggest other 'readings' of the text that aren't immediately obvious from the text itself. So for me, being transliterate means being aware of the various shades or tones of meaning that the visuals, sound, and interactivity might bring to the 'basic' text. Another way of putting this might be that as well as reading the text, visuals and sound, you have to read between the lines (or images, or notes) - and across them. After reading your comments I suspect you all do this fairly naturally anyway, but it might be useful to be conscious about those tensions created between or across the various media when analysing things like this.

      ...I hope that wasn't too rambling... and also hope that you get something from the other episodes too, particularly as the interactivity increases, and elements of non-linear storytelling appear, which might be other things to consider in regard to 'transliterate' skills?

      cheers,
      chris

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    27. In response to Katie's answers:

      I agree with Katie's response to question number 4 - " I think that the author is trying to say..." Katie said that the author is trying to portray how harmful a child's life can be without any recognizable place to call home. Being always on the go with the parents has a positive aspect, in which the child will get a hands on learning experience about different cultures, but at the same time, being put in different scenarios in unfamiliar places can be scary for most children in their growing years.

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    28. I think Alice doen't want to move around alot. She often feel unsafe and get strain since her family move suddenly. I agree with Matt Ryan's opinion about Alice's father. Why he bring his liitle kid and wife to China? He just look for oil.Little girl need safe and stable environment.
      If I were him, I did not bring my family there.
      Also, as Ryan 's view about transliteracy, I think there is another story in Alice's game.
      I can notice her mind, feeling, and developed skill through her game.

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    29. “Another aspect of the story I thought was interesting was that we never get to see any of the characters…”-Dana Richardson

      “…is there a reason we do not get to see the main characters in the story?”-Kamille Stead

      “It is interesting how so far in the development of Inanimate Alice, there have been no visuals of Alice’s family and herself.”- Josh Taschuk

      “not one face is shown” – myself

      The absence of visuals of the characters in Inanimate Alice is the most common reoccurring mention in all of the comments listed on the blog. Chris Joseph actually addresses this concern stating this absence is intentional and used to avoid the limitations visuals may have on the reader imagination.

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    30. In respone to Kayla...
      I agree that there is far less text in a online fiction versus an essay. But I believe that this type of story is in no way, simplier, than an essay. I feel as though this type of work is much harder to follow, and the lack of text encourages the author to create thier own perception on many things that would be described for the reader in an essay. I agree with you that this type of story is much more memorable, becasue we have visual and auditory parts of this story now in stored in our minds.

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    31. In response to Scott's comment:

      I agree with Scott in that Alice is only a child therefore she is forced to live the life her parents choose for her although that may not be what she wants. We see her cope with many things such as being home schooled and moving to different homes so often. However young children such as Alice do not have much choice in these areas at such a young age. Hopefully as Alice gets older she will be able to make her own decisions where she can put her happiness first.

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    34. Very informative and well written post! Quite interesting and nice topic chosen for the post.

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