Steven Gonzales

I'm a 22 year old, soon to be English Graduate. I'm a published, yet newbie, poet, and a big fan of anime/manga, and American comics.

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Latest Articles

Latest Topics

12

Is Objective Journalism Dead?

Discuss modern journalism and answer the question of whether objectivity in journalism has been forsaken. On the left we have Huffington Post, and on the right we have Breitbart (of course there are other examples to use on both ends of the spectrum); question and answer why there has been an uprising in biased reporting in the Western world. Explore the causes of this and compare modern journalism to past journalism such as the 1920’s (or any time period the author chooses).

  • This is a great topic...Something you can add may be the role television, the internet and other mass media portals played in this. – MikeySheff 7 years ago
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  • Interesting topic, though I'm not convinced that journalism has ever been truly objective. While objectivity sounds like a lovely ideal, it's worth questioning how possible (or even useful) it actually is. Some of the most iconic journalists from history (Murrow comes to mind) achieved that status by being opinionated, and bringing about real-world change with their opinions. Perhaps the onus need not be on the journalists to not take a stand on divisive issues, but rather on media consumers to read what's been written by both Left and Right-wing journalists to form their own opinions. – ProtoCanon 7 years ago
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  • It's also helpful to think about why news organizations have changed over time due to corporate control. Many owners now emphasize profit margins over quality news. – seouljustice 7 years ago
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  • Objective journalism never existed. The first papers in America were colonial papers which were not allowed to publish anything bad about the government without facing jail-time. Post colonial papers were entirely sponsored by political parties who used newspapers to attack opposing candidates from different parties. Then came the penny press which sensationalized stories, focused on celebrity news, and sometimes fabricated entire stories. It wasn't until the 1800's the a facts-driven model was introduced and there was more of an emphasis on being objective, though even then they never entirely were. Now a day, Opinion Journalism plays a huge part in media as a whole. Opinion Journalism should not be confused with Counterfeit Opinion Journalism, which consists of those crazy, outlandish claims and accusations based on personal belief and emotions. In contrast, real Opinion pieces consist of facts, actual news, in which the writer takes into account and then draws and educated conclusion. Whether the reader agrees with the writer or not is irrelevant, if the facts are correct and provided in context, its still valuable news. A lot of the Counterfeit you see is spread because we no longer have men sitting in chairs deciding what we hear and see. Now, we are the gatekeepers of media, and if we continue to spread false news, it will continue to be printed. – HDumars 7 years ago
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  • Protocannon's correct: all journalism is "yellow" (see William Randolph Hearst). A positive about ubiquitous Internet news sources is that silencing them would be like playing Whack-a-Mole for our central scrutinizers; one bad part is that many internet news sources, too, play Whack-a-Mole with the truth. – Tigey 7 years ago
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  • While I agree that all journalistic outlets have varying degrees of bias, try looking for publications that make real efforts to be as objective as possible. Most modern local newspapers and broadcast stations tend to be as close to neutral as they can without sensationalizing their stories. I hope this helps. – Tanner Ollo 7 years ago
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  • You should also look into the worrying trend of news outlets quoting no other sources than Twitter. Credible sources seem to be a thing of the past in the mainstream media. – AGMacdonald 7 years ago
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  • After spending the lead up to the US election on the campaign trail, Australian editor and journalist Aleks Vickovich argues there is now no question: objective journalism as we knew it, is dead. In your post, you can explain why the role of media as an impartial observer is redundant and the significant implications this has for media businesses. – ChristinaBattons 6 years ago
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  • Oh it is absolutely dead. Now a days, reporters and journalist to focus on objective news reporting. They are focused on what appeases the audience, so they can get more viewership. Facts don't matter anymore. It's all about money and ratings. – justjohn3365 4 years ago
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Published

Harry Potter and the Remarkably Unremarkable Main Character

The titular main character is often overshadowed by his luck and the accomplishments of his friends. Though Harry is the Chosen One, he rarely shows his so called "incredible" wizarding prowess as is stated that he possesses outside of his ability to catch a small golden ball. Does Harry Potter, the incredibly well known franchise that took the world by storm, truly deserve its fame when its main character is overall just an average wizard?

  • I partially agree with this, only because there are so many talented wizards without whom Harry Potter would not be Harry Potter. But who is a man (or a woman) without the people who helped him/her? HP was kind of pushed and dragged into being the Chosen One; he never really wanted it. His parents' legacies were what created this image of HP being the one to save all the wizarding world. He never really got a chance to choose his place in the battle. I think he doesn't deserve all the fame, but he should get some credit. It takes a lot to be what everyone wants you to be, and then to execute the prophecy that was placed on him at age 15/16. – madigoldman 7 years ago
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  • I think that is precisely one of the reasons Harry Potter IS so successful. Harry Potter, this so-called Chosen One, the one whose name everyone knows, is an average boy. He's an average boy that has to prove to the world and himself that he doesn't belong in a closet under the stairwell, that he is important. This message is possibly the most important message to send to young adults, that you are special and if you are determined you can be great. If Harry were some amazing wizard and flaunted his powers every chance he had, average readers wouldn't be able to connect as well with him. It's this idea that even the life of an average person is great one that is the ultimate appeal of the Harry Potter series, other than the magic of course. – sastephens 7 years ago
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  • I agree with sastephens and would like to add that one of the bigger reveals in the books is that Harry only ended up the Chosen One by chance. Neville also had the potential to become the Chosen One and the only reason it was Harry was because Voldemort chose him. Harry could have been just another ordinary wizard who excels at certain subjects and is rubbish at others and that is one of the things that makes him a wonderful and relatable protagonist. – Rxage 7 years ago
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  • I think sastephens says it well. That ordinariness is a big part of his destiny. His archetype wouldn't work any other way. But, I do think that he doesn't exhibit any extraordinary magical skill or even a dynamic personality. However, I think an argument can be made for the overarching theme of the franchise, which I believe is choice. The one thing I can commend him for is his choices. While he isn't particularly charismatic, he does seem to make even-handed and noble choices despite his cursed inclination toward the Slytherin yoke. And, without having much guidance in how to act nobly, he seems to have an extraordinary sense of right and wrong. I think it can be summed up in the most pivotal decision-making scene that basically drives the rest of the story, when Harry declares "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself." That choice, alone, sets Harry apart as remarkable. – wtardieu 7 years ago
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  • To add on to some of these well-written thoughts, that ordinariness to Harry Potter is a large reminder to young teenagers and even older adults why we are capable of great things. We want to cheer on that character who isn't perfect but who are doing the "right" thing. If we look at the main characters of other great films such as Frodo from "Lord of the Rings," Luke Skywalker from "Star Wars," and Katniss of "The Hunger Games," they are all relative average individuals who get pulled into this unexpected adventure--whether that is fighting evil, overcoming odds, or leading a revolution. Why are are they so revered? They were quite ordinary in their own way, and in many ways, weren't perfect, talented individuals. None of these characters were the best fighters, warriors, or incredible geniuses (like Dr. Strange or Tony Stark). But we could root for them because of what they stood for. That these imperfect human beings can potentially help save the world... even when they don't seem like the perfect candidate to do that task. – kittycataddy 7 years ago
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  • In most of the popular works that follows the heroes journey plot, the ordinariness of the protagonist is a leading factor. Much more than anything, their strength to prevail even when faced with situations that are far beyond their control and capabilities is what makes these characters popular. It gives hope to the average reader that he/she is capable of doing and being more than what they are told they can be. At every turn of the book, the hero is seen taking decisions, being annoyingly persevere and having hope in even in the worst of scenarios (Battle of Hogwarts) and these traits itself ensured the success and acceptance of the series. – fathima94 7 years ago
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4

The Last of Us: A Tale to Remember

With the announcement of The Last of Us: Part 2, there’s been a spur of excitement in the gaming world. This topic would explore the differences and similarities between The Last of Us and other survival-horror/zombie games, and what aspects made it become such a household title among gamers. What did it do differently, what didn’t it change, and how did the narrative affect audiences and players? In essence, what made The Last of Us so memorable to players, and what new avenues did it open for its genre? (The author who takes this topic may even wait for Part 2 to release and add a comparative section between both games, adding to how Part 2 affected the gaming community as well as its predecessor).

  • The Last of Us is a game that has touched so many people, and can definitely make the case as to why video games should be considered an art form. You should explore why The Last of Us does that, and explain how the second can improve on the first one. – cbo1094 7 years ago
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  • TLOU is different from the regular cliched zombie game because it focuses on the characters and their relationship, not on the zombies. The zombies and the setting are merely backdrops to Joel and Ellie. If this were simply a story about Joel and Ellie and their relationship, and the zombies were taken out entirely, I think it still would've been just as good of a game. I could go on and on about why this game is amazing and why Naughty Dog is one of the best developers out there, but I think that's the gist of it. Telltale's "The Walking Dead" (especially season 1) is the same way. I cried like a baby at the end of that one. I couldn't care less about the zombies. I just wanted Lee and Clementine! – Christina 6 years ago
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1

The Walking Dead: A Decline in Story Telling

This topic would explore why The Walking Dead became so successful as both a comic book series and a television series, and how its story has suffered such a drastic decline in actual plot development since the Prison Arc. A major cause that would require further research might be the fact that the story has no end because the virus overtaking the world cannot end, and thus, the horde of zombies will never die; so the question to ask is, can a story continue to be interesting if the main conflict cannot be resolved? Of course you have an onslaught of new villains every few seasons, but by and far they are not different characters by any means.

  • Interesting topic, I too feel that the story telling has seriously declined. It would be interesting to compare some of the feature length films like those by Romero to this TV zombie series. For me it is a never-ending doomsday scenario that allows its viewers to live out this escapist survival fantasy from one week to the next, problematic overall. – jonj724 7 years ago
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1

The Force: Why Jedi and Sith Rise and Fall Through the Eras

We all know the ways of the Jedi: truth, compassion, meditation, wisdom, etc. We also know the path of the Sith: anger, hatred, rage, jealousy, and power. However, the question remains, who is right and who is wrong? Exploring this topic would entail research into the creeds of both the Jedi and Sith and question why their black and white viewpoints cause them to fail. It should also discuss Grey Jedi, as well as Jedi and Sith who have resigned from their beliefs such as Ahsoka Tano, Count Dooku, Jolee Bindo, Asage Ventress and so on. Explore the differences between the teachings of the Old Republic Jedi/Sith and the teachings of Luke Skywalker’s generation of Jedi/Sith.

  • Isn't Darth Revan the most influential user of both sides of the force at one time? Not educated but I think that's what he did? – Slaidey 7 years ago
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3

Cartoon Network: A Heavy Decline, or Sharp Increase?

Recently Cartoon Network has begun the downward slope towards the employment of playing back to back 11 minute episodes of their shows; along with this, they have also lost a great number of quality shows that started with the discontinuation of Teen Titans in 2006 and Young Justice in 2013. With the loss of shows like Teen Titans, Ben 10, Young Justice, and Star Wars: Clone Wars from Cartoon Network, have we seen the last of well animated television from the network?
Exploring this topic would also need to include the success or failures of such shows as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Steven Universe, and so on. It should also include an introspective comparison between the differences of audience, plot, and animation style.

  • I think with any decade there's hit and misses and its important to not let nostalgia lead to an obvious bias. Growing up in the 90s I had mostly exposure from cartoons from the 80s and the 90s. There were certainly great ones but also stinkers looking back. All the shows you listed as the classic era are all from 2000s, which I think would be the weaker era if any. Shows like Adventure Time and Steven Universe actually felt like a Renaissance to me with how they handle continuity, character development, and mature relationships and themes. – ivanly 7 years ago
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  • A great video on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUwiYrOmAuM – m-cubed 7 years ago
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Latest Comments

We infer that symbolism from the novel, but Bradbury never meant for those things to take precedence. He meant for his novel to address television ruining our nation.

Fahrenheit 451: What’s In a Tale?

Well to be fair, he did write the novel on a typewriter that he had to pay to use. He also never meant for his book to be anti-nuclear, or anti-censorship. It was about how television would destroy our world.

Fahrenheit 451: What’s In a Tale?

I wasn’t completely aware that there was this difference in MFA programs, even though I’ve been pretty close to several graduate students and professors throughout my university experience.

Although I agree that the type of fiction we see being mass produced on bookstore shelves should be the type of creativity taught in college courses, I believe college courses should distinguish between what is acceptable and not acceptable; what I mean by that is, there are plenty of young adult novels that should be thrown backwards into the drafting phase.

I can see why some professors would find pause with the idea of teaching how to become a writer of the caliber of books such as Harry Potter or Percy Jackson – once you take a good long look at them, you realize they’re not that good. There’s a high lack of creativity among authors who write young adult literature such as the Immortal Instruments series which reads like sloppy fan-fiction that should have never hit the shelves; I don’t just say this because of my own personal distaste for the series, but after looking at the novels objectively, they just have too many plot mistakes, poor pacing, and poor character development.

I’d like to see professors taking a serious crack at throwing modern novelization into their course repertoire, but they should take caution not to crank out mediocre writers for the sake of giving them new avenues.

Genre Fiction in University Writing Programs: No longer the MFA's Red-headed Stepchild

I can’t say I agree. The show reveals that Decim always had emotions, so any emotion he’d shown previous to episode 9 would not have been odd. Chiyuki showed a range of emotion throughout the show even though she’d had her memories wiped, which would account for any lack of emotion that might’ve been inferred.

While they both seem one dimensional to begin with, I’d say it’s only to build the tension that forms in later episodes where we begin to see more than just the Death Games, and we start getting a clear vision of how Decim and Chiyuki came to their situation at the beginning of the show. I believe it was Tachikawa’s goal to have the episodic, “fleshed-out” characters have a dramatic effect on the two main characters for the specific purpose of developing their characters.

Death Parade: Humanity in Yuzuru Tachikawa's Anime

The setting for the most part is in Decim’s bar. Other episodes move around other areas of the purgatorial world where his bar resides; since there are other Arbiters, there are also other “game rooms.” Any other setting change only happens through the memories and flashbacks of characters.

Death Parade: Humanity in Yuzuru Tachikawa's Anime

As much as I dislike several things in the Star Wars movie-verse, the prequels are not one of them. I believe the rise and fall of the allegedly most powerful Sith Lord is an important part of the series. Do I wish they had done things differently? A bit. But c’est la vie.

In Defense of the Star Wars Prequels

As I’ve heard it, the extended director’s cut helps clear up some of the movie’s plot holes such as Superman and Batman’s hostility towards one another.
BvS is DC’s way of throwing paint at the wall and hoping it makes a self portrait. Yes, the fighting is fun and dramatic, but Luthor seemingly losing his mind, “Martha” being Batman’s safe-word, and Lois seemingly understanding all that is the universe and knowing that she needed to grab the Kryptonite spear Batman has made from the pool she’d thrown it into without anyone telling her to retrieve it absolutely blow the movie into the gutter.
There are redeeming moments, such as the helplessness of a god in the courtroom scene, but overall, DC is trying much too hard and rushing things too soon.
Hopefully they’ll figure that out before it’s too late.

Batman Vs Superman: What Went Wrong?

Heroes was and is by all accounts one of the greatest television shows that will ever have been made, with the exception perhaps of season 4. Recently the Netflix produced show entitled Sens8 rediscovered a legacy left behind by Heroes, and took over the mantle as the show with the group of weird people linked by destiny.
What both of these shows try and tell us is that these people are linked through destiny, fate, evolution, or God, but it is the first steps taken by Peter and Hiro to “save the cheerleader, to save the world.” As with the characters in Sens8, they make the choice to change the world, to do what they feel is right. So they both pose the question of destiny and intertwined fates while boasting a cast of characters who jump right into the middle of everything rather than stepping away and finding a quiet corner to hide.

Heroes and the Eclipse of Divinity with Destiny