SMurphyEGB

I’m curious, which audiences do you feel are having these negative reactions to the nostalgic style that you ascribe to Fantasy writers? In my experience, most people who enjoy the genre enjoy, at least to some degree, both the writing that recalls classic fantasy in a familiar way, and the Postmodernist writing that takes those classical tropes and deconstructs them for a new perspective. The appeals of a well trod path and an undiscovered trail, if you will. I wonder if the audience that you mention is disparaging of the Fantasy genre might be a group that does not particularly appreciate the genre’s innate appeal, or if they are simply a group that is not largely in the public eye.

Thank you for the eloquent article,
J. Murphy

H4zel,
You have done an excellent job at describing the positives of the Mass Effect series, and clearly follow the “Journey is more important than the destination” train of thought in regard to the series. I can see that you have already received comments regarding the unsatisfactory conclusion to the trilogy, so I won’t reiterate them. Instead, I’d like to ask you what you think could have been done to the ending that would appropriately wrap up all the emotional investment and myriad choices that went into the series?

Jordan,
This is an excellently written article that explores far more than I would have thought possible into the inner workings of one of my favorite childhood anime shows. I was wondering though, how much emphasis do you put on visuals in an anime in comparison to story and character. I only ask because the article is front-loaded with analysis about the visual comparisons across the seasons, and character and story are reserved for the ending. Is this a “save the best for last” decision, or do you find that the visuals for an anime are more important to the success or failure of a show than it’s plot and characters?

Thanks for the great read,
J. Murphy