Extravagance is the enemy! Never be manipulated by an opponent's looks.

• 5Oct 11

  Pixel Perfect

  Presenting none other than...

  GameSpot Bunk Blogger Emblem

  
  
  By DreadDLordD

  
  Brief:
  
  When it comes to internet diaries. I like to think that we have numerous thoughts and recollections of events that occur during our daily lifes we want to note down. In this sense, I wanted to visualize a basic concept where by blogging is a perilous way of sharing our unique personal identity.
  
  This is because shoes (or bunker boots in this matter) allow viewers and achievers to percieve this emblem as an individual's solipsistic adventure to convey their thoughts online. I believe this Bunker Boot would prove to be the suitable mascot for this emblem because it instills users with peerless determination. The determination that encourages people to put on their footwear and chase their goals.
  
  Afterall, we need shoes the travel to the outside world. We all know how dangerous it can be. We all know the risks involved of pouring our hearts out. But at the same time it shows you are well motivated to experience the enterprise of internet life. Thus, this bunker boot can be a symbolism of absolute resoluteness implying the unbidden volition of sharing your mind. No matter the criticism or detriments.
  
  The blogger RRS logo further dictates the topic of online blogging. Which there by gives users an easy and recognizable indication of their acheivement.
  
  
  
  Thanks for reading and hosting this contest GS Community!

  • Posted Oct 5, 2011 9:42 am GMT
  • Category: Editorial
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 20Jun 11

  Character Archetypes: Introduction to the Femme Fatale

  Before watching or making a film I always tell myself this.

  "Characters need to be realistically humane and invoke a multidimensional persona."

  First impressions are one of the focal constituents the audience takes into consideration when a particular individual enters the frame. From this point onwards, we may begin to determine how this character will behave and interact with current situation and the future events yet to take place.

  This is why it is utmost essential for any picture to pay attention to the interplay between its characters. Not just by focusing on the occurences which take place but allowing the audience to gradually and sturdily develop a link towards its personage. In order for this build up to succeed, there needs to be a strong and crystal clear purpose for the individual's actions. As viewers, we need to continuously dispute and critically evaluate why and how these undertakings are being motivated.

  Firstly, there needs to be a distinguishing trait every personality is wired with. In this sense, a story can be interpreted with literary themes which define a characters profile. We can coin this term as character archetypes. A classic archetype which has existed for many years within the film noir era is otherwise proverbially known as the Femme Fatale. Typically, this archetype can be described as an enigmatic and precarious female foil. The framework behind this persona is where by the women is portrayed as a substantive maverick.

  And when I mean by "maverick", she'll be perceived as not your common innocuous damsel. This female character will embody a real sensation of power and dominance throughout her screen time. The Femme Fatale will have numerous opportunities to disrupt the films plot and utilize a deceitful disposition. By these traits, the audience can now begin to associate why and how she commits these treacherous acts. This then leads us to the specifics.

  
  
  Men, proceed with caution. No matter how tempting it may look.

  The femme fatale will typically be cladded in an unorthodox fashion. Because universally speaking, a femme fatale will have the deliberate intent of acting with a blind facade to distract its viewers from her true colours. She will camouflage her menacing demeanour by objectifying her charming pulchritude towards her male victims. By the time we're aware of this undertaking, we begin to question what her motives are behind this promiscuous act. We slowly become allured by the contrast of her voluptuous outlook and her crafty, seductive behaviour. While it may appear to be common sense for a women to feel convivial due to the awareness of the man's interest. Both the male personage and audience are simply being covered by a blanket of disguise to conceal what this deadly vixen has plans for. From our initial encounter, we may believe this woman has no relevance to the plot but to merely serve as a sex object. But ironically, this endeavour can take its path into creating twists and turns to the story. This will inevitably lead the male character to a complicated situation. While undeniably, leaving some viewers looking gobsmacked.

  
  
  "Oh no did she not!"

  From this standpoint, the audience will begin to see a new light for the films outcome. They may also feel somewhat intimately empathetic with the femme fatale's role. This is because our perception of her will no longer be fixated as the flirtatious dandy looking women. But instead we begin to conceive her as an anti-heroine. A backstabber. A delusive fantasy. A kind elegant female who unveils her cold-blooded evil visage. And to a certain extent, she can be categorized as your worst nightmare of a dominatrix.

  Let's take Riko Mine from JC Studio's "Hidan No Aria" as a notorious anime example.

  (Readers discretion *SPOILERS* ahead)

  
  
  Your astute counterfeit of Sailor Moon.

  Initially she's exhibited as the school inquesta's biggest numskull with the comprehension skills of an elementary toddler. She constantly acts as the pesky lass with a tumultuous degree of verbose. She needlessly spouts countless waves of immature remarks to no avail. She perks up her uniform to stand out from the rest. She's the usual hyperactive lady who's a lousy attention seeker. But wait, what's the deal with her being such a good undercover of collecting high-school student profiles? How did she obtain these credentials? When did she suddenly start pulling off all these stunts that the protagonist himself was never aware of? You guessed it. This Femme Fatale manipulated you right from the get-go.

  
  
  Bleh, just another banal high school girl.

  The main facets to why Riko Mine portrays a fantastic Femme Fatale is due to her sporadic mannerism and frivolous pretence. As aforementioned, she chooses to dress in a gothic Lolita fashion due to her fondness for customization. This choice of costume indicates a pre-set for the audience to identify. Meaning like any other Femme Fatale, she's secretly trying to set a false impression by wearing a pretentious heap of buffed up vesture. Riko even goes as far as to super exposing her underwear where Kinji inadvertently notices her yellow bra. "Yellow huh." Not exactly the conventional colour a girl would have for her undies right? In essence, we're fully aware that Riko is the mega materialistic type who doesn't mind showing off her sex appeal. Nor does she mind having the luxury of amorously gazing at Kinji in hopes of arousing his hysterical pheromones. Although do bear in mind, this is all just a prelude to her true wicked nature. No really, her idiosyncrasy is not the slightest half-baked until we experience the entirety first-hand.

  
  
  Dark Riko means business.
  

  
  
  Femme Fatales will go to extreme lengths and take no prisoners.

  
  Eventually, we discover her premeditated intentions from the early episodes. Where by every minute subtext was purposely dismissed as trivial plot devices. The bike and bus jacking are obviously exceptions, but the shocking matter is how we viewers are thrown asunder by the wildness of Riko's split personality. As we begin to dig into her speech, we're given the impression that she suffers an inferiority complex causing her to go on a tantrum. Kinji & Aria nor do we viewers are aware of the reason for her insanity but this is all eventually wrapped up in the next volume of episodes. But with that said, not only does Riko encompass the status of a strategic mastermind. But she is also capable of nonchalantly maintaining the balance of her demented temperament and psychotic cuteness. While this isn't supposed to be conceived as a neo-noir picture, Hidan No Aria just goes to prove how intertextuality has its prominence in fusing west continent film elements. In despite of the full face Japanese affinity, the author decides not to integrate a yandere or tsundere personality into Riko. She's constructed as not your mundane bipolar conformist regardless of her otaku qualities.

  In a nutshell, Riko undoubtedly plays an integral role in representing the femme fatale archetype. Not in the traditional film noir sense, but via a strong multidimensional fashion by invoking subtle French tongues, Japanese materialism and a feisty lecherous persona. So in all frankness, Riko is definitely not your regular sub-par mistress, but a jewel made out of electrifying substance. Look out for her in future episodes of Hidan No Aria.

  On that final note, let me ask your take on the Femme Fatale. Do you think this archetype serves as a crucial springboard for storytelling? Is it about her exotic looks that define her presence? Or is it her mysterious cunning nature?

  P.S. I could've picked a better example but fortunately this was the latest entry to struck me as an interesting take. Again, apologies for spoilers!

  • Posted Jun 20, 2011 8:05 am GMT
  • Category: Editorial
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 4Aug 08

  L Cosplay

  Hahahaaaa...... It's been such a while since I last posted. Yes that's right ladies and gentlemen. I decided to do a cosplay for L (Lawliet) from the anime known as Death Note. I decided to do this last saturday (2nd of august) just to show off to my friends since we were attending to this charity event. It was a Car Wash. Yes! You'll finally get to see L in action cleaning cars o_O. But most importantly, you finally get to see me in flesh and bone IRL...
  
  So here they are. These were my personal favourites

  http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f30/DreadLord200392/LawlietTitle.jpg
  
  http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f30/DreadLord200392/Image008.jpg
  
  http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f30/DreadLord200392/Image000.jpg
  
  http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f30/DreadLord200392/n515449250_1108750_8739.jpg
  
  http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f30/DreadLord200392/n515449250_1108791_1880.jpg
  
  http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f30/DreadLord200392/n515449250_1108801_5521.jpg
  
  
  They were too big to fit on the blog and I couldn't really be bothered to resize them

  • Posted Aug 4, 2008 12:04 pm GMT
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg

See Previous Blog Posts »