Author Archives: Laily

Neon Genesis Evangelion- Daddy Issues

our protagonist Shinji Ikari has a pretty complicated relationship with his father, Gendo. To say it’s strained would be an understatement. Gendo is the head honcho of the organization that’s fighting the Angels, and he’s also the one who brought Shinji in to pilot an Evangelion. But instead of being a loving and supportive father figure, Gendo is cold, distant, and creepy at times.

Shinji’s desperate need for his father’s approval and affection is a driving force behind much of his character development throughout the series. He’s constantly seeking validation from Gendo, even though he knows deep down that his father is unlikely to give it to him. This leads to some pretty intense emotional moments as Shinji grapples with his feelings of abandonment and inadequacy.

But Shinji isn’t the only character with daddy issues in this show. We also have Asuka Langley Soryu, another pilot who is driven by her desire to prove herself to her absent father. And even Gendo himself is revealed to have some pretty serious daddy issues when we learn about his past and his relationship with Shinji’s mother.

The daddy issues in Neon Genesis Evangelion are a pretty significant part of the show’s overarching themes of loneliness, isolation, and the human desire for connection. It’s not always easy to watch, but it adds an extra layer of complexity to an already fascinating series.

Timing is everything

“Analytics (Google, Facebook, Twitter etc.) is a very valuable tool for building your audience. For content creators, knowing how your reader behaves on your website can help enormously with developing the best content, posting at the right time, and developing the appropriate engagement strategies. On the flip side, for the reader or user, it can be tiresome and even worrisome knowing you are providing data trails every where you go online“

When I was younger, I used to have a One Direction Instagram fan account. I think I was about 11-12.

I was able to gain between 5000-10k followers during that time (predominately other teen One Direction fans) and I was able to make a cool and functioning fan account.

However, A LOT of work went into making it. Firstly, the most important thing for Instagram engagement at the time is the use of hashtags. I had to make sure I used a bunch of different hashtags like #OneDirection #HarryStyles etc… and this was one of the ways I was able to gain followers.

Another tool I used was posting at the right times when my timeline was most busy. This made it possible for me to get a lot of likes at one time. For example, If I posted in the middle of the night I wouldn’t get many likes and my post would be hidden by the time everyone woke up. I found that posting around after school time was a good time to get good engagement on my posts.

This was all a lot of work, but for the engagement, I got it was worth it. I also gained skills that would be able to help me in the future if I pursue content creation especially with social media.

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

Wow, I read a book! Here is my review!

“Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn is a novel that addresses many issues related to humanity’s relationship with the natural world, including the issue of climate change. The book presents a unique perspective on the environmental crisis, arguing that it is rooted in a fundamental flaw in the human mindset.

One way in which the novel relates to our contemporary period and the issue of climate change is through its exploration of the concept of human exceptionalism. According to the book, humans have long believed that they are separate and superior to the natural world, and that the planet exists solely for their benefit. This belief has led to the exploitation of natural resources and the destruction of ecosystems, contributing to the current climate crisis.

The novel also explores the concept of culture and the role it plays in shaping our behavior towards the environment. Ishmael argues that the cultural narrative that humans have constructed – one that places humans at the center of the universe – is a myth that needs to be dismantled in order to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship. This is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, as many of our cultural beliefs and practices have contributed to the current crisis.

the novel suggests that a shift in cultural narrative is necessary to address climate change. Ishmael encourages the protagonist to explore a new myth that recognizes the interconnectedness of all life on the planet and places humans within the larger ecosystem. This new myth would promote a more sustainable approach to our interactions with the environment and could help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Personally, I found “Ishmael” to be a captivating and thought-provoking read. The novel offers a unique perspective on humanity’s relationship with the natural world, challenging readers to rethink their assumptions about the planet and our place within it.

One of the things that struck me about the book was its exploration of the concept of human exceptionalism. As someone who has grown up in a culture that places humans at the center of the universe, it was eye-opening to read a narrative that challenged this belief and encouraged me to think more critically about the impact of human behavior on the environment.

The feminist message of The Yellow Wallpaper

As someone who enjoys reading feminist literature, I found “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman to be a fascinating and thought-provoking read. The story provides a powerful commentary on the patriarchal society of the time and the ways in which women were oppressed and denied agency in their own lives.

“The Yellow Wallpaper” is a classic short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, published in 1892, that explores the issue of female oppression and the limitations imposed on women in Victorian society. The story is often regarded as a seminal work in feminist literature and is renowned for its powerful commentary on gender roles and the patriarchy.

The protagonist of the story is a woman who is suffering from what is presumed to be postpartum depression and is confined to a room in her husband’s mansion. As she spends more time in the room, she becomes increasingly obsessed with the yellow wallpaper that covers the walls, and begins to see disturbing patterns and figures within the wallpaper. The story is a powerful exploration of the protagonist’s descent into madness and the ways in which she is oppressed and controlled by the patriarchal society in which she lives.

it exposes the ways in which women are oppressed by a society that denies them autonomy and agency. the main character is prevented from leaving her room, engaging in any kind of productive work, or expressing herself creatively, all of which contribute to her sense of isolation and despair. Her husband, who is a doctor, dismisses her concerns and insists that she simply needs rest, effectively silencing her and rendering her voiceless.

The story is also a commentary on the issue of mental health and the ways in which women’s experiences are often ignored or dismissed by male doctors. The protagonist’s husband, who is a doctor, insists that she simply needs rest and denies her access to other forms of treatment, contributing to her worsening condition. The story highlights the importance of recognizing women’s experiences of mental illness and the need for more compassionate and holistic approaches to treatment.

Character Study-Shinji from Neon Genesis Evangelion

I wanted to talk about my favourite anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion, but more specifically Shinji, Here is a little character study.

Shinji Ikari is the main protagonist of the anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” He is a young boy who is forced to pilot a giant bio-machine called an Evangelion to fight mysterious beings known as Angels that threaten humanity’s existence. Shinji is a complex and multi-layered character who is often regarded as one of the most relatable and human protagonists in anime.

One of Shinji’s defining characteristics is his lack of self-confidence and his struggle with depression and anxiety. He is introverted, insecure, and has a low sense of self-worth, which makes him hesitant to engage with others and often leads to him running away from difficult situations. This inner turmoil is rooted in his troubled relationship with his father, Gendo Ikari, who abandoned him as a child and who he feels he can never please.

Throughout the series, Shinji is forced to confront his fears and doubts as he faces increasingly difficult challenges. His initial reluctance to pilot the Evangelion gives way to a growing sense of responsibility, as he realizes that his actions can have a direct impact on the fate of humanity. As he becomes more involved in the fight against the Angels, he begins to develop deeper relationships with his fellow pilots and begins to question his own identity and the meaning of his existence.

Shinji’s character arc is a powerful exploration of the human condition, highlighting the struggle that many people face when trying to come to terms with their own sense of self-worth and purpose in life. His journey is a relatable one, as he grapples with the complexities of growing up, forging his own identity, and making sense of the world around him. Despite his flaws and struggles, Shinji is ultimately a sympathetic and likable character who viewers can root for and empathize with

Peer Review #3

This week I will be reviewing Kathy’s blog, Lucid Dreamer (uderrated.com).

First Impressions: Kathy’s blog does not have that much content, however, her About page gave me some insight into the type of content she is trying to convey! I enjoyed that she has a picture of herself because her blog is personal, where she talks about her dreams and (book) recommendations. This is a great way to market your blog, as when someone looks at the About page they will know this is a personal blog about her, and not about any other sort of content.

By posting personal recountings of her dreams, she is presenting herself in a vulnerable way that we don’t see often online! In Hollenbaugh’s article, Self-Presentation in Social Media: Review and Research Opportunities, they talk about ‘self-disclosure’, “Self-disclosure, the revelation of personal information (i.e., thoughts or feelings) to others (Derlega et al., 2008), is distinct from self-presentation, yet it is an essential tool for those attempting to present their actual or ideal image” (Hollenbaugh, 2020). By talking about her personal life, and her dreams, she is practicing self-disclosure, which is rare online.

Marketability: Kathy has not yet worked on many aspects of marketability. It is a little bit confusing navigating her website and the content that she is actually posting, which makes it harder to market to a specific audience. I would recommend having her “Dream Diary” as the first thing you see when you open the site. On top of that, I would recommend some more pictures or icons that allude to the type of content she is posting so that the audience knows what kind of blog it is!

Unfortunately, she has not posted any recommendations, as this would be where the marketability aspect can come from. If she started recommending some manga or books, she would be able to market that type of content to have her audience looking at the stuff she is recommending. This part of her blog could be pretty easy and laid back too, she wouldn’t have to go into detail but maybe just have Pinterest board-like grid of different manga, board games, and card games that she likes!

Conclusion: Unfortunately Kathy does not have enough content on her blog for me to make a good and accurate assessment of her content, however, I gave several recommendations and things I would like to see from her blog!



Citations

Hollenbaugh, E. E. (2020). Self-Presentation in Social Media: Review and Research Opportunities. Review of Communication Research, 9, 80-98. Retrieved from https://www.rcommunicationr.org/index.php/rcr/article/view/71

Do Not Read Your Comments!

As someone who is starting, and interested in content creation, our contemporary period makes it a little bit harder with the existence of hate comments and online harassment. Especially in the last few years the emergence of cancel culture and the lack of media literacy makes this an even harder topic.

Thankfully, my small blog for a class does not receive hate comments or anything, but if I do want to pursue content creation, I should learn and talk about it.

“The Psychology of Online Comments” by Maria Konnikova talks in depth about online comments. My favourite study that is highlighted in the article is, “When people don’t think they are going to be held immediately accountable for their words they are more likely to fall back on mental shortcuts in their thinking and writing, processing information less thoroughly. They become, as a result, more likely to resort to simplistic evaluations of complicated issues” (Konnikova, 2013).

This brings up a point I have been trying to make for a long time, the lack of nuance, understanding, and most importantly media literacy, when it comes to these anonymous hate comments. For example, most hateful comments I see on TikTok are from someone who didn’t understand the video correctly, and instead of taking the time to understand, they just leave a hate comment instead.

As well as hate comments about political issues or other complicated issues, which the hate commentators have no education about these issues.

Using ChatGPT Code…

Today I was getting frustrated with the lack of accessibility that I had with customizing my website’s appearance. There was no way I could edit the colours of some parts of my website, so I decided to use ChatGBT to help with the CSS code to edit the appearance.

It took some playing around with but eventually, this made it possible for me to edit the colour and the opacity of my menu colour:

This was so useful and helpful, and I will definitely use it more to play around with the appearance of my blog so that I can have exactly what I want even with the limitations that the themes place.

Here is the colour of my new menu: