Blog Post #5: District 9

District 9 focuses on some of the problems associated with racism, particularly critiquing various types of dehumanization. Consider the different ways that the alien characters are dehumanized, including stereotypes, the slum refugee camp, and also the problems associated with point-of-view in the film. Consider the ways in which the film attempts to allegorize racism and to call for empathy with the experiences of those we deem different from us, but also consider the ways in which this call to empathy might be problematic.

Try a "strong response" model for your post--critique the rhetorical features of a particular part of the film, then move on to a more general critique of the ideas embedded in the film, and, if you are comfortable posting something personal in a public space, finish with a reflection.

Assess the question of solitude and the individual in I Am Legend. In what way does Robert Neville's being alone--as opposed to the small groups that populate inspired sequels like Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, The Walking Dead, 28 Days Later, or for that matter even the cinematic version of I Am Legend--change the manner in which we understand the threat both of the "monsters" outside the house but also the monster within? Use Mathias Clasen's "Vampire Apocalypse" in your response and employ specific text from the novel.

Blog Post #3: The Walking Dead

How does the genre (comics) affect the pacing and development of this story? Think about how the comic is drawn--what choices do the authors make, and how do these choices affect your experience of the story? How does this take on zombies compare with the filmic treatments we have explored during class (Night and Dawn)? Think about both similarities and differences and pose at least one question that you think could help draw connections between The Walking Dead and other, similar, works.