Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Facebook Is Not Just For Socially-Acceptable Stalking

I've been TRYING to do this thing called social proof that Dr. Burton is so hyped up on, but I've run into a minor problem: I have little respect and/or need for social media websites. Over the years, I have acquainted myself with only two sites: Facebook, and blogger. Not surprisingly, I had to be forced into both. I've had my version of each before these, but I would only check Facebook maybe once a month, and my blog was less about interacting with people and more about keeping myself on track with my writing.

So what a change this has been! In order to get my social proof (a lot of which is happening over the phone and through email, which are still waiting for information) I've had to become a Facebook ninja, stalking it every hour or so to see if there is new information. Blogger...well, I'm still working on being social in THAT aspect.


But enough of my gripping! I wanted to post that I at least have a bit of progress on my riddle-research. I sent out a general wall post asking for riddle-info found in popular media and literature (new and old) and I've had quite the response. A lot of it was circulating back to my own ideas (Harry Potter, The Hobbit, etc), but some good stuff came out of it. One that I can think of right off the bat is fairy-tales. I have a friend bringing me a book on the OLD ones (I think even before Grimm) that have a lot of riddles in them. I also have a favorite forever-teacher of mine letting me borrow a book of children's rhymes from the Elizabethan period. Not exactly was I was looking for--I want proof that riddles help push plot, and stand-alone riddles don't do much in that regard--but something interesting to look into anyways. I have a few other sources, but I figured I'd post a few pictures of some of the wall-post and responses to stand as part of my proof.



(Also, just for fun, I've posted a complete-nonsense, nothing-to-do-with-my-research video that adequately explains my view on social media sites. Enjoy!)

2 comments:

  1. I also used Facebook to get some feedback. It is a really useful social medium. I was pleasantly surprised.

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  2. Awesome work! I'm curious to know who you're reaching out to via email and phone to learn more about Shakespeare and riddles.

    Also, what's the name of the book of fairy tales you're borrowing? My curiousity was definitely peeked because I'm studying Shakespeare and folklore.

    Last, I found a link to a blogpost I thought you might be interested in with your current topic. it's about The Merchant of Venice and delves into the riddle aspects of the play. http://theparadigmshifts.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/shakespeare/

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