Write a 200-300 word discussion post that compares and contrasts the two essays according to these criteria. Be sure to use specific examples to explain your decisions.
Which essay has the more effective thesis statement, and why?
Which essay includes the more effective analysis throughout the body paragraphs, and why?
Which essay is the more logically structured, and why?
Which essay do you think is more effective overall? Why?
Analysis of “I Assure You No Animals Were Harmed During this Quick Look”
The Giant Bomb subreddit is a fan community for the gaming website Giantbomb.com. On this subreddit, a post was made July 17, 2022 depicting some of the current cast as if they were part of a video game. This post, titled, “I Assure You No Animals Were Harmed During This Quick Look” by user Manoystee contains a graphic that seeks to entertain and convey kinship with its audience of long-time Giant Bomb fans by reflecting authenticity, showing an awareness of trends within the community’s discourse, and implicitly speaking to recent changes within the site.
The art, done in a pixelated style that evokes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge game, depicts all six members who were in the “Quick Look” video of said game. This shows a basic familiarity with current content, but the details go beyond this. The inclusion of “luchadeer” (a longstanding but unofficial mascot for Giant Bomb, consisting of a deer’s head wearing a luchador mask) as the “boss” the six members are primed to fight showcases a deeper familiarity with the site. Additionally, individual details, such as a shirt evoking Street Fighter II for the fighting-game loving Jason displays an awareness of the personalities presented. This graphic, then, gives the its audience some knowing, playful elements that are enriched by deeper familiarity with the site.
Fan-created art depicting the cast has been a long-running aspect of the GB community, and this post fits within that genre of post. This art is post regularly on the Giant Bomb subreddit and then reposted in weekly, celebratory “Community Showcase” posts on Giant Bomb’s official site. The community, then, is accustom to and can expect this kind of content, and as shown in the comments, reflects positively on it with encouraging words and jokes. Additionally, depicting cast members in a particular game’s style is a subgenre within this kind of content, with the subreddit showcasing other examples of cast members stylized as parts of other games and media properties, further reflecting how this post fits reflects trends in community discourse.
Lastly, the post, by its playful inclusion of these particular cast members at the time that it does, reflects a celebration of the current cast of Giant Bomb, which has seen recent, controversial changes. This post was made only a month after the last founding member left abruptly, a seismic event within a community that has existed since 2010. When this happened, the new leadership promised a return to the original spirit of Giant Bomb, namely through more “Quick Look” videos and a light-hearted, community-centric tone. Some of the members depicted in the graphic are years-established personalities within the brand and some are new, all being part of the newly redefined Giant Bomb. Presenting them all in cute, loving caricatures with nicknames (alongside luchadeer) reflects an acceptance of the change in staff and a general positivity toward this idea of a return to Giant Bomb as it was.
Manoystee’s post is a combination of old and new. It showcases a familiarity with the site and its community, the kinds of discourse that have developed over the years, and a positive, familial tone that speaks to the long-term fans who have made the community part of their lives. At the same time, it accepts the “new” Giant Bomb as genuine, which is a position that sees Giant Bomb as less defined by specific members and more by tone, kind of content, and community interaction.
Books of Horror Anthology Analysis
The Book of Horror Community is a Facebook group for readers of horror. Their publication Books of Horror Community Anthology Vol. 1 was a way to reach more horror readers. By relating to the readers, the “Forward” to Books of Horror Community Anthology Vol. 1 invites to new horror fans to the group.
They build common ground with their reader. Hargrove identifies experiences like teachers who referred to his books as garbage (Hargrove 2020). These moments connect with fellow horror readers. Describing scenarios when others didn’t take their passion for horror seriously creates a common bond between the group and the readers of the book.
The Book of Horror Community describes what their group does. First and foremost, they share their passion for horror. They This is what the reader is looking for. The Book of Horror Community is strong and active. Anyone who has been sneered at for being a horror fan will find at the very least a group to share their passion with but likely more.
Immediately after making it clear that they have a solution, they create excitement for the future. They future of their members will include wonderful new stories from new and established writers (Hargrove 2020). There’s the suggestion that they will never struggle to find something to read again. There’s the appeal that they’ll be in the know. And there’s fresh horror for those who think they’ve read it all (Hargrove 2020). To end this invitation to the group with a look an exciting future, quickly rushes along someone who only recently felt very isolated.
The “Forward” to Books of Horror Community Anthology Vol. 1 is an invitation to new like-minded readers. Relating disconnected experiences, offering a community, and promising a future of new discoveries, the “Forward” clearly marks the Book of Horror Community as the place for any horror reader