Talk:Ben Asher
I think you did a good job in describing the problems you faced when creating you avatars. The way you talked about the difficulties in getting the right facial structure was detailed but I feel as though that was the only major struggle you had. You did talk about the hair which i feel like everyone had an issue with but I don't see any descriptions in the things that were easy to do. I liked that you were honest in the fact of altering your appearance a little in the way you wish it would look like for a better first impression. I like the analogy to the avatar being a work of art because it showed that you can be as creative as possible and create something of what you believe is your true self.
The way you described the differences in creating your fantasy avatar and self portrait was good because it is definitely harder to create a replica of something when you know exactly what you are trying to recreate. Creating something that is all about creativity is a lot easier when there are no limitations or structure.
The outside source was about neurological disorders in past artists and how this relates to creating an avatar/ a piece of art. There was a little description about what the disorder means and I like the link but there is not a huge connection described between the avatars. I think it would have been better to mention this source in the beginning and then have it intertwined throughout the whole reflection where it was relevant.
F. Stuart
While I understand the point you are trying to make, I disagree with your statement "Designing Gorgolon does not have any reflection on myself in the digital world." You created that avatar, and like any artist's work, it directly reflects it's creator. Even if it doesn't necessarily look like you, you decided to make the jaw square and dress him like a cowboy and give him the name "Gorgolon." I would say that the fantasy avatar can reveal or show just as much as the realistic one. When you mention that there was less pressure, I wonder if that allowed you to express yourself more? I know in the case of my fantasy avatar, I felt less pressure to make it perfect, which in turn let me be more free with my expression.
The facial structure of your avatar shows that you took the time to customize it well. It does look like you, though like you said, the hair is really a defining aspect of you appearance, so to have it so short doesn't really look like the Ben that we recognize in class. I just wonder though if we can't understand more of who you are and what you're all about from the fantasy avatar, than of the more realistic one. I think we as humans are drawn to the unusual or atypical; in the case of Gorgolon, the cartoonish jaw and cowboy hat are perhaps more interesting than a generic male face (no offense intended).
I would challenge you to give more information on the "human constraint" you mentioned in the first paragraph. In the "human" section, you mention that you often slid the slider in the positive direction when making decisions about the avatar's appearance, what exactly is "positive"? Is this positive in your own eyes? Positive in the eyes of society, pop culture, people you know? I'm just left wanting a bit more detail in this section.
--L Harrison 10:39, 15 November 2011 (EST)
