The break-up of any relationship is a process of realization that two people are not meant to be with one another.
In this Twine story, one person is breaking up with the other so the realization is not shared. Even the way we see a text begins to make us question what the reality of the situation actually is. Each pathway that makes up the story includes an image of a text. Each time, the words are given a different meaning by changing how they appear:
“Hey are you okay?
“I’m Fine…”
The words “I’m Fine” are written with three dots after the word fine. This shows a lack of finality.
In another version they are all CAPS.
In a third version, they are appended by a cute emoji that makes us all look at the words “I’m fine” and say “Oh good, you really are fine.”
While texting may seem to have dealt a blow to the overall concrete value you can place in a word or phrase because of how fast language evolves, it should not be viewed as a catastrophe for written language. Each phrase we type can be examined for innuendo, sarcasm or genuine truth. What this week’s reading made clear, was that what one person writes today may have a different meaning in the future. Helen Saltzman and her guest on the New Allusionist, Episode 102 made this very clear.
Here is what the web of links looks like. I look at it and all I can think about is the airline maps in the free magazine they have on board every flight. Chicago must be that square right in the middle with all the flights heading into O’Hare.
Right click the image and hit “Open Image” to take a closer look. Left click to go to the story.
This sadly hilarious! The introduction is also very current. And I really like the way it is written in two voices – very creative and the graphics are a nice touch (something I could not get to work for me). I keep wanting to replay all the different choices and senarios, hoping that it does not make me seem insensitive to poor Sassy Sarah or Slacker Kevin.
Thanks so much for popping in Rebecca,
You are not insensitive
I think it was my slightly sardonic side that slipped out for a minute. As an older person, I have found the innuendos related to text speak hard to keep up with. Emojis are a little easier, though I do tend to use them inappropriately often. My 18 year old daughter has used the term boomer on me more than once
As a grade school teacher, I am in the thick of the action, at times, when it comes to the ever evolving nature of language. I relish this connection with the younger world and find it useful when looking for connections between the theme of a novel we read and a group of 10-11 year olds.
Hey Ryan, what a hilarious story. I was so amused, I kept going through the loops. I really enjoyed the option of playing both sides of the break-up. This was such a smart idea. You do have a real gift of imagination. I liked how relevant the story was. As teachers, we are forever the spectators of this exact scenario. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Ryan, this is just an incredibly funny and entertaining game to go through. It was so clever to have two voices and characters ! I kept going through the different loops. You created a timeless game.
Thanks for the compliments Kristin and Melody. As a grade 8 teacher for many years, this scenario was all too familiar to me. The disconnect mentioned by Wesch in this week’s video gave me pause to consider how texting literacy is going to have to be a part of how we connect with our students. I am hoping to put together an Instagram story for Romeo and Juliet and have students play the parts of the main characters as they # there way through the plot.