The New "English"

As we all know our English classes, or past English classes, they are filled with short stories, books and poems. Today's students do not know as much literature and poetry as the generations before us, or do they?


Each and every form of English is different to this generation.


Books Video Games


Not many children read book these days. Their time is spent in front of television screens controlling their main characters. I ask, what is the problem? I read books and I play video games. Is it really mind depleting to play a video game? I think not, depending on the games that are played. I could spend one week reading the tales of Sherlock Holmes, or I could spend and hour or two a day control Tidus through his journey in the future. Final Fantasy X is an outstanding video game, with a story worthy of a New Times Best Seller. I am not here to bash books, do not think that is my notion; Catcher in the Rye could be told no other way. But the experience of Final Fantasy X, Kingdom Hearts, The Legend of Zelda and, yes, even Grand Theft Auto express stories worthy of the Silver Screen or a hard cover. Of course a literary experience is not seen by all. Some play The Legend of Zelda only to butcher evil monster, rather than hear the tale of the hero of time. Similar events occur in many video games.





But where is the damage, wasted time? How many students have read The Lord of the Flies only to forget the entire plot? I see the goodness of these games. I see a mafia story in Grand Theft Auto, not a murder simulator. Video games get many horrible critiques. They "melt children's brains" or "make them murderers." I find this all untrue. John Lenon was murdered because of a man's interpretation of The Catcher in the Rye; I see no fight to stop children from reading.





Many fail to see the essence of greatness some games possess. The outstanding stories many will miss. Kingdom Hearts challenges gamers to trust friendship and the power of the heart. How evil are friendship and love? I believe video game are a new form of English, a story that is experienced rather than heard or seen.





Poetry Music

How many students have a favorite poet? How many actually know a poet other than Emily Dickinson? All of them actually do, they just do not know it. This generation is actually very poetic. Step on a school bus, you will see 75% of the kids wearing head phones, listening to their favorite artists. Poetry has never died, it has evolved. Emily Dickinson has been replaced with Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jack's Mannequin, Tupac, Kanye West and so many others. I am 100% sure each and every student can tell you their favorite "line of poetry." My favorite is , "Let's get drunk/You can drive us to the harbor/Wish upon a star but/Do you know what stars are?/Balls of fire, burning up the black space/Falling from the landscape/Exploding in the face of God." It is all the same, only to a beat with harmony. Poetry lives on, evolved.