One thing I enjoy more than consuming media is to analyze them. Recently, we've seen an influx of these entertainment franchises that was intended for one audience, but a completely different demographic seems to have taken a strong interest in it. Or despite all the failings in the entertainment in the traditional sense, it still garners a large fanbase and wide acclaim. I don't think it's at all what critics claim to be “adult-child” or “special snowflakes”. Franchises such as Minecraft, Kemono Friends, Undertale, Friday Night at Freddy's, My Little Pony, and Spooky's House of Jumpscares all seem to have hardcore, diehard fans and often the centre of ridicule to majority of the outsiders.

At first, I too thought the adult-males' infatuation to girls' multimedia franchise with an endless slew of multi-coloured ponies slightly disturbing. However, this type of fanbase, I soon learned, wasn't that uncommon. In fact, after treading with my head closer to the ground, I found that it's actually extremely common. One of the oldest internet example would be the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It garnered a large following on deviantArt and hundreds of original characters were created based on the franchise. What exactly about some sneaker-wearing blue marsupial gathered such a wide crowd? My guess is that it's an example of an Easy to Consume Media. A very basic plot (if any), and a very exploitable art style with semi-interesting characters made Sonic the Hedgehog the perfect series for young artists and writers to latch onto. In this vein, Pokémon and most video game franchises also met with this sort of popularity. On the contrary, movies and comics such as Marvel and DC had slightly harder time with these sort of folks. These type of media are often too complex or too well drawn for the audience to draw inspirations to create their original contents.

This phenomenon is not only limited to the West. In East Asia, especially Japan, series such as Touhou, and Kemono Friends also seem to follow a similar trend. Lacklustre story, shoddy graphics and a large collection of interesting albeit laughable characters allow for much interpretation for the creative audience.

Perhaps this is one of the most important aspect of Easy to Consume Media, the fact that there is room for artistic reinterpretation and the basic storyline allows for more creativity to flow. Thus, inadvertently (read: not designed or intended by stakeholders) increasing the size of the community through fan art and fan fiction.

This is a topic that could be interesting to pursue, and may be a great tool to forecast the popularity of a franchise by the captive audience-channels to better predict the next trendy or viral franchise. In the meantime, here is a simple chart on what could make a good multimedia franchise with lots of enthusiastic fans.
In the meantime, enjoy this three coal diamond chart I whipped up in 5 minutes:

Last post, I mentioned that I would like to pursue multitude of different things, as great men and women have done in history. The many in the past of whom achieved a breadth of knowledge and simultaneously managed to excel in multiple fields, the Renaissance men or polymaths. Is the reason why  polymaths are so far and few because we are at an epoch where knowledge in even one field is so deep, that becoming an expert requires a whole lifetime to achieve? Or does polymaths only exist for those who are more affluent?

Food for thought.

The video I linked above by School of Life, a channel built up and narrated by Alain de Botton, discusses the approach opposite of my thoughts. Nevertheless, his smooth voice, great animation, and compelling narrative is perfect for comparing the topic from two distinct perspectives: a highly-educated, and experienced thinker and a mere design-post-graduate student with no background in anything other than design. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm nowhere near the clarity when it comes to linking thoughts. I practice casual thinking and random musings, so much of the concepts discussed from Foucault to Marx is a little too high-concept for me. This becomes more evident the longer I try to desperately chase the coattails of other professions.

So, here's an update on things. I've become a bit more robust as a person. Mostly thanks to a few good things that happened in my life. Here's a list for anyone that's interested:

1. Becoming comfortable as a TA
2. Finding a mind-numbing yet fulfilling part-time work
3. Finding a comfortable tribe
4. Learning things I genuinely care about
5. Going to Japan
6. Something I shouldn't disclose

It's surprising. I never thought I could get to a point where I look back at the recent few weeks and discover that they are pretty much devoid of unproductiveness. I feel more confident, and I feel like my words are worth something. Perhaps it's because of a sense of elitism that helps boost my confidence? Or am I maturing as an individual?

In any case, I found a good middle ground when it comes to being a TA. Not quite a professor, but definitely not a student. I've accepted my role as a sort-of mentor for the 3rd years, giving a push where need be, and leaving them to figure out most things. Mostly, trying to become a TA I wish I had when I was in school. Mostly, issues I had with my bachelor's degree, questions to which I had no answers, and some serious habits that I wish people have criticized me for. More than anything, though, I wish I had a real mentor.

Next, my new part-time work that I got after asking a past employer. It's a huge boost to my confidence, and it's a job I can be confident to excelling at. The challenge is there, and there is definitely room to grow. Plus, it's a decent pay and with it, I can be fully independent for the first time in my life. This is great feeling.

Then, I have found a good tribe. Or in other words, a group of people I enjoy hanging around with. Sure, it's a meeting that happens once every two weeks, and the social aspect isn't really that extraordinary, but it's something I look forward to. It's strange, for 25 years of my life, I've never had an instance where I can look forward to something consistently. Mostly, though, it's something that'll break up school work and have a time to genuinely relax. Probably my greatest decision (despite my initial hesitation) I have made since coming back to Ottawa.

The next is pretty obvious. I found that the courses I'm taking is surprisingly, pretty interesting. Although assignments are kinda steep, it's pretty manageable. Still peeved that there's not many decent courses a master of design student can take, though.

Yeah, going to Japan had a lasting impact on me. I still reminisce and think about my time there. I've done a bit of thinking, and though I thought of returning to Japan, I don't I will. Japan is uncomfortable. Not in the 35ºC 100% humidity kinda way, but more of the realization that I'm not Japanese. It's painful, but I should bin the notion that I'm one of them, because I'm not. Even if I live there, I feel like the environment will take away more from me than give. I don't belong in Canada, I don't belong in the States, I don't belong in Japan. I want to travel to find a place where I belong. This is evident to me now.

And finally, I won't say, but the main point of interest is simply, I took control of it by my own intuition. Which, despite the seemingly minuscule victory, is a huge personal accomplishment.

Other than that, masters thesis going very slowly, now that I need to catch up my electives. Not looking like I could finish it within 2 years, sad to say.

I went off on a tangent two posts ago, but the thing I really wanted to talk about was not knowing much of anything. I didn’t know what my role as an industrial designer was until now, after 4 years of bachelor’s program, 1 year of self-inflicted misery, and 1-and-a-half years as a masters student. No one properly explained to me what an industrial designer does. It’s a huge shock. Here I am, supposed to be at least somewhat knowledgeable about the degree I acquired, realizing that certain aspect I thought that an industrial designer does… actually belongs to a different, albeit similar field.

What a shock.

How limited are my knowledge still? Am I even qualified to be an industrial design TA, let alone, a design researcher?

But there’s a silver lining to this. For one, it shows that everyone else is probably on the same boat. Sure, some people will vehemently deny it, but it’s pretty clear now. We’re still so deathly conscious about our identity, stressing about how we act, how we dress, what we like and dislike, who we should please, no one has any time to sit down and sort out what really matters and what are less relevant. Before we decide whether to wear a plaid shirt or hoodie, like this or that, do such-and-such because it’s expected of what some people think we should do, people need to look inside a little more. Do we have something a bit more important we should focus on? You know, how we’re so stressed all the time? Or how we lack confidence in ourselves and our words? How we’re not feeling fulfilled?

I think those require more attention. Not saying appearances aren’t important — don't get me wrong — but they’re less important than our state of mind. That’s all I’m saying.

We don’t understand each other, and we don’t go out of our way to communicate. Despite such advances in communication, we still suck so bad at it. It’s so laughable. Design research is still bunch of weirdos poking design with a stick, we’re still extremely conscious about our image, we still can’t properly teach students, we have no idea what our profession truly is. There are so much uncertainties. ​We truly don't know anything.
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And how reassuring.