Greetings Everyone! My name is Chris Brooks, known in second life as Layle Addenhearth. This is my Mid Term Report for my part of the Hero’s Journey.
Here we have the previous Hero’s Journey location, specifically at Step 1: Ordinary Life. Seeing how bare and empty this step was, I decided that I wanted to help expand and elaborate this step. I wanted something that reflected what is normal for an average college student, regardless of age. I also wanted it to be a place of beginnings, somewhere that people often get and develop their ideas for the future.
Working together with my fellow student Joseph, otherwise known as Booge the Skeleton, we came up with the idea of a living room setting. This reflects what is “normal” in life, particularly to a potential college student. Although not actually within four walls and a roof, our small area representing step 1 strives to capture the feel of being in a living room, lazily enjoying pizza and a movie. As you can see, our large TV is still missing, with only a tiny tube TV as a stand in at the moment. With me are Matrix and Beatrix, our twin bunnies of the Hero’s Journey.
Here is a close up of the couch we will be using. A blanket is thrown over it as if to hide the stains and tears. A soft, fuzzy texture will be added to it later. On it we have one of Joseph’s creations: Papa Pirate Pete’s pizza box with a single slice remaining. Next to the box we have Beatrix. He represents a prospective student who is too lazy to make the first move, so here they remain in the ordinary life. Originally, there was to be a fridge and a table with soda on it, but those did not make it into the final versions. Another feature was the pirate ship, visible in the background. It was first intended as a bridge through which you cross into Step 1, but was scrapped later due to the fact that a pirate ship is very abnormal in today’s life. Recently, it was brought back to mark the starting point of the Hero’s Journey. It is how our new adventurers arrive on the island, but it is far enough away from Step 1 to no longer be related.
If one chooses to go forth with their adventure, they continue on to Step 2 and their journey begins. After seeing everything in normal life, our Hero decides to heed the call of adventure. Behind me is the archway leading to that step. Beside me, though not visible, is Matrix, who stands before the archway. He represents a student who is about to step into the life of college. He also will be offering pirate hats and possibly other “swag” for our Hero to wear as they journey onward.
But what about before the first step? That’s important too. Here I am standing on the docks, fresh off the boat. This is where people just entering the Hero’s Journey experience will find themselves. The docks lead upward to the first step, and the three signposts will give them basic instructions on how to move and interact with the Hero’s Journey. Below are the Graphics that will fill those signs, from first to last.
Continuing on we have the forest separating the docks from the rest of the Hero’s Journey. This is to hide what is up ahead from those just starting. The forest has recently been finished, and runs the entire length of the docks. It does not quite hide everything, but just enough so that they can’t make out the whole picture. After all, who would want to spoil the surprise?
There is still work to be done, but we have made great progress. This island was once bare, now wonders are beginning to take shape. There are many trials beyond the simple choice of adventure over normal life. There are obstacles, wild animals, and mazes to overcome. We will also be including a real life Scavenger Hun on Campus. Students will experience the Hero’s Journey as they hunt for our “Keys of Success”. My own key, Key of Curiosity, will be located somewhere underneath the bridge. Before too long, our work will be finished and ready to be presented to the world as Peninsula College’s Hero’s Journey!
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