How Berserk Changed After Miura's Death

Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h11xAQKiQ8

Text Version:

 

This page from one of the recent Berserk chapters, published after Miura’s death, is the kind that makes me wonder whether Miura would have illustrated it, or rather structured it, in the same way. A praise, followed immediately by its effect. It doesn't value the slight motions upon hearing the words, processing them, until she arrives finally at the happy blush. Merely a singular depiction of happiness. Merely a documentary of the moment rather than the moment itself. Stripped down to its essence, what it means for the future of the character, rather than a love for the moment. Although it continues to be very good, since Miura’s death, Berserk feels a little like a very detailed and exhaustive plot summary, rather than the story itself.

But well, as a friend of mine commented, “"finishing the story" is worth it in its own right”

What a Moody Girl (or my thoughts on The Karamazov Brothers)

 

Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBVrKooawio

Text Version:

‘Well, I know what’s going to happen,’ the thought flashed through his mind, ‘I’m annoyed, I’ll start an argument… I’ll get excited—and disgrace myself and everything I stand for.’

The most terrifying thing in the world? Myself. It’s bone-chilling to know I’m a slave to these almost arbitrary impulses. The parameters are aligned slightly off-kilter, and I lose all ability to function and become a sensory-overloaded goop of anguish. Defined by impenetrable inclinations, their original intention long since lost to time. It’s paralysing.

Although, which is better? Turning paralysed at the face of your impulses, or embracing them, indulging them to the outmost depravity? …Perhaps the fact I think about this in the first place is where I erred.

‘That… That’s not something to put into words, ever, -‘

What a moody girl!

Undertale as Metanarrative

  

Video Version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5TiPC7Hnbo

Undertale is a game about the way in which people engage with stories. I feel it's more interesting than a lot of other "meta video games," because it's not only a text on stories, but a story itself. It’s another layer to the narrative, and not the nucleus.

For a long time now I have held "meta stories" not in the same regard as most other people (maybe because I'm a writer myself and can see through the veil). "Being meta" is praised and considered clever, but it's actually quite easy to create a meta work.

What is MUCH more difficult is to create a believable story which is entirely self-contained and cohesive, that doesn't bend outward to commentate on itself whenever convenient. That doesn't mean "meta" is inherently cheap and an inferior form of storytelling; it's just a trend which I’ve noticed of late.

I haven’t played Deltarune yet, but I’m curious how it touches on the subject of metafiction. Well, judging from the start of the first chapter, it seems to follow in the footsteps of Undertale.