Revision Reflection | DR/CC 2021

Digital Identities Revision Reflection

I chose to revise my digital identities project to include a second character, Laudna, after realizing that the description and close analysis of the identity markers for the first character, Imogen, actually ended up a bit longer than I expected them to be. Ideally, I want this revision to function as a jumping-off point for diving even further into the ways that I am analyzing identity markers for these characters here. I also included a couple of other character portraits and brief listings that I would be interested in coming back and revisiting. I think that in adding the description of Laudna, I get to do several things that just looking at one character wouldn't allow for.

First, I get to see some of the different choices being made in order to craft the identity of a wholly different character. I can see how the same general arsenal of resources--tone of voice, expression, gesture, physical presence, character description--are used to create very different impressions and invest the audience in the cast's play at the table. Moreover, in comparing and contrasting the two, I get to see a bit more about which particular traits are emphasized more to create an impression of the character in those first few minutes. Imogen's tone of voice and smile that could be "heard" was very crucial to establishing her character, while Laudna's physical depiction revealed a lot about how she chose to be perceived and move through the world, and the delight she took in every bit of how she was perceived.

Lastly, continuing with the description and analysis of another character (and potentially more in the future) allows me to consider where the argument for this piece can emerge to then be shaped into a sort of conference presentation, like what I have envision in my CYOA project. Thinking through these different depictions of player characters at the gaming table help me to see just how much of their identity can be revealed through these kinds of moves, and start to wonder how this kind of play might be used to affect our relation to identifiers outside of play as well.