h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Emily the Strange : A Pop Culture Phenomenon - A3959661
Author: lionseye - U1486307

Well, this started out as an idea for a paper for college, but evolved into its own "species" (for lack of better word). Hope you enjoy it.

I think this is a great idea for an entry, I'd just like to see it looking a little bit less like a school paper. Do you have some ideas on how you might do that yourself, or would you prefer some specific suggestions?

throw me some advice and I would be happy to edit it more. Specifics are always good... I come from a long line of lawyers and our thinking is rather linear. So, my writing style is rather cut and dry and say what need to be said as quickly as possible. Hence, it looks like a school paper *lol*. Whatever advice you have is welcome (specifics).

Ok, so here are two suggestions, all nice and linear.

1) Remove the book/page references where they don't add anything specific, and work them into the text where they do.

Here's an example of one I would just remove:

She is the anti-hero for the Do It Yourself movement"(Emily the Strange Home Page).

Here's an example of one I might work into the text:

“Emily hears everything...and listens to nothing” (Emily's Secret Book of Strange, 14-17)

And I might say something like:

In 'Emily's Secret Book of Strange', it's pointed out that 'Emily hears everything... and listens to nothing.'


2) Divide the entry up into sections -- maybe one on where Emily the Strange comes from (when/where/how created, etc), then one on characteristics of Emily (I would include the role model stuff here), then one on her 'friends', one on her creations and activities (like the school), and I'd probably end with something on how incredibly commercialized Emily the Strange has become -- there are toys EVERYWHERE.

Dividing things up into sections can look nicer using GuideML, but it's not something you have to do -- people will be more likely to read it and comment here if you do, though. If you have questions on how to do that, let me know and I will walk you through the basics.

Does that help?


Mikey

so yeah, I totally appreciate the specifics! Also, how do I use GuideML? I'm a complete spaz when it comes to technology so some basics would be good. Thanks!

Well, two good links with info about GuideML are at <./>SubEditors-GuideML</.> and <./>GuideML-Clinic</.>

Each of the bits and pieces of GuideML are called 'tags', and the important thing to remember is that every tag that is 'opened' needs to be closed. So, for example, if you want the word 'dog' to be in bold, you would use dog -- the first tag 'opens' the bolding, and the second one 'closes' it.

Here's a quick run-down of the basics though.

1. Go to edit your entry. Put

at the beginning before any text and
at the end after any text.

Put a at the beginning of each paragraph, and a at the end of each paragraph.

Anywhere you have an ampersand -- like & -- replace it with this -- &amp;

So instead of Jack & Jill, you would have Jack &amp; Jill

2. At the bottom of the page, there should be a place where it says "Plain text", "GuideML", and "Change Style". You want to click the radio button for GuideML, and then press the Change Style button. If there are any errors in the GuideML, it will let you know then.

3. Click on "Update Entry", which will save what you've done.


Mikey

And once you have that, you can divide up the text into sections using headers, like this:

Emily's History

Emily is a very strange girl.....


Emily's Friends

and so on and so on.

I hope you don't mind me pointing out a couple of things about GuideML Mikey

Aces find that GuideML Clinic is not newbie friendly, and most suggest either Spicing Up Your User Page - A690518 or Buffy's Guide ML Help Page - A2669051

lionseye, you may like to try those, if you find GuideML clinic confusing. Maybe, you won't find GuideML confusing, but many do.

Also, when you click 'GuideML' radio button, and 'Change Style' that automatically inserts at the top and at the bottom, no need to put them in.

Emmily

The last time I checked, a good chunk of those pages focused on GuideML that isn't allowed in Edited Guide entries, so I don't feel comfortable recommending them in Peer Review myself.


Mikey

Since an Edited Guide entry has to comply with the h2g2 <./>writing-guidelines</.>, part of which involves the fact that Guide entries shouldn't involve your personal opinion, you should most likely remove things that say 'To me, Emily the Strange is...' If you still need to express the information contained there, you should find a way to say it factually.

Maybe you could discuss more how kids are affected by Emily. I know people who see her as the epitome of individuality... and so, wanting to be different, emulate her. But the problem is, she and her merchandise are such a pop-culture phenomenon that by imitating her, these so-called individualists are really just buying into the media that they try to avoid!

I have the book though. My name's Emily and I'm a little strange, so my cousin got it for me for my birthday. Personally, I think it's pretty funny, but you can like it if you want to.

Actually, it's not true that opinions aren't allowed in the Edited Guide -- I'd say the majority of our entries do contain opinions of one kind or another. The important thing is how opinions are phrased, and that opinions aren't presented as facts.

Saying something like "In some people's opinion, XYZ..." is just fine in Edited Guide entries.


Mikey

What Mikey said.

I like this entry, jsut a bit of editing need in the 'role model' paragraph. I would suggest rewording it like this: (changed words are asterixed)

"*To many* Emily is a strong female role model. She always does what she wants without fear of ridicule. She believes that independence, free thought, originality, creativity, and learning are all keys to happiness. She reminds *one* to look at things differently, and try to discern what is underneath the exterior. Emily *reminds us* to have a little fun, that life is too short and one must embrace it whole-heartedly. Many people see Emily merely as a little girl who dresses in gothic clothing and surrounds herself with darkness. However, upon examination we see that she does not reside merely in nightmares, but rather, on a bridge between dreams and nightmares. She is the manifestation of our inner minds, both good and bad."

As you can see, only a few changes required.

Emily the Strange? A good role model? Ithink she's some freaky piece of goth commercialism. Just a thought: Would Emily the Strange buy all that stuff with her on if she really existed?

Within my female friends (i'm 13) Emily the Strange is just some (expensive) clothing label that is cool. It is nothing else.

I think you should add that aspect of things, and get rid of the sources in brackets.

DV.

<>

Good point, DV. I doubt it. Ironic, really.

lionseye appears to have elvised (last posting on April 27th), which is a pity, as this doesn't look like a bad entry. I propose a move to the flea market, as it looks like this could be the basis of a rather good edited entry. Any seconds?

Seconded.

I'm looking for a scout to second GB, but thanks for the support anyway

I could go for the Flea Market, although I almost wonder if this one is close enough to be considered pickable with some cleaning on the sub end of things....

That's an interesting idea Mikey. I think I'll leave the entry for the moment, so someone can recommend it if they want. Perhaps I will, although I'll have to have a more thorough look at it first.