University professor uses Halo to teach Homer
by Tony Carnevale 
{ Apr 16th 2007 at 11:55AM }
UConn associate professor Roger Travis thinks that video games can be an important learning tool -- and not just lame-ass edutainment, but real video games. Like Halo. Travis draws parallels between the legendary FPS and epic literature like the Aeneid: "Both Halo and the Aeneid tell a story about a more-than-human hero defeating enemies who would be too much for ordinary people like us – enemies who nevertheless bear an important resemblance to the ones we and the Romans face in our respective presents."Uh-huh. UConn students, if this guy starts saying the Konami Code was inspired by The Hero With A Thousand Faces, you should probably consider transferring to a more academically demanding school.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bw3000 @ Apr 16th 2007 12:23PM
the Aeneid was not written by Homer, it was written by Virgil.
Fuji @ Apr 16th 2007 12:13PM
Aeneid is not Homer, it's told by Virgil.
Tony Carnevale @ Apr 16th 2007 12:16PM
Thanks guys! I offer this three-pronged defense: 1. I didn't say the Aeneid was written by Homer, 2. the article goes on to say that the prof uses Halo to teach Homer's Iliad, and 3. I went to a state school.
Jay @ Apr 16th 2007 12:19PM
I think the point is that archetypes carry over into most storytelling -- especially stories that resonate with people. I doubt the professor is implying that Halo equals Homer's works lol
Fuji @ Apr 16th 2007 12:26PM
I know the professor is not saying Homer and Halo, but the way that the tag line is set, along with the picture implies that's what's going the article is making the comparison too. I just think it's misleading. Sure, Homer is better known, but the professor uses Virgil.
Fuji @ Apr 16th 2007 12:27PM
Edit:
Sorry for the double post, but I think a better headline would be "Professor: Halo can teach classic lit."
Tony Carnevale @ Apr 16th 2007 12:31PM
The article actually does specifically mention that the prof uses Halo to teach Homeric epics, so I think I'm ok. But thanks for the heads-up, Fuji!
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 16th 2007 12:38PM
Hey guys can you please help me out with something?
My Tv supports 720p and 1080i. I set my PS3 to display 1080i all the time, but it causes motorstorm to flicker and create jaggies.
Would it be better to unselect the 1080i resolution and just make everything 720p?
Because 720p is progressive and will eliminate the flickering right?
Slaziman @ Apr 16th 2007 12:39PM
lol@clown college
zing!
Slaziman @ Apr 16th 2007 12:40PM
@JoNT
What's better in your eyes, up-scaled (could be bad if your TV is bad) and interlaced image, or the real non-upscaled progressive image?
LongshotX @ Apr 16th 2007 12:42PM
@ Jack of No Trades
I suggest you take a bat and beat the PS3 to death until it decides to act properly. Or you could buy a Wii........NOT!
Nerdtacular @ Apr 16th 2007 12:43PM
Have you seen this God of War video series? It's six parts and compares the greek myths in the game with the classics:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=18475&type=mov&pl=game
Nick @ Apr 16th 2007 12:51PM
@7
It doesn't.
"The other is to compare the oral improvisatory nature of Homeric epics with the way video games engage players."
And, as I'm sure we can all agree, comparing A with B is not the same as teaching A by using B.
CV_Otaku @ Apr 16th 2007 12:47PM
I don't know if I'd call comparisons like this too far-fetched. In college, I had a screen-writing professor, who compared Romeo and Juliet to Rambo: First Blood to explain the three-act formula. Thing is, they both worked to explain it.
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 16th 2007 12:50PM
Slaziman
I would think that the 720p would be the best then. I will have to change it tonight.
Also I bought these HDMI cables from Walmart that won't connect to the back of the PS3 tightly. The HDMI connector doesn't fit snug into the back of the PS3. Did any of you guys have the same problem?
umm...hello?? @ Apr 16th 2007 12:56PM
I think the professor needs to read the Halo books and do further research, since he refers to the MasterChief as semi-robotic?? yeah, he has armor but basically he's a mutant (think x-men)--due to Dr. Halsey's genetic alterations.
umm...hello?? @ Apr 16th 2007 1:00PM
@JoNT
I bought my HDMI cable online for cheap, it plugs in snugly, although that might be another source for your flickering--although it would do that no matter what you were doing on your PS3 (not just playing Motorstorm) in that case.
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 16th 2007 1:09PM
umm...hello??
That could be the source. I will try just putting everything into 720p since progressive scan would eliminate the frame flickering and twitching. I might have to get better HDMI cables.
Ryan LN @ Apr 16th 2007 1:10PM
Equating UConn to Clown College was absolutley hysterical. A+
Vigi @ Apr 16th 2007 1:46PM
BREAKING NEWS: A literature prof compares contemporary heroic models to their traditional archetypes. We'll keep you updated as more details emerge. This is CNN.
Ben @ Apr 16th 2007 2:09PM
In my Harvard course on Greek tragedies, my prof used Roy from Blade Runner as another example of the obsession with legacy of people like Achilles. He got giddy over the "these memories will be lost in time, like tears in rain" quote.
Triforceowner @ Apr 16th 2007 2:49PM
My ninth grade English teacher would use comic books to draw parallels between Odysseus and super heroes. I don't think this is at all uncommon now a day, just as Vigi put it.
liuy @ Apr 16th 2007 2:51PM
@ umm...hello??
"The Master Chief is a SPARTAN-II Super Soldier, a biologically-enhanced and cybernetically-augmented commando."
Izeas GT @ Apr 19th 2007 6:48PM
And of course, how many times has Star Wars been used in literature classes?
Thing I best remember about that is color symbolism. Vader=all black, Leia=all white, Luke=white with a black belt, Han=black vest, white shirt underneath...
Pikachelsea @ Apr 16th 2007 9:10PM
The fact that a professor of all people would bring up Halo in a discussion about ancient literature makes me regret being born.
daeval @ Apr 18th 2007 12:24AM
I was trying to figure out where I'd seen this theory before, when I recognized one of his quotes word for word. He rambled about this in an old escapist article here: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/print/66/4
That gives a much better idea of his theory. I happen to think the connection is, at best, extremely loose, but that's a lit prof for ya.
oumagic @ May 2nd 2007 3:05PM
Regarding "University professor uses Halo to teach Homer"
I understand that the title was used for entertainment purposes but ends up getting the guy flamed and the university made fun of. I actually did some research when I saw the title comparing Halo to Homer and noticed you referenced The Aeneid by Virgil. (I do see that you do not imply that Homer wrote The Aeneid) The professor has an interesting theory beyond the short blurb you put above. People may still not agree, but at least give it more thought and check it out before making fun of the professor, and especially, the entire University of Connecticut. The professor has a ton of credentials for anyone to look at and seems much more knowledgeable than I.
Check it out and then make up your mind on who should be flamed. If anyone should be flamed, it should be the guy that somehow negatively portrayed this professor trying to connect with today's generation. Peace and kudos to the guy. I applaud anyone who takes an open-minded approach and does not simply dismiss video games as a waste of time. They can be, certainly, but there is some value that may not always be apparant to all.
http://advance.uconn.edu/2007/070416/07041607.htm