My new short comic <<不朽の老人、不変の少年>> 

Shall we prohibit violent video games?

Shall we prohibit violent video games? 

Sunny Huang

(Please read this essay critically.)

The potentially dangerous effect of video games on causing violent behaviour, particularly among children, has long been the focal point of many popular media. This article outlines that violence evolves through human history, and it is rooted in our male-dominated society. By comparing with the horror film, the essay also discusses the motivation of playing violent video games in modern society. Then it argues that it may be fallacious to build the causal relationship between exposure to violent video games and violent crime based on laboratorial researches. Following from that, a criminal case study has been introduced to inspect the environmental factor and the inner power behind the real violence. Finally, the essay justifies that the negative concern of video games can be defined as ‘moral panic’ (Ferguson, CJ et al. 2008, p.331) and more attention should be paid to the society itself rather than the video games.

Violence is our tradition. The connection between violence and games is a recurrent issue in human’s society. Since ancient Greek, violence has long been seen to be embedded in at least two forms:  war and games, or war and sports. In some cases, sports and games are the same activities, and full of warlike character, particularly after 776 B.C. when the Olympic Games were traditionally founded (Miller 2004, p.2). Cornell (n.d., p.31) addresses, in Greek and Roman antiquity, ‘boxing has always been a brutal activity, and in earlier ages bouts fought to a finish – that is, until one of the fighters gave in, or was reduced to complete exhaustion or knocked senseless’(Cornell, n.d., p.31). The gladiatorial games in Roman culture also indicate its essence of ‘warlike entertainment’ through ‘brutality of the arena and the cruel practices of Roman war-making’ (Cornell, n.d., p.34). Even Rome has conquered Greek; the Romans still use the arena to keep an atmosphere of violence by creating artificial battlefields for public amusement (Cornell, n.d., p.34).

The Nostalgic Lighting in the Arcades -- Architectural Critique

The Nostalgic Lighting in the Arcades

-- A critique about Adelaide Arcade and Gays Arcade

Sunny Huang

The Adelaide Arcade and the adjoining Gays Arcade, built in 1885, are situated off Rundle Mall in Adelaide, and house over 100 speciality retail stores nowadays on the ground floor and balcony level. As the shopping mall of the time, the Arcades took 200 tradespeople around 6 months to build at the cost of 60,000 pounds. 

Both Arcades have reflected the rational principle which form follows function, particularly in term of its linear floor plans which allow both levels to carry out their functions respectively.  Serving as the commercial center of the time, each of the shops consists of one retails store on the ground floor with a workroom on the first floor where an indoor staircase works as a passage to connect them. Although the space for circulation has been narrowed down to the linear lobby, the general structure of this building remains its function as a shopping mall in addition to its structural beauty of mathematical order and harmonic proportion throughout the symmetrical layout. 

The most distinctive feature of the Arcades is the classical style of both the dome and the façade. The imitation of Italianate Dome, derived from Florence Cathedral in 1420, was introduced into the Adelaide Arcade by architects Withall & Wells in 1885. Resting on the top of the building, the Italianate ribbed dome illustrates the Renaissance enthusiasm for the beauty of geometry. Its inventor Filippo Brunelleschi advanced the structure of segmental vault into the dome, based on both the Gothic style of stone vaulting and the doctrinal of Roman engineering, in which the beauty of structure is strengthened by the longitudinal ribs and the latitudinal rings with the precisely designed proportion. This unprecedented proposal has not just placed Italy in the position of both technical and aesthetic pioneer, but set an example for the successors such as Withall and Wells to design the elegant façade of Adelaide Arcade.

Be Open, Be Bold...

(This article goes here is because the Mayor of Adelaide does not want to receive any proposal from international student. So that would be my honor if this article can inspire any other Mayors in the world.)

Where shall we live? 

Many factors matter in this issue where we shall live and the authority defines the meaning of “most liveable city” as Economist.com has suggested. A great area, whatever you call it a city, or even a village, does not rely on its size. However, we can broaden the category of “most liveable city” of using examining whether or not a city can help people to fulfill their dreams, or potential. If a city having clean environment, peaceful atmosphere would mostly be suitable for elder people instead of providing opportunity to young workers, to what group of audience it means “most liveable”? 

Let us look at some cities such as Adelaide, how many of us have been used to accept such stereotype that this city is best for retired people? How many of us will agree if you, as a young graduate or any aspiring workers, the best way to pursue your career, particularly in the field of multimedia/animation/game/film, is to move to other metropolitan area or even overseas? Very often these stereotypes have been fixed in people’s mind as common sense, but isn’t there any potential or possibilities to alter the image? 

A Plaza for Everyone -- Architectural Criticism for the Southern Plaza

proposed change

original look

This graphic critique discusses the matter of revitalizing the Southern Plaza near Adelaide’s riverbank. By using a group of methods of architectural criticism, such as systematic, dynamic, evocative, etc., the author has tried to increase the awareness of how to redevelop an abandoned area by addressing such issue to the government, the architects, and the public. 

Being adjacent to the Parliament House and the Festival Centre, the Southern Plaza, completed in March 1977, has remained one of Adelaide’s most under-utilized public precincts due to Adelaide’s citizens never really welcome the designer’s idea of providing a playful place. With the capacity of holding thousands of people, this plaza has not been able to create a theme to hold each piece together by building a complex of place with a sense of belonging. In contrast, the pedestrians very often use it as a short cut to the Elder Park, or as an extension of bus stop. Also the color of the sculptures across the plaza doesn’t reflect the characteristic style of its neighboring buildings. As the pedestrian walks across the plaza, one can feel the absence of the vibrancy, the wandering here becomes a dull journey.

Proposed change aims at turning the plaza into a new landmark of Adelaide as a leisure environment where three major functions will be carried out through the redevelopment --- dinning, art market and having fun. A small number of cafes, restaurants and retail outlets near the Parliament House allow people sitting there to appreciate the panoramic view. Another highlight would be the ancient style sculpture and the screen on the top of Festival Centre, the latter is a showcase of the program in the Festival Centre while the former extends a harmonious relationship with Parliament House structured with Collins pillar. A sense of void is to be created by knocking down the original sculptures to build a multifunctional plaza where in the daytime it houses vivid art market but in the evening it turns your ordinary night into unforgettable memory through the rhythm flowed from the music fountain on the ground.

(ps: this is a school assignment.)

Tadao Ando (3) the happiness of post-modern society

Tadao Ando (3) the happiness of post-modern society
Jul 26，2009


Usually, I’m allergic to the “-ism”, ‘cause I think I’m human being and never want to be constrained by any theory. Those theories could be very logical but I, as a human, am actually non-rational pieces essentially. Just like well-known Chinese author Mr. Lin Yu Tang said, he would like to talk with a housemaid rather than talk with a scientist, ‘cause the words of the housemaid would be more vivid than that of scientist. This could be true, in most cases.

But among those people who finally become the “icon”, Tadao Ando’s opinion is not the fossil. I believe his opinion comes from his observation to the real life, not from any lab. That’s why I think his idea will, mostly, touch the pulse of our age. Thanks for the God, we have life itself!

At a recent interview, Tadao Ando addressed that the happiness of people in post-modern society will rely on the enjoyment of spirit and you may live as a puritan, instead of living as greedy person indulging yourself into the materialism.

Tadao Ando (2) Unique Aesthetics

Tadao Ando (2) Unique Aesthetics
Jul 26，2009

If we observe the fashion of Yohji Yomamoto and the architecture of Tadao Ando, we can feel there is something similar, it’s really hard to express but it is there. One thing is just in common, it’s just the masterpiece, the masterpiece is represented through the material, the minimal and modern structure, the color, and finally, the “atmosphere”--- it just looks like a puritan standing there, a bit of depression, but very strong and unique, perhaps the counterpart of such style in western could be dark gothic art.

Most of Tadao Ando’s architecture, particularly in the early period, is built in concrete which is very rare used as the “final product”, because it is “ugly” compared with other refined construction material. However, at least in my eyes, it is very typical Japanese aesthetics. In Japanese traditional aesthetics system (wabi-sabi), the feel of rustic, austere, or sort of “stark beauty” is the best representative. Besides, it also signifies the spirit of Zen, namely, the tranquility. For people whose eyes have been used to enjoy the gorgeous and splendid aspect of any building or shape, such Japanese style might be a little bit dull, it just has to invite your soul to joining such appreciation more than let your eyes lingering lonely around those facades or walls.

Tadao Ando (1) the spirit of self-taught

Tadao Ando (1) the spirit of self-taught
Jul 25，2009


As an international student, freedom is still something luxurious. English may just look like a harbor for me to escape. It is particularly at the puzzled moment that I just again and again review those articles about Tadao Ando, the 68 years old internationally recognized architect, who was born in Osaka, Japan.

As a boy born in poor family, his dream is to become an architect. Due to lack of both money and good grade in school, he didn’t get a chance to enter into university but then he decided to self-teach himself about architecture, not just spent one year to stay at home for study any architecture related books including interior design, fine art, etc, from 9am to next morning 4am almost everyday, Tadao Ando also followed his model---La Corbusier, the famous French architect who also achieved his accomplishment by both self-taught and travelling, Tadao Ando planned to travel to Europe for “experiencing” those ancient architecture----this is also called “Grand Tour” which has been the tradition of European nobles who educate their offspring.