Media Library Blog

Posted May 6th, 2016 by Valarie & filed under Uncategorized.

I mean, technically every cartoon can be watched by adults and they probably wouldn’t be too ridiculed by it (just don’t start singing Barney songs in the bathroom and you should be good). But what about when we want some adult, often messed up, humor?

The Ren & Stimpy Show

In case you can’t tell by their looks, Ren is an intensely hyperactive chihuahua and Stimpy is a happy-go-lucky, empty-brained cat who share bizarre and often repulsive adventures. Their experiences usually involve hairballs, dirty litterboxes, “magic nose goblins”, jars of spit, outhouses, eating dirt, monkey vermin and any other imaginable disgusting substance the two can get their paws on. It’s not necessarily advertised as an adult show but once you see the content you’ll wonder why in the world not.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force

The leader of this crime-solving trio is Shake, a cranky, cynical beverage with a pink flex-straw driven into his frosty top. The chief problem solver in the bunch is Frylock, who resembles a sack of fast-food fries crossed with the Red Devil from the paint cans. Meatwad’s name couldn’t be more appropriately descriptive, and he’s the good-natured softy in the bunch. The three live together near the New Jersey shore and pretty much split their time between battling Dr. Weird’s bungling crime syndicate and annoying Carl, their loser next-door neighbor with an above-ground pool. It’s a mesh of postmodern creativity filled with various references to pop culture.

Robot Chicken

Action figures find new life as players in frenetic sketch-comedy vignettes that skewer TV, movies, and music. There’s not really one way to describe the show besides being outright disturbing yet entertaining.

The Boondocks

Based on the comic strip, Huey and Riley move away from the city and out to the suburbs with their grandfather. Biting socio-political commentary ensues. If you ever wanted to see politics, satire, and comedy all in one cartoon, this one’s for you.

Sealab 2021

The crew of Sealab, charged with exploring the possibility of underwater colonization, find themselves in one ridiculous situation after another. Just wait eventually everything explodes.

Cowboy Bebop

In the year 2071, the crew (Spike, Jet, Faye, Ed, and the Welsh Corgi named Ein) of the spaceship Bebop travel the solar system bringing bad guys to justice and trying to make some cash while doing it. In the slang of the era, “Cowboys” are bounty hunters. Most episodes revolve around a specific bounty, but the show often shares its focus with the pasts of one of each of the four main characters. It’s one of the most renown anime’s in the United States, and for good reason. With very possibly the coolest theme song ever, this show is one of the most mandatory adult animation dramas for all viewers. Plus… Ein.

Posted April 29th, 2016 by Steven & filed under Movie Recommendations, Television Recommendations.

Let’s be honest: we all study with something on in the background. Is that less productive? Maybe, but I know I’m more motivated to crack open the books when it means turning on the television, too. In order to make the most out of your background noise, here are some films to get you pumped up and ready to ace those exams.

Mad Max: Fury Road DVD 16556

Kill Bill DVD 16227

Jurassic Park: All Four of Them DVD 16785, DVD 16786, DVD 16787, DVD 16578

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation DVD 16715

Or, if you’d rather binge a new television show, here are a few action-packed shows to consider!

Agent Carter DVD 16721

The Fall DVD 15653

Orphan Black DVD 15692

Good luck with your finals, and happy studying!

By Katie Romig
Media Library Student Assistant Supervisor

Posted April 29th, 2016 by Valarie & filed under Movie Recommendations.

From a Sirgur Rós Tour Documentary to the Duran Duran “Duranies” Documentary we’ve got an abundance of music related films. Straight Outta Compton is our newest addition to music related films, and we’ve gone ahead and added a list of some of the the most popular and entertaining movies about music provided by us!

Straight Outta Compton

DVD 16849

A story that encompasses more than just the ideas of stardom. N.W.A is Niggaz Wit Attitudes, and for valid reasons. Using their frustration and brutal honestly about living in the dangerous and culturally diverse Los Angeles, N.W.A takes us back to 1987 where it all began. A story about music as a weapon for speaking out, a story about the trivial difficulties of going to fame, and ultimately what it means to be Straight Outta Compton.

Walk the Line

DVD 5509

Walk The Line dives into Johnny Cash’s life from childhood to his rollercoaster ride into fame. Get ready for love, rejection, random encounters with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, and don’t forget drugs, drinking, and depression. When Cash meets June Carter, with her sassy charm, things begin to fall apart for Cash as their torn feelings for each other develop. True country music never had a man in black more suited for the job.

8 Mile

DVD 1642

Jimmy, known to his friends as Rabbit, is a young man trying to make his way out of the burned-out shell of inner-city Detroit. Rabbit is a white kid trying to make music in a predominantly African-American community and culture. After Rabbit freezes up in the midst of an MC battle, he’s convinced he’s missed his chance and that he’s doomed to lead a marginal life as a factory rat for the rest of his days. With the help of his friends, and his new girlfriend Alex, Rabbit struggles to work up the courage and the confidence to take one more shot at making his dream a reality. (psst this is about Eminem).

Selena

DVD 8944

Selena is more than just that movie you watch on easy days in Spanish class. Selena is Grammy Award-winning icon for many Mexican Americans, Latinos, and Hispanics alike. In this film we get to watch her grow into the person we still love today, and unfortunately her life’s tragic end right before her peak of stardom. Selena, played by Jennifer Lopez, lives on in this movie.

I’m Not There

DVD 8806

If you’ve ever seen Palindromes you may know what I mean when I say 6 different actors portray Bob Dylan and they recreate different stages in his career. From Greenwich Village folk singer to electric guitar trailblazer to born-again preacher, Bob Dylan is the coolest cat with 6 lives you’ve ever met.

Ray

DVD 4268

Ray Charles went blind at the age of seven. Inspired by his mother who insisted he make his own way, he found his calling at the keyboard. ‘Ray’ follows as he overcomes drug addiction while becoming one of the country’s most beloved performers.

Control

DVD 9943

Ian Curtis has aspirations beyond the trappings of small town life in 1970s England. Wanting to emulate his musical heroes, he joins a band, and his musical ambition begins to thrive. Soon though, the everyday fears and emotions, fueled by his music, slowly begin to eat away at him. Married young, with a daughter, he is distracted from his family commitments by a new love and the growing expectations of his band, Joy Division. The strain manifests itself in his health. With epilepsy adding to his guilt and desperation, depression takes hold. Surrendering to the weight on his shoulder, Ian’s tortured soul consumes him and leads him to commit suicide at the age of 23.

Posted April 28th, 2016 by Jeremy & filed under Board Games.

From the beginning of the universe, eons have passed. In that time, galaxies have formed, stars have flared up and died, planets and nebulae have been born and been destroyed. The history of the universe, one of creation and destruction, all culminates as entropy increases. The heat death of the universe.

As cosmic architects, though, it is our job to build systems and galaxy’s before it all ends. For we all know, it is not the destination that matters, but the journey.

In Eons, by Gamer Nation Studios, players manipulate elements and their own cosmic essence to create stars, planets, nebulae, and life, while seeking to destroy those of the other players. Each player uses their stars to fuse heavier elements and all of their celestial bodies to gain essence to continue manipulating the universe.

As each celestial body is destroyed, either naturally or through an architect’s design, entropy in the universe increases, and time begins to run out. When time runs out, the player with the most victory points in celestial bodies wins.

In our play through, things started off quickly. A poor hand early on led one player to begin destroying stars early. This led to a bit of a war, an early neutron star, and some mid game stalling by one player. In the end, each player fell into a different tactic, and gained some momentum as the universe began to wind down. When our game ended, the score was close, and our play time was the exact 90 minutes printed on the box. Each player had a blast creating and destroying, and seeking to get the upper hand without providing too much uranium (used to create black holes and neutron stars) to a single player.

In all, Eons was a great experience. Complex enough to create varied play, but not too difficult to teach quickly.

We would like to thank Gamer Nation Studios for this great donation, as well as for their donation of Edition Wars and the Eons: Cosmic Expansions.

If you would like to give Eons a try, or another selection from Gamer Nation Studios, they are available for check out here, at the UNT Media Library.

Posted April 22nd, 2016 by Valarie & filed under Movie Recommendations.

Today is the 46th annual Earth Day celebration! Every April 22nd, we celebrate the world we live in, along with creating awareness about the issues our Earth may be facing.

Renewability, Sustainability, and Reforestation are just a few of the themes that this day is meant to represent. And what better way to embrace Earth Day than to watch some amazing films about Earth? The following list are various documentaries discussing different view points of our planet and the human and animal experience within it.

Home

Spanning 54 countries and 120 locations, Home is like a birds eye view of Earth showcasing both its beauty and vulnerability.

DVD 11746

March of the Penguins

Following the lives of Emperor Penguins, this documentary takes you into the long journey in these animals lives. The film also brings up the changes the Emperor Penguins and other animals in the Antarctic have been facing recently in their habitats and ways of survival. Plus it’s narrated by Morgan Freeman and Penguins are adorable what more could you want?

DVD 5144

Planet Earth Series

The classic documentary series we’ve all watched at some point on a lazy class day. The series is the most collective documentation of imagery, music, and astounding footage of some of the world’s most amazing natural wonders.

DVD 7472 & Blu-ray 9247

Cowspiracy: the sustainability secret

Focusing on themes of Sustainability, Cowspiracy is an environmental documentary about a filmmaker attempting to uncover the most destructive industry facing the planet today and why leading environmental organizations are not talking about it.

Koyaanisqatsi = Life out of balance

Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi Indian word meaning variously: crazy life, life in turmoil, life disintegrating, life out of balance (the subtitle for this film), and a state of life that calls for another way of life. With inspiring music by Philip Glass, the images in this film gives the audience an idea of manmade environment versus natural environments, leading to its theme of imbalance.

DVD 1749

Samsara

This documentary is an experience like no other. Filmed over a period of almost five years and in twenty-five countries, it explores the wonders of the world from sacred grounds to industrial sites, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man’s spirituality and the human experience. Photographed entirely in 70mm and transferred to 4K digital projection format, its mesmerizing images of unprecedented clarity illuminate the links between humanity and the rest of nature.

DVD 13902

UNT will also be having it’s own Earth Day celebrations including the EarthFest, International Fair & Market, and other events collaboratively hosted by Student Activities, UPC, the Office of Sustainability, and UNT-International.

Posted April 21st, 2016 by Jeremy & filed under Board Games.

Our fifth and final for the year in a series of videos on board game design. Jamey Stegmaier of Stonemaier Games, creator of Viticulture and Scythe, and author of “A Crowdfunder’s Strategy Guide: Build a Better Business by Building Community”, discusses with us how to kickstart and market a game.

Join us Thursday nights from 6pm-8pm in the Media Library (Chilton Hall Rm. 111) for Pixels & Pieces, the UNT Libraries board game design guild and turn your gaming ideas into a reality.

Posted April 15th, 2016 by Jeremy & filed under Board Games.

Our fourth in a series of videos on board game design. Dave Villegas of Gamer Nation Studios and d20 Radio discusses with us how to publish a board game, and what goes into the process from project completion to getting the game into the hands of the gamer.

Join us Thursday nights from 6pm-8pm in the Media Library (Chilton Hall Rm. 111) for Pixels & Pieces, the UNT Libraries board game design guild and turn your gaming ideas into a reality.

Posted April 15th, 2016 by Valarie & filed under Television Recommendations.

So the season 6 finale of The Walking Dead officially screened April 3rd. Like most people, I’m just anxiously waiting for it to be on Netflix because what college student has a tv & cable. And I mean, what college student even has Netflix except those brave souls willing to share? If you’re sad you can’t watch any more Walking Dead, check out these TV series available at the Media Library. If you dig The Walking Dead, you’ll probably dig these too.

1) Falling Skies

Season 1 DVD 14749 v.1-3

With Executive Producer Steven Spielburg, Falling Skies has become a major Sci-Fi television series. The world is left in tatters after a unexpected invasion by aliens, leaving the planet’s remaining human population to fight for survival against the occupiers. The aliens have cultures and identities all of their own, and are often portrayed as powerful, mysterious, and merciless. The story starts off by circling around Tom, a guy who is after the aliens that have captured his son and other youth, attaching them to controlling bio-mechanical harnesses. It’s got the survivor, familial, and guy heavy action like The Walking Dead.

2) Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy, SAMCRO, is series about a motorcycle group dealing with both illegal and legal issues in a town called Charming. Tension in the gang begins when their president and his stepson begin to have differences on how the gang should be run. Its got violence, death, and motorcycles all combined into the idea of identity in this group called Sons of Anarchy.

Season 1 DVD 14584 v.1-4

3) Under The Dome

Under the Dome, based on a Stephen King novel, tells the story of a small town in Maine where a massive dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. Everyone trapped inside has to find a way to surviving as resources diminish and worry rises. What the hell is this dome? Where did it come from? Will it ever go away?

Season 1 DVD 15068 v.1-4

4) The Killing

(Background) Kallie Leeds (Cate Sproule), Twitch (Max Fowler), Lyric (Julia Sarah Stone) and Bullet (Bex Taylor-Klaus) (Foreground) Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman) - The Killing _ Season 3 _ Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

The Killing is a murder mystery series based in Seattle, focusing on murder cases a little differently than your typical homicide TV series. The first season circles around the death of Rosie Larson. Episodes delve into not just the murder case but the girl’s family and their suffering, along with the detectives and other main character’s personal lives. With the dreary Seattle weather combined with foreboding mysteries, The Killing will always keep you wanting more.

Season 1 DVD 13870 v.1-4

Season 2 DVD 16467 v.1-3

Season 3 DVD 16468 v.1-3

The Killing is based on the original Danish series, Forbrydelsen, which holds the same basic plot. The Danish series is was a very well received series, known to be a cult classic in Europe, and recognized for acting and the original concept of focusing on one murder case throughout a whole series.

Danish Original Series: Season 1 DVD 13854 v.1-5

5) Boardwalk Empire

Boardwalk Empire takes place during the Prohibition of the 1920s and 1930s. Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi, is a political figure facing his personal and political life dealing with mobsters, politicians, and others. If the idea of mobsters, politicans, guns, and sly talking well dressed people appeals to you, then you’ll enjoy Boardwalk Empire.

Season 1 DVD 13116 v.1-5

Season 2 DVD 14926 v.1-5

Season 3 DVD 14869 v.1-5

Posted April 14th, 2016 by Jeremy & filed under Board Games.

Turkey legs, mock combat, and anachronistic clothing. These are the things renaissance fairs are made of. You and your friends, new to the scene, try to blend in by adorning yourself with hats and tunics. A good costume is expensive though, and earning coin in a place like this requires some skill… Or daring.

In Ren Faire by Atlas Games, players put on performances, ranging from accents and puppet shows to arm wrestling and balancing acts for the audience to fund their costume building. The first to complete their outfit wins.

In our play through, the competition was tough. Each player chose to focus more on ruining each other’s outfits by buying t-shirts and other modern clothing, and stealing gold than on procuring their own costume. When challenges were made, such as the arm wrestling contest in the photo above, each pushed themselves to the limit to win. By the time our winning Ren Faire attendee, now a Scottish fairy jester, had purchased their last clothing card, our four player game stayed within the listed hour of gameplay, and tons of fun and hilarity had ensued.

This compact card game uses party game mechanics to bring new life to the simple act of piecing outfits together. In addition, the costume stacking element with transparent cards really works well, and capitalizes on a game element rarely seen.

In all, Ren Faire was a blast to play!

We would like to thank Atlas Games for this great donation, as well as their donation of Once Upon a Time, Murder of Crows, Gloom, and Lunch Money.

If you would like to give Ren Faire a try, or another selection from Atlas Games, they are available for check out here, at the UNT Media Library.

Posted April 8th, 2016 by Valarie & filed under Movie Recommendations.

It’s a subject many people don’t feel comfortable talking about openly, but it’s an important one. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and in honor of that here is a list of both documentaries and feature films discussing the various impacts, attitudes, social prevention, harsh reality, and trauma that all revolve around sexual assault. It’s a serious issue, and these films reveal how we can talk about it, understand where the problems may come from, and hopefully prevent and create awareness.

No!

simmons_aishah_2006_no_0
DVD 6788R
No! is an insight to the reality and impact of sexual violence on Black women and girls. It discusses the behaviors and mindsets of Black men that reinforce the assaults. No! also strives to send messages of violence prevention advocacy and testimony from survivors defying victimization.

No! is more than just a documentary, it’s a movement towards creating awareness, including events, teaching guides, and a website: http://notherapedocumentary.org/

Precious

maxresdefault
DVD 11463

Precious is the story of Claireece ‘Precious’ Jones, an obese, illiterate, black 16 year old girl living in Harlem of 1987. Her parents are both abusive, and her father raped and impregnated her twice. Precious is suspended from school after getting pregnant a second time, and is arranged to go to an alternative school. With this shift, other adults in her life, including her teacher and social worker, help her find a glimmer of hope. Even under the finding that her father has died of AIDS and she is HIV-positive.

The Line

news_031908_theline
DVD 12178
The Line is documentary exploring the complicated and ambivalent ways sexual assault often gets framed and understood in the wider culture. The Line is also attached to a advocacy campaign: The Line Campaign, which is a non-profit organization and movement focusing on ending sexual violence but empowering youth, creating space for dialogue and media to inspire change.

The bro code: how contemporary culture creates sexist men

MV5BMjI5MDA5ODMxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjY3MTExOA@@._V1_SX640_SY720_ DVD 13011

This film revolves around Thomas Keith’s exploration of male culture that conditions boys and men to disrespect women.It looks at a range of contemporary media forms that glamorize womanizing, are violent or demeaning to females in pornography, have comedians who make fun of sexual assault, and other media that focus in myths of American manhood. It uncovers the flaws in virtually every corner of our entertainment culture. These themes repetitively express that sexism and violence against women is not only normal — but cool — for boys and men to control and humiliate women. The Bro Code challenges this concept, particularly focusing on the youth to step up and fight back against the idea that being a real man means being sexist.

Rape in the fields

rapeinthefields_projectpage
DVD 14937
Investigates the hidden problem of sexual assault routinely inflicted upon female migrant laborers working in America’s fields and packing plants.

It Was Rape

469956110_960 DVD 16417R
Eight women of different backgrounds, ages and ethnicities relate personal stories of surviving sexual assault in their younger years, as well as their struggles toward healing, empowerment, and finally speaking out.

Additionally, UNT is holding various events throughout the month of April to raise awareness. Check out the following links to get involved and learn more information:

Sexual Assault Awareness Month events at UNT aim to educate, raise awareness

What is Sexual Assault

Post by Special Projects Student Assistant Valarie Gold

I mean, technically every cartoon can be watched by adults and they probably wouldn’t be too ridiculed by it (just don’t start singing Barney songs in the bathroom and you should be good). But what about when we want some adult, often messed up, humor?

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Straight Outta Compton

Walk the Line

8 Mile

Selena

I’m Not There

Ray

Control

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Today is the 46th annual Earth Day celebration! Every April 22nd, we celebrate the world we live in, along with creating awareness about the issues our Earth may be facing.

Home

March of the Penguins

Planet Earth Series

Cowspiracy: the sustainability secret

Koyaanisqatsi = Life out of balance

Samsara

UNT will also be having it’s own Earth Day celebrations including the EarthFest, International Fair & Market, and other events collaboratively hosted by Student Activities, UPC, the Office of Sustainability, and UNT-International.

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1) Falling Skies

2) Sons of Anarchy

3) Under The Dome

4) The Killing

5) Boardwalk Empire

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No!

Precious

The Line

The bro code: how contemporary culture creates sexist men

Rape in the fields

It Was Rape

Additionally, UNT is holding various events throughout the month of April to raise awareness. Check out the following links to get involved and learn more information:

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