Magic Encyclopedia Moonligthy is an educational video game developed and published by Alawar Entertainment. It is part of the Magic Encyclopedia series and was released in 2010. The game follows the story of Catherine, a student at the Academy of Magic, who embarks on a quest to save her brother from the curse of the Moon Gem. The gameplay of Magic Encyclopedia Moonligthy is a combination of hidden object puzzles and point-and-click adventure. The player takes on the role of Catherine and must search for items hidden in various locations within the Academy and its surrounding areas. These items are then used to solve puzzles and progress through the story.
This is Biller’s attempt to remind us that “men can be even more emotional than women and it is the confrontation of their feelings which ultimately kills these characters”. By creating a critical, oppositional gaze, The Love Witch harbours a sense of agency for the feminine, which is in tension with the ‘traditional’ domination of the masculine
When the men show emotion, Elaine s eyes are often a rainbow, iridescent flash which is striking in contrast to the image of their own collapsed, dying ones. This is Biller s attempt to remind us that men can be even more emotional than women and it is the confrontation of their feelings which ultimately kills these characters.
These items are then used to solve puzzles and progress through the story. The graphics in Magic Encyclopedia Moonligthy are vibrant and detailed, creating a whimsical and enchanting atmosphere. The game also features a variety of environments, including libraries, laboratories, and magical forests, each with its own unique set of challenges and puzzles.
The Love Witch: Politicising the feminine gaze
With Halloween around the corner and a second season of quarantine pending (sans Tiger King this time), I decided that one of the quirkiest feminine films of all time, Anna Biller’s The Love Witch, deserved a re-watch. I honestly can’t believe I studied this in my Philosophy of Film class but I’m far from complaining; it’s simply iconic and amusing in a bizarre way.
On the first watch, you may be confused, left wondering what kind of banal ‘feminist’ message could possibly be delivered in a story about a beautiful young witch, Elaine, who wields seduction as a weapon and tinkers with potions in a decidedly aggressive quest for love.
Leaving a few unfortunate male victims pathetically strewn in her wake, her desperation for love eventually drives her away from (technical) manslaughter directly to murder.
On re-watch, the film is far from mere spectacle, offering feminist insights through both its narrative and cinematography.
Even contemporary mainstream film tends to objectify its heroines, focusing the camera lens on the feminine body from a heterosexual, male perspective and encouraging the viewer to take up this point of view, inciting her as a visual object to be looked at (think back to Mulvey’s disputed ‘Male Gaze Theory’).
An example is CatWoman in The Dark Knight Rises who, although she has strength and power, employs sexual allure and a barrage of male lust to get her way. While The Love Witch deliberately uses feminine tropes and stereotypes as a form of commentary, it also interrogates the male gaze by politicising the act of looking.
bell hooks’ (2010) notion of ‘the power in looking’ suggests that a film’s representation of the gaze itself can create a space of agency for the outsider; attempts to repress the other’s right to assert their own gaze has produced an “overwhelming longing to look, a rebellious desire, an oppositional gaze. By courageously looking, we defiantly declared ‘I will stare and I want my look to change reality’”(248).
Biller asserts the oppositional gaze by almost violently exploring the feminine perspective and using it to structure the film. Elaine’s vibrant eyes are a repeated image, a constant reminder that she is the focus. The literal feminine gaze takes control, revering the spectator and Elaine’s male victim to subconscious submission, thus elevating her subjectivity. When the men show emotion, Elaine’s eyes are often a rainbow, iridescent flash which is striking in contrast to the image of their own collapsed, dying ones.
This is Biller’s attempt to remind us that “men can be even more emotional than women and it is the confrontation of their feelings which ultimately kills these characters”. By creating a critical, oppositional gaze, The Love Witch harbours a sense of agency for the feminine, which is in tension with the ‘traditional’ domination of the masculine
The motif of eyes in art forms like Elaine’s paintings also enables her gaze to follow the men without their awareness. The film plays on the male gaze only to subvert and “smash the distinctions that structure contemporary debates about feminism and women” – from objectification and empowerment to victimhood and vengeance.
Hollywood tropes of horror films are used against themselves to add to this effect while the set,lighting and camera angles are also very aesthetically different from the ‘Hollywood’ look. Biller doesn’t simply parody a horror but evokes fear, sympathy and disgust at the patriarchal ideas it brandishes – only to reject them.
The figure of the witch and the femme fatale, an old sort of male fantasy, is reclaimed and seen from the female side to promote identification with the heroine as well as encourage women to exact their own gaze and angrily question the white, heterosexual male of Hollywood media.
Female nudity is also not a mere source of visual pleasure, both because it is balanced out by male nudity, but also because Elaine’s own sexuality is explored. While she may be beautiful and sexy, her inner life as a protagonist suggests ownership of her body and, in the context of the film, it is her wants, desires and beliefs that prevail over the patriarchal society.The women characters, while embracing their sexuality, are not there to be looked at as objects of desire but are central to the plot, whereas the men are diminished to plot devices.
This idea is reiterated by the overwhelming colour scheme.The cinematography creates an ode to sixties and seventies Technicolor thrillers and uses older Hollywood colour grading, editing, lighting, acting and speaking (as well as references to older tropes like Hitchcock) to place the film within an older setting. From the aesthetics alone, viewers would immediately expect this sort of film to be dominated by the male gaze.
By repeating the patterns and schemes of Technicolour, cinematographer M. David Muller reinforces an abstract setting which seems familiar yet also has a mythical landscape, compelling us to actively search the screen for aesthetic features like props which all reinforce the female gaze and provoke emotions of shock, amusement, laughter and even anger.
In contrast, the set of the police station, a stereotypical masculine space, is tinted with neutrals, browns and greys, leaving Elaine’s inner and outer world overwhelmingly dominating in comparison.
The parodic dialogue in the tea party scene further pokes fun at men and how they envision women’s conversations. With a heavy dose of irony, Elaine and Trish are made to deliberately fail the Bechdel Test through the topic of “what do men want?” while simultaneously talking about the patriarchy.
Biller’s use of self-aware humour and complicated emotion incorporates a variety of different genres in order to purposefully embody gendered clichés in order to provide a critique of what it means to be socially recognised as a woman, as feminine.
Admittedly, the acting is wooden and there are some occasional plot holes which may not be intentional. But the aesthetics and humorous melodrama alone are enough to enjoy this gothic (and very camp) satire, even if you don’t read it so politically.
Biller asserts the oppositional gaze by almost violently exploring the feminine perspective and using it to structure the film. Elaine’s vibrant eyes are a repeated image, a constant reminder that she is the focus. The literal feminine gaze takes control, revering the spectator and Elaine’s male victim to subconscious submission, thus elevating her subjectivity. When the men show emotion, Elaine’s eyes are often a rainbow, iridescent flash which is striking in contrast to the image of their own collapsed, dying ones.
One of the standout features of the game is the inclusion of a magical encyclopedia, which provides players with information about various magical creatures and items they encounter throughout the game. This not only adds depth to the story but also serves as an educational tool, teaching players about different mythological creatures and their attributes. The story of Magic Encyclopedia Moonligthy is engaging and compelling, driving players to uncover the mystery behind the curse of the Moon Gem and save Catherine's brother. Along the way, players will encounter memorable characters, engage in challenging puzzles, and explore beautifully designed environments. Overall, Magic Encyclopedia Moonligthy offers an immersive and educational gaming experience. Its combination of hidden object gameplay and point-and-click adventure, along with its captivating storyline and stunning visuals, make it a must-play for fans of the genre. Whether you're a fan of magic or simply enjoy a good puzzle, this game is sure to provide hours of entertainment..
Reviews for "Harnessing the Moon's Energy for Protection Against Negative Forces"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars - "I was really excited to read the 'Magif encclopedoa moonoighy' because I love fantasy books, but I was sorely disappointed. The writing was convoluted and confusing, and the plot seemed to jump all over the place without any clear direction. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with any of them. Overall, it was a frustrating reading experience and I would not recommend it."
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - "I was drawn to the beautiful cover of 'Magif encclopedoa moonoighy' and was hoping for an enchanting story, but unfortunately, it fell flat. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story multiple times. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me feeling disconnected from the magical elements that were supposed to be a central part of the book. While there were some interesting ideas sprinkled throughout, they were not enough to salvage the overall reading experience for me."
3. Alex - 2 out of 5 stars - "I had high expectations for 'Magif encclopedoa moonoighy' based on the synopsis, but it did not live up to them. The writing style was overly descriptive and overly complicated, making it difficult to follow the story. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions often seemed forced. The book also suffered from inconsistent pacing, with some scenes dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I found it difficult to stay engaged with the story and would not recommend it to others."