SOLITARY

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I AM EXTENDING THIS CONTEST DUE TO LACK OF ENTRIES!

ALSO NOW ALLOWING PREWRITES and MULTIPLE ENTRIES!

If I do not get 5 or so more entries I will probably cancel the contest. I hate to do it but I really am disappointed that there was such a small response to this contest.

-Laura
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From Dictionary.com:

"sol·i·tar·y Audio Help /ˈsɒlɪˌtɛri/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sol-i-ter-ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, noun, plural -tar·ies.
–adjective
1. alone; without companions; unattended: a solitary passer-by.
2. living alone; avoiding the society of others: a solitary existence.
3. by itself; alone: one solitary house.
4. characterized by the absence of companions: a solitary journey."


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Background of the contest:

Lately I have been really into watching this Fox Reality TV show called "Solitary". In this tv show:


- 9 contestants are introduced to a small pod where they will live for several weeks.
- They never meet the other contestants and in fact are not really competing against the others, but against themselves.
- They are stripped of their names and called by their pod number.
- They have no contact with the outside world.
- The temperature, sounds, activities, personal items and bathroom breaks are all controlled by a computer named "Val".
- They are tested mentally, physically and emotionally.
- They always have the option to "Hit the Red button" and quit the game.
- The one contestant to last through all of the "treatments" or tests wins $50,000.


Throughout the show they are deprived of heat and food and sleep, tested with math problems, strange movies, physical challenges, loud alarms and other such "treatments".

Over the course of the show the contestants deal with being absolutely alone for a long period of time, some talk to themselves, some go a little crazy, some seem to get more focused and some come to some very deep personal changes and revelations.

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*So here is what I want.*

(poetic devices, imagery, abstract, form, formless, concrete, word choice, metaphor, rhyme, no-rhyme, meter, rhythm, assonance, alliteration, point-of-view, randomness, everything in your poetic arsenal! also...uniqueness and creativity please!)

1. Take one of the Images from the show and show me what is going on, or show me how this person is handling Solitary, really dig into the picture.

2. Watch one of the videos provided in the link and then write your piece, be inspired by their journey and experiences in Solitary.

3. Give me anything about the word Solitary, what does it mean to you, what images or thoughts does it bring to mind? Abstract, Form, Formless, Imagery...give it to me.

4. Try it yourself, lock yourself in a closet or a bare room with nothing to play with and no one to talk to, not even your phone. Tell me how long you last and how you handled being alone. Or imagine it.

5. Anything that any combination of these inspires in you...the ANYTHING option. BUT IT HAD BETTER BE GOOD.

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**RULES**
- please tell me the name of the option you chose and if you used a picture or video, the name of that picture or video

*PRIZES*
-first place: shiny gold trophy and 300pts
-second place: shiny silver trophy and 100pts
-third place: shiny bronze trophy and 50pts
-Any honorable mentions will receive applause

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Videos:

http://www.foxreality.com/video.php?videoid=76&mode=shows

http://www.fancast.com/tv/Solitary/98004/watch-it/on-fancast


Images:

1. Battle Masks

2. Hair Gel and Mirror Counting Strategy

3. Screaming Success

4. Solitary Loud Noise test

5. Decorate your Pod

6. Count 914 Balls as they flood your room test

7. Pod Layout

8. Bed of Nails test

9. THE RED BUTTON (push at any time to Quit Solitary)





























and...GO!...