Vinland Saga began it's first animated season this summer. The series focuses on Thorfinn Thorsson, as he embarks on a quest of revenge. His father, Thors is killed by Askeladd. Thorfinn joins Askeladd's band of Vikings, waiting for the day that he's strong enough to kill Askeladd in a duel. Revenge is a common theme in anime. Analyse how revenge is depicted, what are the effects on the main character and secondary ones.
Consider comparing and contrasting how the theme is presented in anime. You could focus on popular series like Vinland Saga, Attack on Titan, Kill La Kill, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Goblin Slayer. Some of these series are more violent than others. How does this effect the depiction of revenge? What happened that warrants revenge? Are the characters justified? Do they attempt revenge in different ways? Do they succeed? Are they all sympathetic figures? Finally, how does the pursuit of vengeance change them.
When it comes to the topic of revenge in anime, it often leads to characters going through radical changes in their demeanor and motivation (take Sasuke from Naruto or Eren Jaeger in Attack on Titan). When analyzing this topic, it's important to compare and contrast the differences these characters have when they perform an action that was based on their vengeful behavior. – CAngeloCruz5 years ago
A classic revenge story with hands down the most cultural impact is Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. There's an an anime adaption of it called Gankutsuou and it does a wonderful job of reinterpreting Edmund Dantes' story of retribution amidst a futuristic setting where it's planet Earth vs. an encroaching alien empire. It definitely contributes a different perspective to how revenge is portrayed in anime and I think it shouldn't be ignored in an analysis of said topic. – darthzia5 years ago
Korean's broadcast channel Mnet has been found out that they fabricated the final results of their survival shows Produce 101. On these survival shows, the audience has to pay their own pocket money to vote for their contestants, so when the worth contestants don't get to win, it has become a legal issue. The contestants who join the shows can get the ultimate chance to become famous when they debut, but with the scandal going around, they are also in the pitfall of having the "Cheating" tag hanging all over them for the rest of their career. What are some of the risks of Produce 101 and Korea's Talent-Survial Shows in general? Is the temptation of becoming famous worth having your entire career suspected and hated by the nation?
The family unit has been at he heart of both salvation and destruction in recent horror films. Analyze some recent horror movies revolving around questions of family (familial curses in Hereditary, family-making in It) and discuss how the family unit can be a source of both fear and strength in these films
This is a really intriguing topic and can lead to various areas of discussion both from the psychological and physical dimensions of horror that can surround questions involving ones family. I think it would be awesome to also consider how family can also be a means to exploring the haunting of one's individual psyche and identity and their subsequent growth. – ajaymanuel5 years ago
Since humanity's earliest days the ability to fly has long been one of the most innate yearnings of our species. This is reflected heavily in our fictional works, perhaps most noticeably in superhero comic books and films. However, not all heroes can fly (Besides the story's internal reasoning for their powers) what does this indicate about heroes who do have this ability and why? What does it say about those that don't? Comparison of multiple works may yield the most interesting results.
I think this is an interesting topic to look at in film/television/comics. There are so many times where Flight is a critical moment of growth or triumph for characters. – Sean Gadus5 years ago
It would be interesting to look back at historical myth and legend as well to see where these ideas stem from, imagery in popular culture and how this reflects upon our own image of aspiration and success. Icarus' father crafting the fateful wings, angels ascending to heaven, transhumanist imagery in the likes of Deus Ex Human Revolution etc. – CAntonyBaker5 years ago
Most actors spend their careers playing fictional characters. However, many actors are chosen to star in biopics, Biblical epics, or similar films at least once. When an actor makes the switch from playing a character to portraying a real person, the gravitas factor goes through the roof, and while most actors will try to play real people respectfully and responsibly, there are some who arguably do it "better" than others. Just for one example, look at the many actors who have played Jesus Christ over the years.
In your opinion, what does it take to play a certain real role responsibly and respectfully? How much of a production team's choice is based on "casting type" and how much is based on say, personality or lived experience? What are some of the best biopic portrayals you've seen, of whom and by whom, and why? Discuss.
An example of Jesus Christ would be Robert Powell from Jesus of Nazareth. He is so committed in his role that 99% of the time he does not blink. Of course, his line delivery is convincing. In fact, whenever I think of a live-action Jesus now, I think of Powell's performance.
To play a real role responsibly and respectfully, you would need to study that character's life and habits and replicate them to the best of your abilities. Experience in, say, boxing would help if you are playing Muhammad Ali, and having an authentic accent would help if you are playing someone of another race.
A good example of how Hollywood casting ruined a character (and actually disgruntled her real-life counterpart) is Ingrid Bergman as Gladys Aylward in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. The look was wrong (Gladys had dark hair and was short), the accent was wrong (she had a Cockney accent), and her story was portrayed inaccurately (most of the details were correct, but Hollywood added a love story).
Maybe include a rant of sorts of how Hollywood likes to add (or used to add) unnecessary love stories, even if there was no hard evidence for it in real life. – OkaNaimo08195 years ago
This is an amazing topic! I wonder if the responsibilities change depending on the fact that the character of portrayal is still alive or not. As great as both movies were, Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, I have to admit that I was more invested in Rami Malek's performance as Mercury as opposed to Egerton's because I knew that Elton John is still around. – kpfong835 years ago
I think it takes a lot of research, first and foremost as well as passion to get to understand the person you're portraying to such a level where you almost morph into them. Recently I really loved Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly in Stan & Ollie, particularly Coogan, who went beyond the well-known image of Stan. He could have played him as a caricature. Instead he made him human and relatable to the point where, even though we don't know that much about Stanley Laurel as a person beyond his performances, we believe him to have been as sensitive and complex as he was portrayed by Steve Coogan.
On the other hand we have Renee Zellweger, who although did her research very well, didn't go beyond the caricature level. I know I'm in minority when I say this, given all the accolades, but I wasn't as invested in her Judy as I wished I could have been. I wanted to sympathise with her, instead I found myself noticing the pout and the way she talked thinking "okay, she studied her quite a lot". – danivilu5 years ago
Saving Mr. Banks (2013) was something of a groundbreaking film for Disney. The company had done films based on true stories before, but Saving Mr. Banks was the first to juxtapose the story of a Disney classic's making with the story of the original work's author. Saving Mr. Banks met with critical acclaim and is also one of my favorites in the canon. In fact, I'd very much like to see more films like this.
Do other films in the canon, live-action or animation, lend itself to this type of storytelling? Would actors or viewers be interested in say, learning about the personal lives and struggles behind the makings of Disney's Golden, Bronze, or Renaissance films? Are there untold stories to be mined from animators (e.g,, Walt's Nine Old Men, female animators, etc.) and other production staff/voice actors? Discuss.
How does the experience of watching horror film differ when watching on streaming and on-demand services at home? With the rise of Netflix originals, is there still a place for cinema screenings of these films? In particular with the genre of horror, how much is the setting of your viewing an important part of the experience?
An interesting idea that's not often thought of. I feel like there might even be other factors that impact the experience of viewing horror--not just the location, but also the time of day, and who else is around you (if anyone is at all). – Debs5 years ago
I think the location when viewing a horror film is extremely pertinent in the viewing experience. Watching something alone in a cinema may give a completely different reaction than watching with someone in a brightly lit lounge room streamed to the TV. I think it's dependant on what kind of film you're watching, which influences what setting you should watch it with. – monbronte5 years ago
Analyse how schools should upgrade their current material to better prepare students for the modern world. May include a change in curriculum, how social media is/may be taught to them, security control, etc.
Thank you for the recommendations! I meant more academic focus, so instead of algebra, living environment, and history, more diverse, modern courses. – Yvonne T.6 years ago
I'd say the system should change its focus from past literature and writing, such as Shakespeare material, to more modern writing (perhaps much more modern books). It is evident that times have changed, and the current system is outdated. – Yvonne T.6 years ago
I have an education degree to teach high school in the U.S., and I purposefully steered away from this career path because of the lack of progressive initiative taken in updating the curriculum and teaching methods. I think the desire is present among educators (which would be important to examine for this topic), but the structural and economic factors would need to be addressed. My specialization is in English, so I shy away from the idea of forgoing classic texts and writing practices entirely, but there are certainly better approaches to incorporate more modern writing and modes of composition. Universities seem to be taking the steps more quickly, but grade schools need more attention to prepare those who may not pursue a college degree. I think a modernized curriculum could create more life-long readers and writers as well as more well-rounded and driven students that are culturally aware and capable of higher levels of critical thought. I hope this topic is expanded is and explored thoroughly! – Aaron5 years ago
This is a really interesting topic to talk about. Usually, high school students/secondary students always ask the dreading question of 'Why do I have to learn this stuff, what am I going to do with it in the future?' Some subjects they're referring to could be subjects they think are 'useless' such as English ONLY because of the period of writing that is taught in schools. I agree 100% that the school curriculum needs to become modernised. Taking the subject of 'English' for example, it would be wise to expand on more modern forms and styles of writing such as the difference in language when texting, when socialising with different groups of people such as parents, friends or even royals! In the UK, there are PSHCE (Physical, Social, Health, Citizenship Education) lessons taught which involves having open discussions about crime, drugs, social media, bullying and safe sex. But it would be interesting to see a developed curriculum which introduces the need for independence and originality which is required in the working world. Some ideas that could be explored could be the secret business world and networking events to encourage students to engage in activities they genuinely enjoy and are interested in, rather than sitting in class, wasting time and being forced to answer a dull, repetitive Shakespeare question. I really like this topic and hope someone writes an article on it! – JAbida5 years ago
Super interesting topic! Personally, I think that home economics should be re-introduced in school curriculum; common skills like cooking, balancing a checkbook, appropriating finances, and taking care of clothing seem to be becoming more obsolete. As for courses such as composition, spelling, and reading, I actually think that we may benefit by going back in history; I've dabbled in some research of 19th century textbooks, and the level of rigor that they require of students puts our school systems to shame. In addition, many of them (such as Murray's 1827 "The English Reader," Goodrich's 1839 "Third Reader for the Use of Schools," and Sanders' 1862 "High School Reader") stress the teaching of virtue, morality, and piety. Students rise or fall to our expectations; if we structure our curricula to emphasize true knowledge-building and to encourage virtue and morality, our students will grow both in knowledge and in character. Modernizing a curriculum to include the most up-to-date scientific information, to reflect our current governmental or political system, and to extend history's timeline closer to the present could all be beneficial—however, the only changes that will be truly timeless are to cultivate an appreciation of knowledge and a love for virtue. – katiemartin5 years ago
Extremely ambitious and vague. And out of the scope of The Artifice. – T. Palomino2 years ago
There is a vast array of literature that, in its time, was written with the intention of some form of social justice. An example of this is the much-cited "Uncle Tom's Cabin," by Harriet Beecher Stowe. However, as modern ideas progress and the willingness to allow every human their basic rights grows, we look back on texts like this and realize that the philosophy within it is antiquated and that its ideas on how to overcome racism simply don't suffice.
This in mind, how should we deal with texts like hers? Should we look at them graciously and say that, given the lack of understanding about true social justice, the author did the best she could based on limited knowledge? Or should we stop circulating and supporting texts like those because they do not go far enough in their attempts at fighting the social injustices of our day? Is there a middle ground?
The writer does not have to choose "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as their example–any older text with out-of-date social justice views would suffice.
I think these old texts could be used to demonstrate how far we've come in addressing these issues. Yes, they may not be relevant or even entirely accurate in today's society, but they should be presented as a marker on the road to more awareness, and they should (with discretion) be circulated. – OkaNaimo08195 years ago
I think it helps to keep in mind as well that the reason why a lot of these old texts are still read is because they were extremely influential. They may contain views that don't fit modern ideas of social justice, but it's still necessary to understand the contributions they made to literature and society, both in their own day and since. In the case of Uncle Tom's Cabin, while its views might be outdated, it contained a lot of archetypes and viewpoints that were extremely influential in their own day and that have continued to influence the culture in more indirect ways ever since (including the expression "Uncle Tom"). – Debs5 years ago
I think it's important to understand the context these works exist in. Uncle Tom's Cabin is antiquated, but it did help the movement for abolition of slavery. It's understandable to be offended by old texts, but their value in understanding the history of the time is crucial, even if their ideas can sometimes be unpleasant. – ruthyf5 years ago
We’re always told that potential employers will look at your online platforms and turn you down if you don’t fit their image, but is this idea losing importance now that you can become your own employer using a platform like YouTube. Yes, it takes time and effort but it can be done. Write!
I think it's also worth mentioning the issue behind cancel culture and how it also plays an authoritative role in the formation of said online personality, for better and for worse. – Spinach5 years ago
I would love to write about this because I have just experienced the same thing, and it wasn't pretty. To think that not having a pretty online personality means you're a bad person is really jarring, but it's what people think nowadays
– hnguyen11025 years ago
A new Netflix original movie has caused a bit of a stir in the land of social media. A story about a teenage girl that feels isolated because of her height, has faced criticism for its focus on what people think is a rather minuscule issue. Does Netflix owe it to its viewers to produce content that centers around oppressed societal groups? That gives its voice to people that need it? Or is content really just that, meaningless content?
I think something important to keep in mind whilst writing this would be the fact that there are two sides to this argument. Yes, it may seem as minor issue for most, but different situations affect people differently. No matter how mindless or meaningless this movie might seem to most of the general public, the general message of loving yourself for who you are is an important message for younger people in this day and age. I think Netflix producing "Tall Girl" and them needing to produce content that centers around oppressed societal groups are not mutually exclusive. Maybe it would be worth exploring more the idea of having all the content possible rather than this duality of if you have one, you can't necessarily have the other. – mariannelabrie5 years ago
With a myriad titles being re-released on the Nintendo Switch at their original full price, the question is raised if games should still be worth the same amount as time progresses. Are we expected to pay the same for products that are re-released or should there be some reduction? It requires work to port and in some cases remake sections so profit is needed to pay for salaries, however, is the game still worth the same after time has passed. For example, Skyrim on the Switch is worth around £50 (original RRP) despite being 8 years old.
I think this could be an interesting topic. In addition to Skyrim releasing the game for different consoles, there are also remasters/retooling, such as Pokemon's Let's Go, or Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin. Looking at the differences between having to port over an entire game to a new system vs making modifications to the game itself vs cost of materials (why are digital games the same price when there are no physical goods?) provides a lot of ways to look at this. How much are fans willing to pay for the same thing again and again? – InvertedMobiusStrip5 years ago
I think this is an interesting topic. Whenever a game is ported to a new console or platform, the question of price comes up. Remember that most companies are looking to make a profit when they port a game, so there is usually a price range they may be looking to price their game. This is also interesting for Independent games which have pricing model between $40 to $4.99. Does it matter it you are supporting an indie game or a AAA game? Will you pay more to support a smaller studio? – Sean Gadus5 years ago
Following the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the beloved franchise faced a substantial backlash from begrudged fans. Aside the criticisms for its slow pace and inconsistent storyline, the film and indeed the trilogy itself have been controversially criticised for its overuse of nostalgia and alleged focus on socially-driven plot details.
Analyse whether the Star Wars franchise has indeed applied an overuse of nostalgia in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi or whether the fanbase is overtly critical of any additions to the film lore.
Great topic and right on time after the release of the new trailer (half old footage and half new ones)!
I would be interested to know how people would translate fan interest. Commercial success? Rotten tomatoes ratings? Can we even measure it? That may be a key point to this topic. Cheers – kpfong835 years ago
I think this is definitely a great topic, one that needs to be dispelled as partly true as far as nostalgia's concerned, buy widely false when considering the inconsistent original trilogy, socially driven plots of the prequels, and its overly attached fanbase. – dtsnow5 years ago
I agree with the problem that measuring fan interest will be difficult, especially since the more extreme fans, those that either despise the new ones or will defend them with their last breath, are the more vocal and active sections of the fan base; it will be important to establish a metric for this early on.
Another thing to consider is how could new Star Wars movies exist without nostalgia?In a universe so focused on connectivity, removing any and all references to previous elements would seem to deliberately erase everything that came before. So finding the balance between creating something new while still honoring what has come before is something to think about. – InvertedMobiusStrip5 years ago
An interesting juxtaposition might lie in contrasting original trilogy fans (apparently summarily dismissed by Disney execs and talent alike) versus today’s children (cultivated by Disney without remorse through omnipresent product promotion and programming). Perhaps consult surveys, RT, sales demographic breakdowns, and blogs running census for the figures. – Will Nolen5 years ago
After watching The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi (and looking at the plot for The Rise of Skywalker), I definitely feel they rely heavily on nostalgia, besides the fact that a sequel series wasn't really needed. Yes, the prequels were supposedly not great (I haven't seen them yet, so I can't judge), but they at least had a purpose of existing. – OkaNaimo08195 years ago
As someone who is an avid reader, I'm always going to bookstores and browsing through stacks of books. However, every time I return to a bookstore, I notice that the prices have significantly increased. Many people are not crazy about e-books; they prefer the written word. Therefore, it is difficult to justify spending so much money on a few books. On average, I have observed that they range anywhere from $25-$30. Why is it that movies can be rented for $4.99, but valuable pieces of literature cost almost triple that? Shouldn't the reading of literary masterpieces be encouraged? Books are outrageously expensive, and that detracts customers from wanting to spend the money. If books were less expensive, perhaps more people would read. Putting such an expensive price on creative writing seems non-sensical, and the world could benefit from this being changed. Authors must make commission somehow, but perhaps more people would buy the books if they could afford them. Yes, there are libraries, but bookstores have a wider range of books, and people can customize them by highlighting their favourite phrases or making notes. To put it simply, the increase in the price of books is unnecessary and creates more harm than help. The world could benefit from reading more literature.
'If books were less expensive, perhaps more people would read.' A lovely idea, but unfortunately the old adage is true - 'You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.' There are some people who wouldn't read books even if a dozen books were given away free with their morning cereal. – Amyus5 years ago
Two observations: 1) I do not believe prices of books are the reason people don't read. How is that even possible to substantiate objectively? 2) Aren't e-books also "written word"? Don't you mean "printed word"? – T. Palomino2 years ago
Both The Walking Dead television show and the comic book series are incredibly popular, sharing similarities but so different in story and character arc that they constitute separate universes. Less well known (relatively) is the series of novels, written initially by Robert Kirkman with Jay Bonansinga, and later taken over by Bonansinga as the sole writer. These novels, set in the comic universe, explore the rise of the Governor in more depth, and then follow events in Woodbury after he is gone. What ways do the novels expand the world of the comics, in terms of character and plot development, and how does the post-governor Woodbury relate to other types of societies seen in the series?
In Showtime's "Billions", Asia Kate Dillon portrays the first non-binary lead character on television. Their well-developed character humanizes a group of individuals that struggle to find inclusion in our society. And their representation familiarizes Americans with the proper use of the "they" pronoun.
What is it about YouTube videos that makes them more accessible and appealing to today’s inquisitive audiences? Why do people seem to prefer YouTube web video celebrities with little to no credentials or credentials in unrelated fields? Is it a matter of charisma? Confirmation bias? Laziness to read? A mix?
I like this idea. Are there any celebrities you have in mind for the topic or do you want to leave it open for the writer? – Emily Deibler5 years ago
Perhaps the ones in the tags? – Will Nolen5 years ago
Because tags do not show up when a topic is converted into a post, I would suggest possibly adding PewDiePie to the topic, so that isn't lost. That, or I suppose mentioning him in this note is sufficient enough. – Emily Deibler5 years ago
An important idea exploring an increasingly important medium. – proflong5 years ago
Oh ok Emily Deibler- wasn’t aware: so examples include PerDiePie, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, and many others – Will Nolen5 years ago
When studying history, scholars refer back to artistic work done in the time period to learn more about said time's societal behaviors, mannerisms and even etiquette. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde speaks loudly of Victorian society, Uncle Tom's Cabin of American society, The Ulster Cycle of Irish history, and more which gives us insight of past eras.
Which therefore made me question what history would say of us. What does the million of viewers/readers for Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, etc, say about current American society, if it says anything at all? Would there be an inaccuracy if future historians were to base off their knowledge of our culture on our literature top hits? Or is history based on literature, in fact, entirely inaccurate?
The problem with this question is that it's virtually impossible to tell what's going to be popular for your time when you're living it. Some things that are popular fizzle out with time, whereas others endure, and the only way to tell which is which is with hindsight. I think literature can tell us something about the period in which it was written, but it requires context and background knowledge. It isn't enough to read a work from the past and immediately start speculating about what people at the time would have thought and did in their everyday lives. – Debs5 years ago
I like the idea here - that you're looking at how novels can serve as a source on history. I wonder though, if this isn't two topics that might deserve their own focus? Your first set of examples talk about seeing novels as evidence of their time, and the second set of examples (for our time) is more referring to what's popular at a given time and what that says about audiences. Now those are certainly linked, but it might be more productive to focus on one or the other. Also, your contemporary examples are both genre fiction (which says a lot about the society!) but come with their own generic codes that might transcend a time scale. So that complicates a bit. Great suggestion for a topic, though. – msnfrd5 years ago
First, how long in the future are you thinking about? I mean, it seems that in 100 or 200 years, humanity will be facing catastrophic ecological problems and maybe history and literature won't play the same role they play today in society. – T. Palomino2 years ago
Second, I don't think GOT or HP will be the best references for future generations to recapitulate historic events or eras. Besides, HP does not deal with American society, does it? – T. Palomino2 years ago
Third, history is always inaccurate... What do you even mean by 'accurate' in any case? There are interpretations or approximations to historical events, and they change depending on who tells the story and when in time. – T. Palomino2 years ago
Potterheads enjoy asking each other which Houses they're from, and once you become a Potterhead, one of the first things you want to do (at least in personal experience) is get formally Sorted via a well thought-out quiz or app. It's not uncommon to go on social media and find people sorting their favorite media characters into Houses, putting HP Next Generation characters into Houses through fanon, and debating the traits of certain Houses and how they are or are not represented. (I myself am a proud supporter of Slytherin House redemption).
But, why all the fuss over this little bit of HP canon? Why do people get sorted over and over again, identify with more than one House, and so on? Several reasons worth exploring exist. For one, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are just sort of "there," while Gryffindor and Slytherin get all the attention. House Sortings are the closest we're probably going to get to a "real" Hogwarts if we can't afford trips to Orlando. Sortings help us craft new, fantasy-based identities that may help us handle some real-world problems to a degree. We might be looking for a "perfect" Sorting experience that hasn't been achieved yet.
Is it all of this? None? Are there facets not yet considered? Discuss.
I feel like it stems from a desire to understand yourself at a deeper level. The premise of the series is that the Hogwarts house you belong to is supposed to tell you something about yourself, even if it isn't always immediately obvious what, as well as surround you with a community of (more or less) like-minded individuals. People like this idea, and so they try to find ways to make it work for them. – Debs5 years ago
I believe that people are eager to sort themselves into houses, because they want to belong to something. Millions of people are in love with the Harry Potter universe, because they prefer it to their own reality. Classifying oneself as Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff allows people to identify with something that is greater than themselves. It acts a method of justification for their personalities, and people want to feel that it separates them from others. – nicolemadison5 years ago
To add on, I personally felt really validated and felt like I could finally accept my personality better while growing up. For example, before I became a Potterhead, I was almost embarrassed to be a smooth talker and that I could switch around my words well enough to sound really manipulative, even though it was not in my intention to be like that. However, after being sorted into Slytherin, I began to feel proud and truly understand that it wasn't a bad thing after all. I really owe it to the Sorting Hat for that one. – Dorothy5 years ago
Robert Caialdini author of Pre- suasion talk about how people need to have questions answered and will give there attention to topics which propose one in order to find out the burning question of why, this sounds like good topic to explore – Gkcopy1615 years ago