Where can you find our most valuable asset? On the shelves of cafes and libraries. The feel of a book from the hard cover to the soft egg-shell pages hold a lot of undiscovered secrets as we pass the opportunity to read as much as possible. Do e-books give the same satisfaction as a real book?
There was a topic suggestion very similar to this one, posted about a year ago, if memory serves. It would be worth digging through the archives to locate it. I recall commenting to the effect that whilst I love the look, feel and smell of a 'real' book, times move on. We've gone from stone tablets, papyrus scrolls, to vellum and paper and now the electronic page. In principle I agree with your sentiment though and for me at least, a shelf full of books has far more allure than a fistful of memory cards. Perhaps the real satisfaction comes not from the format, but in how the information contained therein is received by the reader.Ps. To anyone thinking of using 'a fistful of memory cards' - hands off, 'tis mine and I'm using it in a short story. :) – Amyus6 years ago
Analyse different themes within British cinema and Latin American cinema to see whether they portray similar themes . If they don’t have similar themes then compare the films on what makes them so different and whether the themes are in keeping with the time they were released.
Based on several years of Latin American film study during college and just as much leisure viewing of British film production, I venture to say that both exhibit an 'Old World' atmosphere that overlap and that cater to certain personal inclinations. To be fair, you can replace the British portion of this topic with any other European country and still argue consistently with equal efficacy. It is a viable topic that would prove fascinating for a discerning audience, given the right author. Only suggestion is to amplify by exploring and examining social, political, or economic themes rather than just general themes as posed. – L:Freire6 years ago
An interesting topic suggestion, but one that would benefit from a little more definition. Perhaps examining specific genres explored in the films from different countries in Latin America in comparison to those from Britain. It's also worth considering that cinema from the Northern parts of Britain can be, and is often, radically different in the way it deals with similar themes and/or issues that are also explored in the South. As an example, look back to the 60' and 70's 'kitchen sink' dramas from the North of England that dealt with issues such as long-term unemployment, owing to the closure of ship yards and traditional industries. There is a distinct North-South divide in Britain. Is there such a divide amongst Latin American countries, and if so, then how is this portrayed in cinema from those countries? – Amyus6 years ago
What would be the goal here, if I may ask? Is there any particular reason behind such choices for comparison? It feels like a a random analysis with no foundation or explanation whatsoever. – T. Palomino3 years ago
After watching all other seasons of Black Mirror, it seems apparent that sex isn't as pervasive in other episodes. Black Mirror seems to have focused more on Psychological Thriller, whereas this episode focuses almost exclusively on sex. This article could breakdown the questions asked by this episode: Are online matters considered cheating? When IS it considered cheating? Investigate how sexuality is questioned in this episode and comment on societal changes to our approaches of sex and sexuality.
I made a similar observation after watching this episode, and I think even though it's one of the weaker episodes of the show, it definitely plays with themes of sex and sexuality in interesting ways. I do think that some episodes address sexuality more clearly (the famous San Junipero episode comes to mind immediately), but Striking Vipers seems like a more modern take on same-sex relations because the climactic kiss in the rain was treated as a casual, logical next step, and they were not necessarily concerned about being gay; it was all about finding out if they were actually interested in one another. Closer to the observation you are making, I think the questions of sex, infidelity, and the digital spaces we inhabit is fascinating. This episode definitely raises more questions than it answers, but they are important questions as we move further into a 21st century relationship world. I hope this topic gets picked up. – Aaron6 years ago
I think it's fairly obvious that yes, it is cheating. The way the episode is framed makes it abundantly clear that the main character knows he's cheating. He feels constant guilt, and it causes a strain on his relationship with his wife. It only becomes not cheating when his wife gives him permission to hook up with his friend online on his birthday at the end of the episode (it's marked on the calendar and she's the one to give him the VR set, indicating her permission).
Regarding the themes of sexuality, I think many viewers are missing the mark. It's not truly about sexuality. This is made apparent when his best friend reveals that he's been having sex with several other characters, including a polar bear, but it isn't the same when it's not with the main character. This is because they're very close friends and understand each other on a deep level. It's about intimacy, not sex. Their irl kiss just proves this point further. I don't think either of them are gay. His best friend simply wants a partner who truly knows him on every level, which he's been unable to find in the real world. Striking Vipers makes the main character available to him in a way that he isn't- and never could be- outside of VR. – JPost6 years ago
The summer of 2019 has offered a plethora of films to entertain the masses, but there has been a strange trend in recent releases. Films such as "Godzilla: King of the Monsters", "Aladdin", and "Dark Phoenix", which can be considered standard blockbusters have been receiving middle-of-the-line to flat out bad reviews from critics and audiences, and for "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" and "Dark Phoenix" this had led to lower-than-expected showings at the box office. But it goes further than that; "Toy Story 4", part of a beloved franchise and from a studio known for making juggernaut hits, is reported to come in less than expected at the domestic box office. Are audiences turning their backs on blockbusters or are they just not going to the theaters? Could all of this be blowback from "Avengers: Endgame"'s performance critically and monetarily; for comparison did a similar instance happen in 2009 with the release of "Avatar"? Does this foreshadow anything for upcoming blockbusters?
Great article idea. As a side note, I keep seeing articles about how the summer theatrical rerun of Spirited Away has been beating Toy Story 4 in the Chinese market. Does this speak to a difference between newer movies versus older ones? Different expectations? Is it the cost of movie attendance? There are many different angles to take on this topic and I would be excited to see where it could go. – Eden6 years ago
Awesome idea! I like the final note on whether you think this is part of a wider trend. Can you explain a little bit more what you mean by this? What do you think might be causing it? I think needs to be drawn out a little bit more. Also, can you think of another example of this happening (other than now and 2009) and if so, what does this suggest about their being some sort of trend of flops following major successful blockbuster releases like Avatar and Endgame. – Elpis19886 years ago
This honestly sounds like a great way to discuss online streaming services and a possible lack of creative ability in the current media landscape! There’s many ways this can branch out, good luck! – rosiemanuouiha6 years ago
With next month marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, this seems like an appropriate time to critically examine the fascination generations of writers and filmmakers have had with the moon. What is it about space travel that was so interesting to Jules Verne when he wrote FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON? George Melies was certainly inspired by Verne when he made his pioneering short film A TRIP TO THE MOON (1902). Melies actually allows his characters to land on the moon, not just circle around it as in the Verne original. It was Fritz Lang who first showed audiences the possibilities of rocket travel in his 1929 German silent film WOMAN IN THE MOON. What is the relationship between these works of science fiction and the scientific facts? And what insight have writers and filmmakers provided about humanity's relationship with the rest of the universe?
A significant portion of contemporary internet memes seem to trivialize and wish for death, often to the concerned bewilderment of older generations. Is using memes to discus death a new exercise, or are memes simply a the most recent in a long tradition of staving off the Grim Reaper with humor? Look at representations of Death in various cultures' art and performance theater as a humorous or benign force or figure (memento mori paintings, the Grim Reaper, Beetlejuice, etc.) and compare them to modern memes which focus on death and dying.
This has the makings of a great topic but I worry it might be a bit too broad at the moment. Maybe you can condense it down and look at how death has been rationalised in pop culture through the use of humour and draw distinctions between conventional representation and memes. – Simon Malik6 years ago
Why the trend in independent games of 8-bit graphics and music? What started it, and why has it continued for so long? Why would game makers and game players want to regress to a time when video games were stripped down and basic? Is it just pure nostalgia? It is a reflection on the decline of clever game design in AAA video games over time? Look at games such as Shovel Knight, Hotline Miami, Gunpoint.
It's a good topic but it would be better to also put focus on some the indie games that popularized the shift back to 8-bit to the mainstream such as Braid. It would also be interesting to consider the financial reasons for using 8-bit and how that limit can force them to be more creative when developing the game mechanics. – Matt Hatjoulis6 years ago
Though 8-bit games are often easier for low-budget indie projects to animate, narratologically, traditionally 8-bit genres like platformers offer an interesting challenge for game developers. The trick is to make a game that is fun to play (like "Crawl") and/or has an interesting story (like "Gods Will be Watching") without relying on cheesy effects and graphics to wow players. In any case, I expect the nostalgia for 80s graphics will cease once the 30-year cycle shifts to a fascination with the 90s. As far as 80s games go, they tend to be a bit more reliant on gameplay than narrative, at least among American releases. So, I hope we'll see more of a 90s ideological optimism in storytelling as in titles like Final Fantasy VII or Chrono Trigger. – Samir M Soni5 years ago
As long as movies have been a popular form of entertainment, there has always been a standing genre that a majority of movies released at the time fall under. With movies like Endgame and Logan providing a sort of pseudo conclusion to long running movie series that have been keeping viewers hooked and willing to watch anything wearing a cape or having -blank-MAN in the title; I can't help but wonder what everyone thinks is coming next. Is it already here and I've missed it? Maybe there's someone who's been around the block that already sees it coming? P.S. Anyone else feel like Logan acknowledged this by being just as much a western as a superhero movie as a way to send off not just Hugh Jackman but also the mainstream state of the genre as a whole?
This is one of my favorite talking points with other film-lovers! I've always been interested in the films people choose to promote and the, for lack of a better term, eras of films that come out of it. If I could add anything to this topic, I think it would be questioning what it takes to make a shift like this in entertainment; does something have to happen in the world or in society for the masses to change the films that they want to see, or is the creation of a film-era just the luck of the draw? – Tyruss20156 years ago
Perhaps a less philosophical topic, but I'd love to see just a short article analysing various light novel titles. I've noticed a trend in which many of them have excessively long titles, some overly descriptive, but some not so much? I'd love to know why, or even just read about some common themes in them. A lot of them, as a result of their overly-wordiness, also tend to have nicknames, which could also be interesting to look at.
There are plenty of examples to look at: Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darō ka (DanMachi) (Is it Wrong to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon?)
Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sō Desu yo? (Mondaiji) (Problem Children are Coming from Another World, aren't they?)
Ore no Nōnai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Rabu Kome o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru (Noucome) (My Mental Choices are Completely Interfering with my School Romantic Comedy)
This sounds like an interesting article for the light novel enthusiast. Perhaps research popular and cultural trends within the Japanese publishing industry. Titles with more than a few words (books, film, TV, music) are exceptions in the West rather than the norm so it’d be cool to get an understanding of why the Japanese like long titles so much. – Tanner Ollo6 years ago
Why the trend in independent games of 8-bit graphics and music? What started it, and why has it continued for so long? Why would game makers and game players want to regress to a time when video games were stripped down and basic? Is it just pure nostalgia? It is a reflection on the decline of clever game design in AAA video games over time?
Beta gaming and early access play have become a mainstream ploy within the video games industry that is used to generate publicity and garner public opinion before a game is 'fully released'. However, as recently exampled by the Anthem debacle beta gaming and early access play present a host of problems for games designers and indeed the gaming public. These issues are heightened and compounded by marketing campaigns that present early access video games as a mostly finished product and foster an expectation that early access offers an advantage over other players who opt to purchase after the official release date. This article examines why beta gaming has become prevalent in modern gaming and why the abuse of DLC has led to some games being released that otherwise would be considered incomplete.
Seeing how popular culture is flourishing in the waves of 80's revival culture with television hits like Stranger Things, movies like Bladerunner 2049, and a new brat pack, how long will this movement last? Is quality entertainment and/or art coming from this movement and what might be the next driving force of popular culture. Will it be another renaissance or a new set of genres?
Really interesting topic! Love both Blade Runner and Stranger Things. The soundtrack for Stranger Things is especially interesting with it's synthesized sound. Maybe the renewed interest has to do with the fact the 80s are now old enough to be nostalgic to middle age and older adults, as well as intriguing to young viewers who weren't alive during the time period. – Sean Gadus6 years ago
I think the study of "nostalgic" movements such as this can be really interesting. I think the key really is that these movements gain traction at a time when audiences are the best mix of younger consumers who view media from before they were born as a novelty, and older consumers experiencing nostalgia for the era. It might be interesting to look at how 80s elements slowly creeped into the mainstream before hitting it's stride - in particular with the introduction of 80s music in Marvel films and action films in general. – Kayleigh Hall6 years ago
Increasingly, classic literary works are being reinterpreted in graphic novel format. William Shakespeare's plays have been reimagined as graphic novels, as have famous novels like Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and even some nonfiction such as Machiavelli's The Prince or the diary of Anne Frank. What might be some factors driving the current trend in graphic novelizations of literary classics? Does the graphic novel format provide any benefits that an ordinary book would lack, and, conversely, what might be some unique challenges these graphic-novel adaptations face? Are there any literary works that might lend themselves particularly well to the graphic-novel format, or any that would be particularly difficult to adapt?
I recently had a conversation with a colleague of mine on this topic. The discussion bled into the realm of film remakes as well. I have a lot of appreciation for the graphic novel medium as well as the notion of retelling a classic tale for a contemporary audience, however I cannot endorse it because I feel a sense of discredit towards the original work and creator. For example, Metropolis is a foundational film for the modern world, however I believe a remake of Metropolis would be abominable. Similarly, if you read a graphic novel of The Odyssey or The Faerie Queene, then you did not read those books nor do you know the importance of and literary impact of that work. The writing and original wording in conjunction with the imaginative medium of the novel is lost when a graphic novel adaptation is made. The plot and contemporary imagery does little to keep a book alive. – caedmonmills6 years ago
I have my students read Octavia Butler's novel "Kindred" and then read the graphic novel. It's powerful! The graphic novel's Illustrator (John Jennings) and Adapter (Damian Duffy) had to take creative liberties in how they portray the characters visually, but they stay true to the text. The story is definitely told well; all of the dialogue is present, but the pacing is FAST. Also, we, as readers, are supposed to question Dana's husband's race in the novel, but immediately, we see the color of his skin in the graphic novel. I absolutely love using graphic novels in the classroom to help students see these differences and compare/contrast text and visuals. – Morgan Dancy5 years ago
Detail the history of the extremely popular true crime comedy podcast My Favorite Murder, from their inception to their recent book release titled Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered. Are we living in a "new era of true crime fascination," as some have suggested? Research the global response of the podcast resulting in millions of "murderinos," and avid listeners. Does the success of My Favorite Murder suggest that interest in true crime is more common than previously thought? Is this interest healthy? Are Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, the show's hosts, honoring the victims of the stories they recount? Does My Favorite Murder glorify violent crime? Touch on the titles of the chapters in the memoir, each corresponding to a catchphrase one of the women have coined during the taping of their show over the past four years. Does Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered qualify as a "self-help" book? Is their path to success unprecedented and representative of the digital age?
By what metric can it be argued that we are living in (as you put it) a "new era of true crime fascination"? One need only look at lurid newspaper headlines from the early years of the last century, or recall the long-held policy of TV news programs ("If it bleeds, it leads"); the fascination with true crime stories is nothing new, though the popularity of these true crime podcasts is worth a critical examination of the way they depict their subjects and what that says about us. – John Wilson6 years ago
Everyone I know, excluding my old-school parents, have subscriptions to one or many subscription-based movie/TV show sites. Netflix, Hulu, HBO, etc. They all seem to more or less run the world. It matters so much to us when they take down well-loved series or put up a hot, new movie. But how, if at all, is this effecting cable companies, and people who refuse to give up their commercial-ridden television? Will television become obsolete to Smart Televisions that do not use cable?
Interesting topic! It may benefit you to look more into the "old-school parents." There are several I'm sure who don't know what Netflix is, but I also know some people as old as my grandparents who have the entire Netflix, Hulu, and HBO package. Also, what is this doing to the rising generations who are growing up with total access to movies of all ratings rather than DVDs or VCRs? I hope to read about this in the future! – bellawick6 years ago
I think it's really interesting how subscription services fall in line with what I would call customer-led consumption (?) these days. Let me explain - whereas in the past people have purchased services, we seem to be moving much more towards buying the basics and self-curating. We use self-service checkouts, we create our own music playlists, we choose our own TV and films at the times we want. How does this affect our relationship with companies as consumers? – Kayleigh Hall6 years ago
This is an interesting topic I found and it deserves most of attention, there is great need to talk about this.But in my opinion, I have issues that why people feel more comfortable to pay money to Netflix and stuff life like, and on the other side they feel like wasting money if they have to pay little amount of money for newspaper, why this is always questionable that,"now we have to pay to know what's going in the world?" – dilpreetk996 years ago
Netflix gives actors a place to work. With so much CGI, Hollywood is forcing great movie actors and actresses to Netflix and TV. When movies actors or actresses come over to TV, it makes for great TV, including Netflix even if it's an additional cost. – Lava00835 years ago
Writing about nature is an interesting way to go about creative nonfiction. Nature writing forces a writer out of their comfort zone and requires them to have a personal interaction with the world around them. Some nature writers travel for months at a time following a flock of birds, living in a wooded area, or experiencing different climates, all while taking notes and collecting research. What impact does this interaction with nature have on the writer? How does this help the writer grow? What are the limits of nature writing? Nature is an interesting topic in the field of writing that should be explored and discovered.
That's totally agree on. Bella Wick. Nature can be fascinating in oh so many ways. – WSSfan6 years ago
I couldn't agree with you more, Bella Wick. I'd like to recommend a particularly interesting book, Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees, by Roger Deakin (2007. Penguin Books. ISBN 9780141010014). Quoting from the back cover 'Roger Deakin's unmatched exploration of our relationship with trees is autobiography, history, traveller's tale and incisive work of natural history. It will take you into the heart of the woods, where we go to grown and learn'. Especially apt in a time when trees are being felled to make way for 5G. – Amyus6 years ago
I find this take very interesting Bella. I also think writing in nature also allows for the persons inner creativity shine through, it allows for their interpretation of what they are perceiving, all the while giving the reader the opportunity to step into the writers words and visualize and feel what they are seeing. You look at the great western writers such as Thoreau, and Muir, who steeped themselves in nature for an extensive period of time, they were able to get closer to the earth, a deep connection, and the actualization that they are a part of this beautiful spinning rock in the cosmos. I am so stoked for you to explore this topic if you do choose to do so! – thomasgoenczi6 years ago
You can't write about a penguin if you don't see it, you have to experience it yourself. – otohoanglong6 years ago
This is definitely an interesting topic. Recently, I had watched a small documentary about the importance of nature and the psychological impact this has on astronauts. Astronauts spend months in space and psychologists needed to take into account how much they miss earth as whole. The life and creation on earth as a whole is what they miss. Nature writing I think would definitely help with the mentality of these astronauts who spend months up in space with no interaction with simple things that we take for granted such as trees, animals and rivers. Perhaps, nature writing and taking pictures of nature could help them feel more at home? – JAbida6 years ago
In the past several years, we've seen the production of movies such as "Hidden Figures", "Hacksaw Ridge", and "Dunkirk", just to name a few. All of these movies have the fact that they were based on a true story in common. These are only a few of such movies, with easily a dozen others having come out within the past decade, or even less, within the past five or so years. What is it about these "true story style movies" that has made them so incredibly popular within the past ten years? What aspect of society does their popularity stem from? Is it just filmmakers trying to come up with viable movie ideas, or is there a deeper societal meaning that contributes to their success?
This sounds like a compelling topic! I was once told by someone that movies often reflect the ideologies and beliefs of the society at that point in time. For example, films in the late 80's and 90's were all about a dystopian future which reflected societies worries about technology. Similarly, biographical movies have certainly seen an uplift but it might benefit you to think about the common themes which are shared by all of these movies. – simonmalik6 years ago
Something possibly worth exploring in this proposal is the inherent artificial nature of adapting stories for an audience. As Picasso is credited with saying, “Art is a lie that helps us realize the truth.” With this vein, it may prove helpful for the topic to delve into how these “true story” pictures stretch their own basis in truth. Nonetheless, an interesting idea to nurture! – jgpolk6 years ago
It's because people are curious about history, and enjoy seeing "True Story Movies", even though the trueness of the story or stories in question can be stretched and/or twisted to the point of exaggeration. – WSSfan6 years ago
Adding to what has already been mentioned by commenters above, 'truth' is obviously subjective and one of the problems with 'true story' or 'based on a true story' films is discerning the agenda behind them. Whose truth are we seeing? In a time when alternative news is under attack, frequently labelled as fake news (or worse) and even words are being weaponised to drive home official narratives, it's more important than ever to be a critical thinker and make up one's own mind. We've recently had the 6th of June D-Day commemorations and I was reminded of when, in 1994, I accompanied my (then) girlfriend to France as she was covering that year's commemorations for her newspaper. Once the official services were over, we met some fascinating old men and women - French, German, British, American, in fact so many nationalities it would take a long time to list them all. I heard some truly moving stories, not just acts of bravery in the face of fire, but also heartwarming tales of empathy and compassion from those who saw past the horror and went to the aid of the 'enemy'; saving lives and, in the process, making life long friends. There I was, sitting amongst soldiers, airmen, resistance fighters etc, and realising that these real 'true' stories might never be heard, let alone made into films. – Amyus6 years ago
Is the era of the dystopian over? We seem to be seeing a slow rise in the quantity of utopian fantasy and science fiction works being published year-over-year. What can be read from this potential turn away from the primacy of dystopian literature? In addition to these questions, why is it that increase in published utopian literary works does not seem to be a trend that is, as yet, reflected in film?
I would agree that there has been an upswing in utopian fiction (maybe the last 5 years). To me, the classics of this genre seem to be heavily weighted in the dystopian category. I would bet that these trends are closely related to larger social, economic, and political trends...it would be wonderful if someone could explore that further and shed light on might have influenced the popularity of these works – kelseyodegreef6 years ago
In Frank Miller's Sin City (1991-2000), the prostitutes of Old Town, Basin City's red light district, keep the pimps and cops out. In a city filled with corrupt cops and politicians, they are the only semblance of true justice. But are they a good portrayal of strong female characters or are they merely a male fantasy? Analyze how well the women of Old Town hold up in the age of #MeToo.
This is a fantastic article topic! I would recommend for anyone who takes it that intersectionality feminist theory may come in handy when analyzing this thesis. Considering the race, class, and gender of the characters in question can help improve equality and make it more inclusive. – M. L. Flood6 years ago
It seems like pregnancy in fiction and other popular media tends to follow a certain stereotyped and predictable trajectory, which isn't usually very realistic. Usually what will happen is a woman will discover she's pregnant in an overly emotional scene after she's thrown up a few times, then will get bigger for a while until she gives birth to a beautiful, cooing baby in an unrealistically clean and idealized setting. Examples of this are too numerous to list, though one famous one can be seen in the anime movie Wolf Children. It's also common in fanfiction.
Sometimes, of course, the woman will die in childbirth; however, if this happens it will also be overly-dramatic and sanitized compared to what a death in childbirth would really look like. In the anime "Clannad," for example, Nagisa dies shortly after the birth of her daughter on a clean bed with a smile on her face, while her husband looks on in tears.
What do you think is driving some of these trends of unrealistic pregnancy in fiction? Are there any works that seem to do a more realistic job of portraying pregnancy and birth?
Very intriguing, however, try providing specific television shows or examples from different media. Also, the thesis is off a bit, maybe pin down your thesis more; is it offensive how childbirth is portrayed? Or are women being depreciated because of the depiction of pregnancy in media?
Overall this is really thought provoking! – Yasmine Allen6 years ago
I personally would love to see this topic turned into an article! This an issue that is so ingrained in our society it's hard to notice; childbearing is always glamorized and encouraged. It makes sense, from an evolutionary perspective, to encourage reproduction... but does it still make sense now? – Slaidey6 years ago
Interesting topic and definitely important to explore, but I also think there are a lot of great examples of realistic pregnancy/childbirth/parenting starting to emerge in backlash of these earlier unrealistic depictions (e.g. Jane the Virgin, Parenthood, later seasons of The Mindy Project). I think a lot has to do with perhaps a masculine gaze or male writers, not knowing or wanting to share the reality because it's usually not as dramatic or TV-worthy (water breaking usually just feels like peeing, for example, or labour being hours but only having a contraction every hour or so... not a quick process!). – sarahduignan5 years ago