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Television's Modern Portrayal of Christianity

From the Camdens of 7th Heaven to the O'Neals of The Real O'Neals, there are plenty of fictional Christians populating our TV shows. Those portrayals are refreshingly diverse and imperfect, but one wonders if they are all accurate or the best representations of Christianity.

Choose a couple of shows, such as 7th Heaven vs. The Real O'Neals, and compare and contrast their approach to Christianity. What do the shows make look attractive about this religion? Off-putting? Which one is the best representation of modern Christianity? What do these shows say about Christianity in general, particularly to audience members who aren't followers?

  • I disagree about relevance and interest, but I do understand what you mean. Maybe contrasting two different shows, one with a more "traditional" approach and one more "modern" one? 7th Heaven vs. The Real O'Neals, perhaps? – Stephanie M. 8 years ago
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  • Is there really a true portrayal of Christianity? There are so many sects of the religion, and so many individual views of those sects, that any interpretation can seem normal to at least some viewers. – MikeySheff 8 years ago
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  • Hmmm, that's a good point as well. Let me ruminate on that for a while. :) – Stephanie M. 8 years ago
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  • You could also add movies such as A Walk to Remember – Munjeera 8 years ago
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  • I thought of that, as well as movies that are specifically targeted toward a Protestant Christian audience (mostly people from the Bible Belt). Examples: God's Not Dead, Courageous, Fireproof. I've seen these movies and been entertained by them, but the narrowness of the intended audience bothers me. It also bothers me that in many cases, Christianity is the defining trait of the main characters, and that the directors take the easy way out (i.e., painting an atheist professor as unnecessarily cruel to his students, and then letting a car run him down). That's what I mean by an unhealthy portrayal of Christianity. I just wish the entertainment industry could get past either treating Christianity as a joke, or as something only fundamentalist Protestants are interested in watching. I also wish writers of Christian-based movies would do a better job of presenting Christians as multifaceted, normal people. Anyway, rant over. – Stephanie M. 8 years ago
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  • I really felt the title "God's Not Dead" should be adjusted to "Stereotypes Are Not Dead." Every single stereotype was portrayed in the movie: the strict Asian dad, the freedom loving hijab wearing young girl who wants to express herself and the atheist professor. I do not believe the sequel was any better. Why is it so difficult to write Christian screen plays? Even The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe fell flat in the dialogue. But The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was much better in my opinion. Frustrating! – Munjeera 8 years ago
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  • @Munjeera: It is frustrating and in its own way, gives Christians a bad name. I have rarely, if ever, seen Christians portrayed as "normal" people in the media, or their lifestyle portrayed as such. Instead, Christians often come across as goody-goodies with persecution complexes which...no. Some of the things that have happened to American Christians are grossly wrong. But compared to the followers in other nations, we have it made. – Stephanie M. 8 years ago
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  • I actually live in Canada so it is a little bit different here than in America. I have not felt that movies with Christian themes have nuance. I really liked A Walk to Remember. I think that Mandy Moore did an excellent job, and Roger Ebert agrees. Shane West, also was believable. I am not sure what it is but most movies with Christian themes focus too much on stereotypes and the characters come across one-dimensional. A Walk to Remember was based on a true story written by an older brother whose younger sister died of cancer. If I were rating Christian movies, I would put A Walk to Remember at the top. Movies based on religious themes would be a good comparison overall. Maybe it is difficult to pull off for any religion. – Munjeera 8 years ago
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  • The Simpsons both reflected and defined the church-going, 'religious only on Sunday morning' type of Christianity for an entire generation. They may have portrayed God and Flanders in a comic light but they ultimately shaped millions of people's views. – jackanapes 8 years ago
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  • Blindside was one of the worst movies in terms of racist portrayals towards the Black community and valourizing White Christians. Are there any diverse people that screenwriters ask when writing on diversity? We do it here on The Artifice and that is why our platform puts out quality material. It is difficult to see my own blind spots so I value the feedback I receive when I publish an article here. If we can do it, why don’t Christian movie producers check with diverse communities. I remember when the movie “Jesus” was produced, there was great concern the movie could evoke anti-Semitism. The producers went to the Jewish community, asked and received constructive criticism. How hard is it to get diverse feedback? – Munjeera 5 years ago
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  • I've never actually seen The Blind Side, but I'm not surprised about the criticism. Unfortunately, my tribe (evangelical Christians) doesn't have a very good history with diversity of any kind, and IMHO, it hasn't improved. That is, most pastors I know are trying to take a stand against racism and I'm sure some are doing a good job (b/c of the pandemic, I'm not 100% sure of what everyone's words and receptions have been). But others are either using the same old platitudes, or aligning themselves with those who riot and commit horrible violence--sometimes against Blacks and other minorities--in the name of anti-racism. It's a complex issue, to say the least. On a personal note: have any of you seen how Christian media portrays disabilities? It's even worse. Characters with disabilities are so inspirational and sappy, it's sick. A lot of them die at the end. And this same Christian media always throws around the word "retard" or "retarded." Now, I will admit I've had villains use this word in my own writing because, well, they're villains and they suck and that's what they do. But in Christian media, everybody who isn't disabled says it. It's accepted as fact: "This person is retarded. Retarded is an acceptable word, as long as we say it in the right tone." Ugh. – Stephanie M. 5 years ago
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Megyn Kelly is always going to be Megyn Kelly

I think it would be interesting to explore how much or how little Megyn Kelly has changed since moving to MSNBC. I think it was signalled by her and by the channel that she was or would be different to her Fox News persona but it doesn’t seem to have been true. Maybe people think that’s good or maybe they think it’s bad. Either side I think it’s an interesting topic.

  • Maybe one problem for Kelly is that she is seen in her current position as though she were still at Fox News. Can she escape her past? Other Fox News figures have moved on to other stations, but in Kelly's case her high visibility from confronting Donald Trump during the 2016 Presidential campaign stays with her. – Joseph Cernik 7 years ago
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The animals that inspired their work

It is a fairly well accepted concept that many artists and authors have used the animals around them as inspiration. For some it comes from the animal beside the heath, the pet that enriches the household. Others, such as Beatrix Potter, are known for embracing the wildness and the animals that inhabit the land. In some cases the animals involved are even considered to be humanising influences – an animal connection that keeps them grounded.

The suggestion for this article would be a look at the influence of animals on art and literature. This could be taken further to include the symbolic and allegorical role of animals, or it could focus on the anthropomorphic inclusions in their art. Or it could simply be a broader follow on from 'The truth about cats and artists.'

  • I think an interesting way to go with this could be to broaden the argument to even encompass academia- for example, Derrida has several pieces that are inspired by, and even mention, his cat and "the gaze of the animal." Animal philosophy could be a particularly good place to start with an endeavor like this one. – ees 7 years ago
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  • I don't see the use of animals in fiction as having any limitations at all. Animals can be sources of inspiration, allegorical, symbolic, or archetypal--and many other things beyond that. I still remember reading "Watership Down" and being enthralled by the heroic and daring exploits of... rabbits. – WILLIAMLAURANCE 7 years ago
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From Death Wish (1974) to Death Wish (2018): A Change in Attitude toward Guns and Violence between the Release of the Movies

When Death Wish starring Charles Bronson came out it was a blockbuster. The movie has a scene where police discuss an internal report that crime in New York City was down, no doubt as a result of Bronson’s character walking the streets at night dishing out his own form of justice (the new version of the movie does not carry that scene). Two years after the original movie was released, Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor introduced legislation which would become copied across the country, leading to concealed gun laws in states. The re-make of Death Wish starring Bruce Willis, has elements of the original but does not carry the same community spirit in the movie that supports this vigilante walking the streets of Chicago. Instead, the movie has a radio show, for example, presenting Willis’s character in a way where some can support him and some cannot. The original movie was received with often applause in movie theaters when a bad guy was shot, not so with the re-make. How the newer version is received is, perhaps, different than the original and can lead to a discussion of guns, violence, and attitudes toward addressing crime.

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    Defining a true fan

    It is becoming a more and more common divisive argument between us: what truly makes someone a fan of an actor or a musician or a movie? Over time it has become less credible to simply enjoy a finished product (regardless of its category) and more about the politics of who knows the most facts, easter eggs, and can quote the most lines/lyrics etc. It is becoming more and more evident that the intentions of those who claim to belong to a fanbase, are becoming less satisfied with the simple act of belonging to a group of likeminded individuals and instead about outcompeting our neighbours. What credits a claim to being a fan of something?

    • Very interesting, especially considering how many fandoms are out there and the "fan wars" that often occur within them. – Stephanie M. 7 years ago
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    • I feel like this article could have a conclusion on whether the term 'true fan' should be used - whether it is sufficient to use to discriminate between fans OR take the angle that the whole fan label debate is ridiculous and shouldn't be competitive. – Abbey 7 years ago
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    • Could also include fan interactions, how they interact within the fandom whether it is toxic or supportive. Some fandoms are family whereas others can be horrible to be in. – maggieveach 7 years ago
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    • Might be interesting to look at the price of fame as well as the positives and negatives of fandoms. There is a great book called 'I Was Born For This' by Alice Oseman about this theme. :) – Zohal99 7 years ago
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    Why is looking at characterisation so undermined in comparison to structure and form in English Literature? And what effects does this have?

    I'm an English Literature student at university and throughout my time studying literature at school/ college, and even university, I've noticed a trend amongst teachers and markers, which is a reaction of almost scorn at analysis of character in fiction. To me this has always seemed the oddest phenomenon as character has always been the most interesting, and also sometimes most important and valid feature of a novel. Take 'The Handmaid's Tale' for example. During and after my reading of the text, there was so much meaning hidden in Atwood's characters that I felt was integral to the message of her novel. Thinking about what I might write about for my dissertation, I felt ready and inspired to delve into this topic until I remembered the impression teachers have had of characterisation in the past. An example of this, for those of you who are unfamiliar with this sentiment, my a-level eng lit teacher told me to focus more on structure as it was considered higher level than character. This has always enraged me a little as I think avoidance of analysing character in a novel is avoidance of a whole chunk of the message of a book. As for the effects this has, I think this leads to a connection between fiction and the real world being lost. Often times I have questioned the purpose of analysing books if we are not taking deeper meaning from them in regards to the worlds that they were written in. I think undermining the importance of character in a book is evidence that the real purpose of a book (if it is concerned with a wider message, which they almost always are) is being lost.

    • I think this is a really unique way to look at the topic. Very detailed! :) – Zohal99 7 years ago
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    • This focus on structure over character stems from some English instructors trying to validate the importance of English. I would have to check, but in the early twentieth century, there was a push back against teaching English at the university level. Mainly due to most people believing it to be irrelevant as most schools of thought such as sciences, mathematics, history etc. already incorporated reading. This lead to people seeing the ability to read as the bare minimum for being at a university. Leading to literary intellectuals trying to come up with ways to make literature more like the sciences. This lead to instructors pulling away from anything that can be associated with feelings and speculative thought. Essentially they want to focus on absolutes. Which is why there is a heavy interest on the form. (It is also why sometimes you do not even need to read the text to pass an English test because what your teacher is going to discuss is easily predictable because they are going. Protip for my fellow English majors out there.") – Blackcat130 7 years ago
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    • All these personal references stop me from getting interested in the topic. They actually keep me away from finding an objective approach and merit. – T. Palomino 3 years ago
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    Importance of narratives in table top gaming

    A steady rise has begun in table top gaming, which can be linked to the increased awareness of gaming through online forums and social media. There has become a larger sense of community in being able to discuss a personal engagement with particular games. I would argue that part of this has been the increase in narrative style table top games, both those being released by large corporations such as the Arkham Horror and Betrayal at House on the Hill style games, but also smaller kickstarters and independent games, such as the beautiful Dreamwell, and smaller games like Stuff and Nonsense. Narratives do not need to be complete directed stories, but also the invitation to engage in story telling, such as in the Fiasco style games. Regardless of type part of their success is that there is a narrative in place, it takes it from being something very generic into becoming an immersive experience.

    It would be interesting to discuss what are some of the latest trends in narrative styles or content, what are the most popular types of narratives that have endured and where we think narratives in games is heading next.

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      Why mumble rap is a thing today?

      Thinking about how mumble rap has become today's pick of development. How exactly mumble rap is effecting society with meaningless lyrics and demobilizing people's thoughts.

      • This is a very interesting topic as it something very current. If you can define what exactly what Mumble rap and how artists use it then it can be something very engaging to read. Also try yo figure out its origins and how it became the thing it is today – cbo1094 7 years ago
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      • You could bring sound poetry into this! It's kind of mumble rap for spoken word poetry. – DanielleBrylDam 7 years ago
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      The Academy Awards Are A Victim of the Moment

      What makes something the Best Picture? And why have so many of them been forgotten about? Many movies that were considered the best movie of that respective year are not really talked about and pander to many of the voters expectations and agenda during that time. Great movies that are still talked about today like Citizen Kane, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Saving Private Ryan unbelievably lose to something that a lot of people consider lesser. While film opinion is subjective, it's a failure from the voters to recognize and snub a film that has resonated with a lot of people for legitimate reasons. What makes voters so caught up in the moment with certain films that causes the notorious awards snub?

      • In writing this topic it's definitely important to talk about the handicaps of the Oscars. As the poster said, the voters have a lot of room to improve on. Many vote only for what they know and for movies that focus on people similar to their demographic - usually white, affluent males. There's the notorious animation section which almost always goes to Disney, then Pixar. Superior animation is ignored in favor for the well known, status quo Disney. There was also that quote of the voter who said he votes for whatever animation his daugher likes. Does the Oscar's shortcoming stem from subconscious bias, laziness, or connections/deals or for preserving the status quo? – RyderVii 7 years ago
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      • "Snub" is a cute word. When it is used it implies some broad acceptance that many know a movie is good and was ignored. But, is that true? We all have our own favorites that were ignored and instead of just saying "my choice was ignored" saying "snub" raises it to a different level. Is that different than wondering why certain players are not in the Hall of Fame? – Joseph Cernik 7 years ago
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      Nerd Culture Gatekeeping

      An issue that I think is still prevalent even today. But the pressure that you have to prove how much of a nerd you are to be accepted within certain circles.

      Especially with how mainstream Nerd Culture is becoming, it's almost as if we have to prove we're not just riding the wave and even if we were, whats so wrong about that?

      I'm sure everyone has experienced the feeling of not being nerdy enough, or even judged for not having played a certain game, or knowing all the character's names in a show, or not following all the episodes of Critical Role.

      Is it just due to an elitist mindset in nerd culture? or is it perhaps more of a defensive mechanism to protect from 'fake nerds' just riding the mainstream wave?

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        A Black James Bond

        Daniel Craig became the first 'blonde' Bond, but once his tenure comes to a close, a new face will be required to sip those Vodka martinis and put paid to the latest Mr Big's plans to dominate the world. When considering the many, fine black actors working these days, perhaps it's time that we had a black James Bond. After all, the CIA operative Felix Leiter was recast in the 2006 franchise reboot, with the excellent American actor Jeffrey Wright proving he was more than capable of handling a darker role (excuse the unintended pun). So, which black actor could become Bond and, more importantly, why? Bear in mind that it is the character of Bond that is the focus, so the choice of actor must be one who can both fills those shoes and yet be able to make that character his own. This is not a popularity contest. On a personal note – I would suggest Chiwetel Ejiofor ('Twelve Years a Slave'. 2013). He is the consummate professional who possesses a solid, on-screen (and stage) presence. His IMDB profile shows an impressive track record that demonstrates he can switch from comedic to dramatic roles with ease (just take a look at his performance in 'Kinky Boots'. 2005) and he is ruggedly handsome enough to raise respectful envy from male Bond fans whilst undoubtedly turning more than a few female fans' heads. Remember, James Bond is an iconic role so your choice and reasons must take this into consideration.

        • I am not sure how many people would like to see a black James Bond, but I am one of those people who would like to see a black James Bond. However, the last time I heard this topic being discussed, there was an opposition for a black actor to take on the role. The main argument against it was that the author envisioned a white person doing this role. But, from a personal point of view, Chiwetel Elijofor would make a great James Bond, or Idris Elba would make a great James Bond. Especially if the character of James Bond is not a character, but a job title that gets filled once the position becomes available at MI6. So, if the James Bond is not a person, but a job position that gets filled up, then yes! A black James Bond would be great. However, if the James Bond is supposed to be a white person because that is the vision of the author, then I would say no because that is the vision of the creator. – nbcaballero 7 years ago
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        • Wasn't Idris Elba long rumored to be the next James Bond? He has mass appeal and is a wonderful actor. I think many people would love to see a great actor like him in that role. – Mccaela 7 years ago
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        The rise of text-based gaming

        When one opens the usual source for their gaming apps there seems to be a plethora of text-based gaming role-playing-games, beyond what we once were seeing. Is this simply due to the ease of making such games versus a visual game? Or is there actually a rise in the market for such game play? Has this then replaced the popularity of the choose-your-own-adventure book? Many questions, does anyone have the answers?

        • The following article on The Artifice could be a great source of history on text-based gaming: https://the-artifice.com/text-adventure-gaming-history/ – Misagh 7 years ago
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        • I think this is actually a super interesting topic, that I haven't seen anywhere near enough people write about. I think you're absolutely right that the ease of making a "visual novel"/text-based video game is remarkably easy, compared to some AAA titles we see coming out with big money and big assets behind them. We can see this over-abundance in this genre by looking up the tag "visual novel" on Steam and seeing the complete nightmare that is the "newest releases" section of that tag... However, one doesn't need to look far to see that there is a demand in the market. One of the biggest best games of the last year on Steam was the visual novel/horror mix game "Doki Doki Literature Club." Now, this game may have gained infamy because of the fact that youtubers played it cause it had good jump-scares and whatnot, but this is through and through a game that is 90% scrolling text and reading. And people loved it. This game would not have been noticed or made anywhere near as much of an impact if it weren't for the fact that the text and writing in the game was PHENOMENAL. And people recognized this! Then there are other recent releases like Undertale and Persona, whom have heavy JRPG elements attached to them, but have hours of cut-scenes and text to delve into as a player. This market has always been around, with releases such as the Fate games, the Ace Attorney franchise, and Danganronpa to name a few, but the popularity is rising by the day. Especially as we begin mixing genres and incorporating large blocks of genuinely engaging text more and more into our "normal" games! It's a very exciting time to be engaging with visual novels and text-based games! :) Er... sorry this note got so long. I hope it was at least kind of helpful! Good luck working on this topic, I look forward to reading about it! :) PS: You should absolutely check out "Valhalla" on steam. It's a visual novel about working at a bar in a cyberpunk dystopian future. It's a MUST play! – BioLizard 7 years ago
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        • What really helps with the rise of text based games, at least based on my casual research, is the amount of time people have to play games anymore. Even with few graphics, text-based gaming allows for more freedom with which to play a game. It is obviously usually pretty story driven, but gives the player something more to do than simply read something. Even the thought of ebooks helps lend to this. People enjoy interaction, and text-based gaming is a simple enough interaction that helps even the most casual gamer find the time to play a game throughout their busy schedules. – VideoGameProf 7 years ago
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        Howl's Moving Castles and the Curse of Aging

        An analysis of the curse of aging in Howl's Moving Castle, both the youth novel by Dianna Wynn Jones and the Miyazaki movie it inspired. How does the movie portray the difference between young and old? What are the dynamics between the younger and older characters? Does the movie present a positive or negative portrayal of aging overall? (As related to the concepts of beauty, social interaction, etc.). What does the movie say about aging in general, and how people should handle it? How do perceptions of the movie differ between younger and older viewers?

        I'm interested in what the depiction of Sophie's curse, premature aging, says about the aging process and the social concept of beauty.

        • There's a lot of scope here regarding the issue of ageing. Might I suggest having a look at Erikson's 9th stage of ageing, a psychological theory that incorporates complex ideas of loss and development. You may see inspiration in here that will add weight to your thesis. – Psiwrite 7 years ago
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        Fat Characters on Television

        The representation of fatness on television happens in a myriad of ways in modern television. Sometimes this is with diversity, sensitivity, and real life reference. Other times, fatness is rejected on television. There is also often a spectrum of an acceptable level of fatness. Trace how these representations occur in modern television in dichotomous and often contradictory ways. This could include an analysis of a specific fat television character, the impact of gender, age, and race on representations of fatness, and/or tracing the history of television representations of fat characters.

        • This is a great topic and a well-mapped thesis, however, it's a bit broad for the length of an article-- this reads more like a chunk of a thesis proposal than a prompt for a journal entry. I would recommend narrowing this topic down by genre (e.g.: animated sitcom, children's media, family drama, etc.) by sub-group (e.g.: specifically white men, specifically black women, etc.) or by decade (e.g. sitcoms in the 1970s versus 2010s sitcoms; 1960s advertising versus 1980s advertising, etc.). This is fertile ground, but you should probably zero in on a specific subtopic. – TheCropsey 7 years ago
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        • The TV show This Is Us has approached this from probably one of the more sympathetic and relatable perspectives. There is a lot in that show that could be discussed in regards to this topic. – tclaytor 7 years ago
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        The blank page and writer's block

        An issue I think all writers experience at one time or another, whether they are writing fiction or non-fiction. Firstly, however, is writer's block a real thing? What does it actually mean? How can it present? What would be interesting to follow this is a discussion of a range of strategies that are often suggested, along with some anecdotes from published writers (from literature, to television, films or even journalists) on the ways they have overcome their own writer's block.

        • Cool topic! I've got some thoughts that might help. I'm a published writer myself, and I've heard a lot about this. A lot of fellow writers say writer's block isn't real. They say when we claim to have it, we're just stonewalling ourselves and the process. But for me at least, there does come a time when you're just...dry. It happens for a lot of reasons - you're out of ideas, you just finished a project and don't know how to start on the next one, you name it. In my personal experience, writer's block happens because of my fear. That is, I sit down to write and my inner editor/critic/prospective agent will not shut up. She says things like, "You're telling, not showing! This has been done! No one will read this! You can't do it again!" And no matter how much I tell her to shut the you-know-what up, she keeps yakking. I'm thinking of naming her - after Delores Umbridge. :) Anyway, perfectionism is a huge culprit. There's also the fact that as writers, we think of any excuse not to write. As in, "I gotta work on my day job first/I haven't showered yet/there's something good on TV/maybe after I work out the juices will flow..." As for strategies, I'm a fan of "just suck it up and write," but sometimes that doesn't work. Getting out of the house can be extremely helpful, and I'm a big fan of music. I associate a lot of my favorite songs with characters I've created, so listening helps me think of where I want to take them. Hope this helps! – Stephanie M. 7 years ago
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        • Journaling helps. I just read the book 'The War of Art' and essentially it chocks up creativity as more of a transcendent message that we as humans are just agents for. Even Tom Waits believes this. So, to combat these bursts of creativity, I keep a journal. Sometimes my thoughts are ten-fold, and sometimes it's as simple as "A man on the bus sitting with flowers." Well, imagine the possibilities in just that statement. Is it valentine's day? Is he apologizing? Why does he have flowers? It's these little nooks and crannies in life that can inspire so much. So journaling really helps in making sure my thoughts are worth something for the times when I don't think they are. I recommend actually getting a journal rather than notes in an iPhone, something tangible means more in the end. Another way I combat writer's block is to just go out and live. As writers there's a romanticism involved with the sequestered author hidden away critiquing the world. But I always try to engage with strangers I come across. This is where characters come from. Something as simple as the way a man's ears wiggle when he talks, is a character trait that will aid any story. Everything is borrowed, but it's only borrowed if we take the time to notice. So my two tips: 1) Journal and 2) Live! – ryhook 7 years ago
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        • Writing daily helps--and it does not necessarily have to be well-developed complete pages. I think the advantage of a site such as this, The Artifice, is that by submitting Topics that you will not be writing about can actually help you to organize your thoughts about topics you want to write about. You look at how you put together a coherent idea and then there it is on the screen in front of you. The more you can do that, although other people will choose those Topics to write about, can help you see how you are organizing your thoughts regarding what you are writing. – Joseph Cernik 7 years ago
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        Interactivity in Games: When Agency Matters.

        Discuss examples in videogames when interactivity matters. Do Cut Scenes or sequences with Quick Time Events have a completely different meaning when they become interactive? Some examples are the final bosses in God of War 3 and Metal Gear Solid 3. How does timed decisions in cut scenes create tension and meaning? Some examples include Mass Effect and Telltale games. Does introducing interactivity in these games make them more immersive?

        • Fixed suggestions by Pamela Maria – Zander Jones 7 years ago
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        • I like this topic as it something that has been talked about when it comes to video games Should games offer more independence when it comes to gameplay or be tied to a lot of cut scenes and quick time events. Explore the negatives and positives of these features – cbo1094 7 years ago
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        • I like this topic as it something that has been talked about when it comes to video games Should games offer more independence when it comes to gameplay or be tied to a lot of cut scenes and quick time events. Explore the negatives and positives of these features – cbo1094 7 years ago
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        How important is accuracy?

        When it comes to things like superheroes like Superman, the Hulk, Iron Man, or Batman, everyone has an idea of their origin stories. But as the superhero movie franchise only continues to barrel forward, how important is it for writers to include an accurate recount of the superhero origins for new viewers? Or does it matter at all?

        • It matters to an extent. The idea of an adaptation is to provide a new interpretation to something pre-existing. You don't want the filmmakers to exactly follow the comics or else it would be boring. It has to be suitable so it can be translated to screen for a general film audience – cbo1094 7 years ago
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        • I think to a certain degree people stop caring about the origin story since for some heroes its such commonly treaded ground that its basically mud the next time a reboot rolls around. Spiderman Homecoming skipped it completely keeping the movie fresh and exciting. Of course as an introduction for new viewers it might leave them in the dark, but if you value yourself as a writer you should be able to help ease new viewers in with slight exposition rather than pulling a BVS and shoving it in in the first 2 minutes as a dream sequence. – AMedina 7 years ago
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        What will our future bring?

        Many different TV series and films offer various visions of the future. Spanning from a dystopic universe where water is scarce and people scavenge, such as Tank Girl, or where the water levels have risen and earth is scarce, such as Waterworld, to futures where we have expanded into the stars, Star Trek, etc.

        There are many interpretations of what comes next for us, and I thought an interesting topic would be to map some of these and look at the origin concept at their core. The easiest example would be to use Waterworld: rising sea levels due to climate change lead to eventually all but the highest peaks become completely under water that is more salt than fresh. Humanity moves to living in floating communities and diving for materials from the world before.

        Many of these interpretations are not that far into our future and offer some interesting points of view on where the human race is heading. Can you think of other examples?

        • To see how different futures are envisioned from the period when that particular future was developed. The 1950s and atomic testing or the present and climate change. How the times affect future-vision. – Joseph Cernik 7 years ago
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        Uchiha Itachi and Severus Snape

        Compare the two fictional characters by contrasting character development for each. Also, shed light on how similarly crucial each character's narrative is to the overarching narrative.

        • Can you offer more context? Comparison in what manner? Also, most people are familiar with Snape and his character - but perhaps not so much with Itachi. – Karen 7 years ago
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        • @Karen This would be fitting as a revision to this topic. =) – Misagh 7 years ago
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        • I didn't want the topic to be restrictive. But I am sure the concept of sacrifice should figure in the comparison... Anyone who is familiar with both characters should be tempted to write about the parallels between them--I think. – purplelight71 7 years ago
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        • My revision was marked as fixed, however your summary is the same as before. Please add more context to your topic. – Pamela Maria Schmidt 7 years ago
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        • Oh I apologize I thought 'fixed' was like pin this comment here! I'm new here :( – purplelight71 7 years ago
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        • Why is this side by side comparison important to explore? They may well be very similar, but the similarities between morally gray characters in two unrelated (albeit popular) franchises isn't necessarily a relevant topic. You can write a paper comparing any two things and even make a successful argument about it, but there should be a good reason to make the comparison in the first place. So why is it worth while to contrast and compare these guys? – TheCropsey 7 years ago
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        • One thing that joins these two characters is how much the fandom loves them and forgives them after hearing about their true motives despite the fact that they both did horrible things. You can examine how Rowling and Kishimoto managed to make them fan favourites to the point where some fans don't care that they were presented as horrible people for the majority of the series. – tmtonji 7 years ago
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        • purplelight71 no worries! – Pamela Maria 7 years ago
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        7

        Native Americans in Hollywood film

        I would love to read an article detailing Native American representation in Hollywood cinema. Whitewashing, the Marlon Brando Oscars debacle, and more.

        • There was a 2009 documentary title "Reel Injun" that did a terrific job exploring this, and it is a powerful topic because of the influence that the portrayal of First Nations in films has had on the European North American consciousness. In light of the more recent calls for recognition of indigenous sovereignty, rights, and title to unceded land that have been in the news lately in both Canada and the US, examining our perceptions of First Nations peoples and biases formed by Hollywood visions would be well worth reading. – petethicke 7 years ago
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        • You're right that "Reel Injun" addresses this and does so amazingly. It is about 10 years old; however. I have yet to read recent well written online articles detailing this issue. – nbenn057 7 years ago
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        • There are many of them, and there are scholars who dedicated their careers to that subject and wrote books about it. – T. Palomino 3 years ago
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