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8

Noir Hilariousa: 'The Tick'

The recent release of the television series 'The Tick' has presented one of the most interesting genre mash ups. With clear nods to the Film Noir style: in the cinematography, the editing, and the structure of the narrative. It is also obviously a superhero show with some strongly comedic and traditional tropes in place: the hero's journey (actually pointed out in dialogue), the abilities of the characters, the motivation of the characters and the various costuming, choreography of fight scenes, etc. that we are used to associating with such texts. The superhero side leans so heavily into the bright, ridiculous world of comic books that it seems outlandish that the elements of the darker, serious Noir style would even work, yet oddly the mash up is remarkably appealing and visually interesting. If this is the new future for television superhero shows then my faith has been restored!

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    Is "Binge Culture" Ruining The Television Industry?

    Within the past few years, the way we watch television has completely transformed. Between releasing 15 episodes at once to specialized mini-series with only 8 episodes we are traveling in a new direction. Is this a positive force or negative? How so and who is affected? More creatives are finally being able to produce the shows they may have had difficulty with in the past. But is this all just recycled visual information coming out in a larger quantity? By simply hitting "next episode" are we focusing on the content or having a competition to binge the series in under a weekend?

    Thoughts?

    • I don't believe that the actual quantity of television has necessarily been changed by the rise of binge-watching (things like that are typically dictated by contracts and production costs). However, I do believe that it has created a dramatic increase in the production and popularity of serialized narratives (as opposed to self-contained narratives) which may make for an interesting topic from a creative point of view. – Ian Miculan 7 years ago
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    • I'm not sure if it's ruining the television industry or the viewer's experience. It can be argued that the anticipation felt at the end of a crazy episode isn't as intense because the viewer knows that they can find the resolution in the next episode immediately. There's one show that I watch week to week, and I find myself needing to talk to friends about it and feeling more intrigued by the show's drama. Integrating the effect on the viewer might be an interesting twist to the article. I think this would make the article more intriguing to a reader because they can relate to it through their own experience. – lolsen 7 years ago
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    • I think that binge culture can be damaging to the television industry. Because people can speed through series much more quickly, companies like Netflix are putting out dozens of new series everyday, instead of focusing on the ones that have held long-lasting success. – Sarah Bish 7 years ago
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    • Not positive. Not negative, either. It's just what it is. A "state" of TV evolution. Right now, they are going back to weekly episodes. – T. Palomino 2 years ago
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    Riverdale's loss of innocence

    The new revival of nostalgic television has taken a darker path. The success of 'Stranger Things' has been a catalyst for encouraging the development of nostalgia projects, however, at its heart it is a dark and disturbing tale. The recent release of the 'Riverdale' series based on the 'Archie' comics has been an interesting progression down this darker road. Utilising the same characters, the television interpretation has developed a show full of murder, death, drugs, gangs and violence all obviously in vast contrast to the actuality of the comic series. Yet this series is resonating with the viewers. It seems that the rose-coloured lens of viewing the early American Dream as a reality is truly dead, yet because of it this is becoming a must view series. Have we as viewers now completely lost our innocence?

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      Humanity of Renaissance Art

      Put side-by-side subjects in medieval art appear generally as identical, flat and featureless, two-dimensional portraiture's with white pasty faces. By referring to Jean Clouet’s Portrait of François I King of France, 1525-30; Hans Holbein’s The Ambassadors, 1533 and François Clouet’s A Lady in Her Bath, 1571 humanist thinking in the Renaissance period let artists embark on representing people physiologically unique from other humans. Realizing also that the artists’ works mentioned are a valuable part of history. The artists’ resurgent innovation begins in Italy where it is in respect to God’s handiwork of the human being, the body. Leading the way to a worldwide impression of days gone by which is in portraits of people with individual traits.

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        Disney Remakes Cinema Needs

        Disney has already remade several of its animated classics for the live-action medium, and there is no end in sight. This trend birthed plenty of controversy, since some people love the remakes and others despise the idea of changing animated classics in any way. Whether you're a remake-lover or a naysayer, the question remains: which remakes have made the best and smoothest transitions? Which have positively influenced cinema and Disney, and which will continue to do so for years after their releases?

        Along with this, consider the reams of Disney animated films that are slated for remakes or haven't been touched yet. Of these, which are the ones we truly need, and why? Are there any that should never be remade, and again, why?

        • Why are remakes necessary at all? Disney's appear to slavishly recreate their source material. – BallardianGorse 7 years ago
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        Fulfilling the Promise of Character Creation in RPG's

        I've been playing Divinity: Original Sin 2 a lot recently and it made me realise what I really love about RPG's; the way that they let you really create a character. But this doesn't end at their appearance or race. Games like Original Sin 2 fulfill the promise of character creation by rewarding absolutely everything your character can attempt. Giving the player so many options based upon the character they built and how they play makes the world feel alive and causes the player to feel as though their character is charting a course based on who they are. So many RPG's provide options but often you reach quests or situations where there is no alternative (due to narrative restrictions) or there is are blatant good, bad and worse options. There are so many other RPG's that allow for this deep character creation and they always seem to become instant classics. I also think this approach is incredibly interesting as it's rare that players notice just how much this level of reactivity influences their style of play.

        • I don't know the particular game you name, but I definitely share your interest in these sorts of games that allow for character development and player investment in the character. What you've written looks like a general topic. How could it be made more specific, for someone wanting to write an essay on the topic? Here are some related questions that come up for me: Does a legal/bounty system (in Skyrim, for example) or a karma system (in some of the Fallout games, for example) or a reputation system (in Baldur's Gate, for example) help with development and connection, or are those systems too mechanical? Are open world games better suited for development and connection? – JamesBKelley 7 years ago
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        8

        The Depiction Of Myth In Comics

        From Mt. Olympus to the Daevas the subjects of myths and the focuses of spirituality have appeared in comics over the past few decades and now there are a wide variety of mythical beings throughout our comics. An article on this topic would talk about how myths and mythical beings have appeared in comic books and possibly even speculate about how they'll be depicted in the future.

        • Is there any way you could make this topic slightly more specific? There are so many different types of mythology and spirituality, and it would be easier for the writer of this topic if you chose one specific type of mythology (say Greek mythology) and maybe even put out a couple of examples. I'm a big fan of this topic, I just think it could be specified a little bit more. – LilyaRider 7 years ago
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        • I think a more specific way of approaching this might be to examine what are the prevalent preferred mythologies at the moment? All the classic mythologies tend to be cycled through popular culture at different times and in different places depending on the particular socio-cultural subtext currently in vogue. A very broad example of this is the rise of the undead in their various forms, a not unusual form of original mythos, plus the rise of the superhero and their deeds is reminiscent of Jason's trials. However, you could narrow down into particular aspects, for instance the increasing presence of transformational mythologies, or the reoccurring themes of the "great beneath beings" - the titans - that has been popping up. I do really like the idea of then having a discussion about what will come next. – SaraiMW 7 years ago
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        • I recommend looking at Brian Azzarello's Wonder Woman New 52 Run. You could write this whole article about because there was so much greek mythology in it. – Sean Gadus 7 years ago
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        Questioning the validity of Lena Dunham's opinion through 'Girls'

        Following a Nietzschean line of philosophy: one must be deeply engaged in the world on an experiential level to obtain a respected opinion. Struggle is imperative in this process as it develops our own inner identity; through battling against a thing that we hate we become more akin to the things we love. Here I pose the question: is Girls a TV series we should take seriously on issues like gender oppression, sexual assault and racial division? Has the creator Lena Dunham been through enough social struggle to speak for groups that experience daily marginalisation, when she herself may not typically be considered marginalised?

        • What defines the validity of an opinion? I understand that you're using philosophy, but I've always felt an aversion towards having to legitimize one's own take and opinion on certain subjects. Case in point: comments that begin with "as a __," not in an assertion of authority, but in a fear of one's thoughts being invalidated. Who is 'we,' why must 'we' be a hive mind? Can certain people take it seriously, while others won't? Can we stop policing others' opinions n what is and isn't worthy of serious attention? Why is there a bar for 'enough struggle to be taken seriously'? – m-cubed 8 years ago
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        • Given the show's popularity its reasonable to assume that it speaks to a lot of individuals on a close level. Therefore it is informing broader discourse, which is a legitimate standpoint to question the validity of the central opinion as it could be perpetuating more divisions. The show is heavily criticised for its lack of racial depiction and adds to another long, long list of sitcoms that fall into that box. If there aren't standards of struggle for people in power there will be no mechanism of change, the same views will be presented which perpetuates a disparity in our social order. – Iliasbakalla 8 years ago
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        • Again to dispute the commedeia della arte of America, not every fat chick is smarter than you are. – Antonius865 7 years ago
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        Empathy versus systems in the work of Wes Anderson

        Analyse Wes Anderson's ability to maintain empathy in a highly constructed world of systems and artifice. Investigate the success or lack thereof of film school graduates who mimic Anderson's style: are they able to replicate his empathy as well as his visual technique? See Simon Baron-Cohen's E-S theories.

        • 1. Define "empathy in a highly constructed world of systems and artifice." – T. Palomino 2 years ago
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        • 2. Give yourself a summary of BC ES theories and explain why they are relevant. – T. Palomino 2 years ago
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        Persona 5: Forcing a 'Change of Heart' for the cost of 'Free Will'

        Persona 5 takes realistic antagonists and uses an unorthodox means to force them…to change them. Heck, early in the game, it was said that this method risks killing the antagonist.

        It is a topic that isn't questioned too much deep in game and I thought it would be nice to get that discussion going. Do note the game just came out so the discussion of Persona 5 is limited if anyone wants to add spoilers…which I do think it isn't necessary. In addition, I feel like this discussion could extend any other actions which ultimately is a means to 'force change'.

        The general reason the Phantom Thieves are generally accepted as a force of good is because they are mainly fighting back abusers. I would also mention Death Note and how it also had a similar tale of Light, his sense of Justice and his god complex. A bad end in Persona 5 suggests a similar god complex as well.

        • There's a lot going on here, I'd simplify the actual prompt (is it whether or not such an act is moral? justified?) and probably take out the Death Note comparison unless it's the major focus of the entire topic ("Compare Persona 5 and Death Note"); otherwise, it just feels like a semi-unrelated side note. – m-cubed 8 years ago
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        • I feel like such a topic can lead into 'whether forceful acts are moral' using Persona 5 and Death Note (and other stories) an overarching theme for discussion. – plumbunnies 8 years ago
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        Should we judge remakes based off the original?

        With the release of the live-action version of the popular anime based off a popular manga, and the negative reviews already flooding out, should we judge remakes off originals, treat them separately, or perhaps a little bit of both?

        • You could expand your suggestion for this topic to include a few examples (I'm sure you must have one or two in mind) and perhaps also include references to any particular genre (or genres), as we can't really place all anime features based on mangas in the same basket. One size doesn't necessarily fit all. It would also be worth considering what a live action remake might bring to the original story and whether some elements might indeed work better in a live action setting. There's also the sensitive subject of 'whitewashing' characters for a Western audience, such as Scarlett Johansson's casting as Major Kusanagi in the recent (and in my opinion, very poor) live action remake of G.I.T.S.. Compare this to the casting of Mana Ashida in the live action remake of 'Usagi Drop' (2011), which had been deliberately adapted to remove certain questionable elements in the original manga story. I mention these two remakes (or adaptations) particularly for the different approaches used by their directors - the former was heavilly scripted, whereas the latter had a loose script that permitted a certain amount of experimentation and ad-libbing from the actors, creating a more natural feel to the developing relationships. – Amyus 7 years ago
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        • I'm not sure if this is a case of "should we." People are going to judge remakes by originals, adaptations by books, and so on. It's human nature. I think the actual question, as you mentioned here, is *how* to best judge. – Stephanie M. 7 years ago
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        • I think I agree a lot with Stephanie. My main focus for this question I posed revolved around the idea that people deliberately shy away from remakes if they are fans of the original. Different art forms allow for very different ways of telling stories, and I think a lot of the time (if not nearly all), remakes do do a poor job of retelling stories due to not finding the right balance of keeping original content and creating new content. Is it up to the audience to be open to new ideas in an already created universe or up to the creators to develop and expand on that same universe. – Zoinks 7 years ago
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        • We should because that is what it is based on. There are a lot of movies who do sequels and cant follow the original movie because of copyright laws. They should name it something different. – seniorhomecare 7 years ago
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        • I think for a viewer, it comes down to how they watch a film/show. Some people might not be familiar with the original property and will be unbiased going in while others who have seen it will have an expectation (maybe they want to see something that aligns with the original or a new take on it). I think for the viewer it's all subjective. For the creator of the new property, they need to know going in that this is a known story with strong supporters so justice needs to be done to the material (whether they take it in a new direction or not). I think this is most successful when the new creator has a connection with the source material, so they are the best one to be in the driver's seat. – jonj 7 years ago
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        • I believe that remakes should be compared to their originals to answer the fundamental question of "Is this necessary?' For instance, a remake can (and often times should) be poorly received if it simply repeats the same beats, messages, tropes, etc. as the original without adding anything new to the conversation or reducing the impact of the original's intent. – Ian Miculan 7 years ago
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        Loving Vincent

        The new movie "Loving Vincent" is a celebration of Van Gogh's life. Write about the film that made history as the first fully painted feature film as an international effort.

        • By sheer coincidence I happened to acquire a copy of this film recently and watched it this evening. 'Loving Vincent' is a thing of beauty and an astounding project to undertake. I can only imagine the technical difficulties those involved had to overcome, but the end result is well worth the time and effort. Perhaps the only suggestion I could add to your topic suggestion is to also look at the artists involved in the film making and how they approached the subject matter, what research they did and what insight they (hopefully) gained into the art of Vincent Van Gogh. – Amyus 7 years ago
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        A History of the Snap Zoom

        Also known as "whip zoom" or "crash zoom", this is a cinematic technique where the camera rapidly zooms in on an object for dramatic effect. In modern cinema it can be seen in the works of both Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino – the former using it as a form of comedic irony, and the latter using it as part of his homages to older cinema. That being said, the snap zoom can also be seen as a classic trope in westerns and kung fu films as well as horror movies. This article would be a historical overview of the snap zoom; its origin, its place in different genres (i.e. the potential difference between a "western" snap zoom and a "kung fu" or a "horror" one), and perhaps how it has evolved from a simple camera technique to such a stylistic stamp.

        • A fascinating suggestion, even if somewhat specialised. Nice one! You have my vote. – Amyus 7 years ago
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        7

        Will Virtual Reality Impact Tourism?

        Visiting foreign countries can truly change peoples lives. Whether its rural folk seeing thriving metropolises or hot climate citizens witnessing snow for the first time, being in a new environment can take your breath away. The use of graphics in gaming has skyrocketed. From the revolution of Pong 40 years ago, blades of grass and drops of rain have become routine for triple AAA titles. If we can imagine the difference in graphics rendering in 40 years, will a $100-$200 VR headset rival the thousands we spend on flights and accomodation overseas? If we could graphically render a building twice as tall as the Eiffel Tower, why go see the Eiffel Tower? Could virtual reality be a substitute, or threat, to global tourism?

        • Hasn't this been happening since the mid-2000s? – T. Palomino 1 year ago
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        Viral Videos and Heroic Acts

        Sharing viral videos of heroic acts seems to be a double-edged sword. On one side are those who argue that sharing videos of heroic acts encourages others to do the same, and reminds our world that “good deeds” and “good doers” still exist. On the other side are those who argue that publicly sharing heroic acts is not in fact heroic, and that it is done for attention. Some critics even claim that some of these heroic acts are staged.

        Analyze our culture’s attitude toward heroic acts. Consider the arguments on both sides, and the truth and facts behind these arguments. Also consider the celebrity-ism behind viral videos. Individual such as Antoine Dodson (“Hide yo kids/hide yo wife”) and Kai, the hatchet-wielding hitchhiker, not only became well-known for their interesting personalities and rather funny news interviews, but because of the “remixes” that their videos inspired. What can be said about our culture turning heroic acts into laughable, light-hearted memes?

        Last, consider the way technology affects these heroic acts and the attitudes of people on both sides of the argument. For example, prior to the social media and viral video revolution, heroic acts were often shared through mediums such as newspaper and word-of-mouth. How has our culture’s attitude changed in this regard?

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          The FOX and the Mouse: What does it mean for movies?

          When Disney announced their intent to acquire a large chunk of 21st Century Fox on December 14, cinephiles and television enthusiasts alike released a harmonious d'oh! Although the deal could take more than a year to close (if regulators approve), I think we are all left wondering what this merger could mean for the future of media consumption. Domestic box office attendance in 2017 is reported to have been the lowest in 25 years. With Disney simultaneously planning their own streaming service, could this merger signal the death of theatre going as we know it?

          • The death of cinema has long been predicted. Perhaps with digital media, the demise of movies can be expected. This topic is timely. – Munjeera 7 years ago
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          • Definitely interested to see what the writer comes up with, not only in terms of how the merger will affect cinema, but how it will affect both companies and their fans. I'm already seeing memes, comments, and so forth rejoicing over the fact that Anastasia could be considered an official Disney princess, for one. I see some potential new fandoms and fan culture popping up here. – Stephanie M. 7 years ago
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          • If Anastasia becomes a Disney princess, so should Esmerelda from Hunchback. But I digress... – Munjeera 7 years ago
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          • Digress all you want; she is my favorite honorary princess and I agree, she should be made official. – Stephanie M. 7 years ago
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          • Perhaps also talk about the Murdoch empire and their recent run in with regulatory authorities in England. – derBruderspielt 7 years ago
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          Anime: Misconception of Anime

          Generally the purpose of Anime is for Entertaintment. However it can be viewed negatively as well. As most generic anime would include things like Harem, hentai (where women can be viewed as objectified), violence, etc.

          But there are those animes that actually do give good life lessons and touch on subjects are a social problem.i.e one piece touches on racism in episode 568 when jinbei did a blood transplant there is also things like you cant be on top alone (nakama) as we live in an interrelated world to be successful we need people who are smart around us as we alone cannot do everything by ourselves.

          What are other anime that has good life lessons that should be highlighted to address the negativity about anime?

          • The fact that a small minority of anime series enter Western culture, has had a significant impact on the culture's judgment of the art form. Of the many animes (great and bad) that Japan has produced, only a handful ever get either dubbed or subbed for Western audiences, and of those handful, even fewer can any traction to become mainstream cable shows. The difference between Eastern culture in filmography and Western culture in a general sense also makes it hard to bridge the gap between ignorance and appreciation. The negativity about anime is surrounded by the exposure of the internet to the extremities of some absurd animes, which have become the scapegoats for many Western societies. – Gliese436B 7 years ago
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          • An interesting topic suggestion indeed and perhaps it's about time we in the West 'grew up' when it comes to stereotypical views about anime. As for your request for examples of anime that '...has good life lessons that should be highlighted...' I would propose the excellent 'Mousou Dairinin (English title: Paranoia Agent)' from 2004. The one and only series devised by the one and only; and sorely missed, late Satoshi Kon. An superb example of social paranoia and social responsibility. Funny and dramatic in turn and well worth viewing. – Amyus 7 years ago
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          Do Late Night Hosts Have a Responsibility to be Political?

          The past two years completely changed the way society speaks about politics. It seems everyone was speaking about anything that came out of the previous campaign. The country was divided and conversations of all human rights were lit on fire.

          The way the media was involved was unlike any political campaign. Local news stations and early morning shows recapped the day before like they always do. However, late night hosts took on a new role. While maintaining their comedy, the usual carefree atmosphere was unavoidably influenced by the stressful political world. Some late night hosts took advantage of it, others did not. Do you believe it is there responsibility to speak on the changing politics?

          • Certainly a timely topic. A lot has already been written about this; some articles that the prospective author might be interested in looking over include: http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/20/opinions/trump-thanksgiving-late-night-comedy-obeidallah-opinion/index.html ; https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/05/how-late-night-comedy-alienated-conservatives-made-liberals-smug-and-fueled-the-rise-of-trump/521472/ ; https://www.vox.com/2017/4/3/15163170/strikethrough-comedians-satire-trump-misinformation ; https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/how-trumps-win-is-changing-stand-up-comedy-w455263 ; https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/01/23/how-jokes-won-the-election ; https://www.gq.com/story/stand-up-comedy-in-donald-trumps-america ; https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/nov/08/donald-trump-comedians-parody-satire ; https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/07/13/is-trump-good-for-comedy-comedians-respond/?utm_term=.04a692c12aee ; http://thefederalist.com/2016/11/11/how-jon-stewart-and-the-daily-show-elected-donald-trump/ . This is just a small sample of what's out there (and there're quite a few other good ones that I remember reading but was unable to find now), trying to cover a variety of the differing perspectives on this subject. Hope it helps. – ProtoCanon 7 years ago
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          Expanded Literature Universes: Adding Depth or Justifying Exploitation?

          *POTENTIAL SPOILERS* In the wake of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, one of the main negative points that critiques emphasize is the lack of narrative fulfillment. Many plot-arcs and burning questions were either left unanswered or unexplained, priming Disney to release other forms of media, comic books or novel series', to fill the gaps in the film. There is precedent for this technique in the gaming community, with Gears of War 3 introducing characters who were fan-favourites from comic book series' and Destiny including plot-relevant lore to be explored outside of the game and on the game's website. Will this present a negative impact on the way stories are told on different mediums? Are the release of expanded works intended to deepen our appreciation for a universe, or exploitation tactics by greedy content creators? Does exploring different characters and story-lines add depth to a franchise, or allow it to short-cut the narrative process?

          • First off interesting topic. Need to change the title - these are not literature universes, perhaps pop-culture or cinematic? Depending on how you want to narrow this very large question down. In relation to the question I think you would have to take into account merchandising and one avenue might be to look at the original merchandising deals from SW that made Lucas so rich, added to this is Disney's main money makers are not their movies but all the related sales iconography, which to me is the single reason we have new SW movies, because it definitely wasn't because anyone had written a decent script (gripe, gripe). I think this is a conversation worth having. – SaraiMW 7 years ago
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          What are the reasons the readers have stopped following a manga?

          There are a couple reasons why people stopped. For example, there are a few series that have spanned years and it looks like they are nowhere near completion. The characters are essentially just one or two age older than when they started but the readers have aged a bit. People eventually find the story boring or lost track of the development.

          • I definitely agree that this is a phenomenon happening currently... it could also be interesting to include an analysis of manga that people have stuck with, and reasons why readers made the decision to stick with those manga, even though many of these also took years to complete (Naruto or One Piece, for example). – ees 7 years ago
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