AdilYoosuf

Contributing writer for The Artifice.

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    Latest Articles

    Latest Topics

    14

    The importance of violence in storytelling in Tokyo Ghoul

    Tokyo Ghoul is an anime which has managed to generate a cult following among anime fans having two successful seasons leaving audiences begging for more. Tokyo Ghoul has a rather unique subject matter concerning the nature of violence though it also can viewed as somewhat of an allegory of society itself with the interspecies war between humans and ghouls demonstrating the violence caused by segregation. More of an attribute to the anime's success however, would be its stunningly unique cinematic. The anime itself has no shame depicting violence in its rawest form yet does so with meaning and not just for shock value. Each an every violent exchange builds upon the overall moral of the story and also contributes to the development of each character- a prime example of this would be the 2 episode torture sequence where the antagonist modelled after western horror icon 'Jason Vorhees', grotesquely disfigured the vulnerable half human, half ghoul protagonist Ken Kaneki. This display was one of the most demented yet disturbingly well thought out scenes which makes the horror franchise 'SAW' look like a romantic comedy. The scene masterfully depicted the psychology behind the antagonist and his worldview on how the weak are overrun based on their lack of ability. This display is a very sufficient argument as to why violence can sometimes be necessary within media as it is an excellent instrument in storytelling. How much more effective would this iconic scene have been without the gruesome visuals and bone grinding SFX?

    • Should ghoul be written with a capital G? Is it because it is the name of a race in this anime? – Ceroca 7 years ago
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    • I feel that the violence is also partly due to the fact it is marketed as a Seinen so it's targeting adolescents and young adults. But the violent panels in the manga usually have very rough lines with plenty of monologues to depict the inner struggles of the characters. And this is one of the reasons why fans felt the anime didn't do justice to the series. – Hann 7 years ago
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    • Love the question at the end--would the story be as effective if heavily censored for violence? Might be worth looking up a few other series that were censored when translated into anime or live action adaptations, and suffered for it, just for the sake of the comparison. – Eden 6 years ago
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    Published

    The impact of Netflix on our viewing habits

    Netflix has become enormously popular and universally used thereby opening doors to many new series and even having series exclusive to it such as Daredevil, Mindhunter etc… Netflix has revolutionised our watching habits because of this and has made the concept of 'binging' a television series more commonplace. Discuss its impact on not only our viewing habits but in the entertainment industry as a whole.

    • My initial reaction is to say that the "binge" culture that Netflix contributes too is negative because it can reinforce the need for instant gratification, but I also see the benefits of streaming services for the entertainment industry in general. Prior to Netflix, premium channels such as HBO and Showtime seem to be the only outlets for for a new series or comedy special with fewer content restraints than basic cable channels. Shows like Orange is the New Black and Stranger Things found homes with Netflix, securing funding and meeting few restrictions on graphic content which has led to some amazing viewing. My question would be - is there any accurate data that suggests binging shows is contributing to more of a need for instant gratification? And if so, is it worth it to receive great content through Netflix and Hulu originals? – Aaron 7 years ago
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    • I think the biggest impact that Netflix has brought into our society is that you can download, stream and play anything from their massive list of content anytime, anywhere. Think about it. We used to wait everyday to 8PM to watch our favorite shows, and had to wait until the next day for the next episode. We do not have to wait anymore, and we can even be watching at home, in the bus, in the train, in the car, in the patio, really anywhere. We do not have to wait for anything, we do not have commercial breaks, and we can stop a show halfway in because we did not like it, and switch to another one in a matter of seconds. Our viewing habits in 2017 can be summarized into one sentence, "we have complete freedom on our viewing habits". – andresfett 7 years ago
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    • I literally just submitted a topic regarding this! I think it is beyond interesting and many people seem to be completely divided on the idea. Sure it's a great idea on paper but what's the affect in reality. – Emily 7 years ago
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    Pending

    10 Years Since AMC first broke bad

    an analytical overview of the hit series Breaking Bad to celebrate its upcoming 10 year anniversary. Overall it would encapsulate why it was so captivating for audiences. The analysis could go over aspects of the series such as Vince Gilligan's storytelling prowess and the development of all the characters within the series and how it defined the chemistry metaphor of 'transformation'.

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      Spiderman- A franchise analysis

      Spiderman is a superhero who has had several on screen adaptations, each of which offers a unique take on the character. This article will discuss and compare these adaptations, what aspects of the hero each of them envisioned and the success they had in doing so.

      • Hmm...might need to consider a question or theory that you are really wanting to tease out to avoid this just becoming a review of the Spider-Man films. – SaraiMW 7 years ago
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      • Perhaps you could approach this topic by examining the circumstances for the various reboots of the franchise in such a short amount of time. Was there an underlying sociopolitical context that had an impact on the films and/or reboot? You could also consider juxtaposing the Spiderman movies with the different iterations of Batman or Superman on film. – bcurran 7 years ago
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      The use of Foreshadowing in AMC's Breaking Bad.

      Vince Gilligans brainchild Breaking Bad is a television series which is often mentioned within the conversation of the greatest television series of all time. This is attributed to Gilligan's excellent storytelling abilities- particularly his use of foreshadowing throughout the series. An article discussing this narrative technique used within Breaking Bad including specific examples would be quite enthralling.

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        Youtube- Why Demonitization is Downfall

        The platform of Youtube is perhaps at its most controversial stage in its development to date. Due to it being owned by Google and advertisements being a determiner of the conventional Youtubers income, there is a huge pressure on content creators to make their videos as uncontroversial as possible in order for them to receive such monetisation . This has resulted in watered down content, demonetisation of otherwise entertaining videos and even lawsuits such as the controversial 'H3H3 productions' debacle which was a battle which lasted over a year. Overall this topic would help shed some light on how artistic capacity is limited by censorship and demonetisation.

        • PSA Sitch did a really great video series about why Youtube ads are failing (he's usually political, but this one wasn't really, if that's a thing that would have irritated you) and why the advertisers are backing out. Highly recommended, way smarter and more complicated than I had imagined. It's called "Who's Really Attacking Youtube Ads and Why." – m-cubed 7 years ago
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        The biblical allegory within Darren Aronofkys Mother

        Mother is a film which has received rather controversial critical reception for its gratuitous brutality and extremely intricate plot line. Perhaps what is overlooked however, is the overall premise of the film being a biblical allusion and social commentary- particularly in an environmental sense. An article going into the depth of this using examples of the film and Aronofskys directing will be quite engaging.

        • an interesting topic to look into! however, the director and the actors in the film have all come out saying that instead of being a biblical allegory, Mother! is an environmental horror film, with both the female lead and the house itself representing nature and "mother earth" – ees 7 years ago
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        Rick and Morty and the success of spontaneous comedy

        Perhaps one of the most talked about and bingeable Netflix shows is Justin Roiland and Dan Harmons: "Rick and Morty". Drawing influence from 'Back to the future', combining it with philosophical pessimism and a convoluted plot line featuring parallel universe- the shows success is rooted from its spontaneous humour and erratic social commentary . This formula behind this creative process has been emulated by numerous shows to great success which would make an article about this trend exploring why such success is present, quite compelling.

        • Yes, I really like this notion, Bojack Horseman is another netfilx comedy within this genre – Iliasbakalla 7 years ago
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        Latest Comments

        Loved the intro to this because its a conversation Ive been in so many times. You’re definitely right about streaming services, live actions and nostalgia playing a big role in anime success in western pop culture- I myself began watching full metal alchemist when I discovered Netflix streamed it.

        Why Western Culture is Beginning to Embrace Anime

        This article was really unique and interesting. I’ve noticed that rapper Ski Mask the slump god (as if his name wasn’t enough of an indicator) constantly references anime/comics, cartoons and pop-culture in his lyrics which is a trend which seems to be rising lately.

        Finding the Bridge Between Superhero Comics and Hip-Hop

        I still remember vividly the first time I watched Jurassic Park and fell in love with how ahead of its time it was. I bought the box set with special features which went behind the scenes into the CGI and animatronics which was really fascinating. Its a shame its so commonplace now its lost its effectiveness in that sense.

        Does CGI Benefit Special Effects or Detract From Them?

        Black mirror was depressing but equally as entertaining. I love the Twilight Zone format and thought it made each episode unique and refreshing.

        Black Mirror: A Look at Modern Day Paranoia

        This was a great read. Huge fan of Tokyo ghoul, Attack on titan and Psycho pass because of the way they use violence to tell a story, so in this sense it can viewed as helpful. I came here looking for a new anime to watch after finishing Deadman Wonderland and Elfen Lied definitely caught my eye.

        Violence in Anime: Helpful or a Hindrance?

        I thoroughly agree with you in that the reputation of Season 1 and it being cited among the likes of heavyweights such as Breaking Bad and The Wire was perhaps a little too much pressure on the second season to deliver. I think Pizzolatto’s biggest flaw was that he tried too hard to emulate his first season as oppose to building a new legacy. Fukunaga was definitely one of the reasons behind the success of season 1 with his excellent ability to capture the Louisiana setting.

        In regards to a Rust spinoff, while it is a huge risk and could topple the legacy of the series itself, I think an exploration into his mysterious past could be just what the series needs to be revived. This must be a well calculated risk though which could jeopardise Pizzolatto’s reputation, especially with the negative reception of the second season.

        True Detective: The Road Ahead

        I do see where your coming from with this. I think a lot of season 1’s success stems from the fact that it was such a fresh concept. The supernatural allusions and overall dark personality of the series was what kept me hooked, not to mention the dialogue between Rust and Marty. Had the roles been reversed, and season 2 came first, I do think that it would have been met with better reception as it would be allowed to exist as its own entity, free from comparison.

        True Detective: The Road Ahead

        Yeah I think the supernatural elements present in the first season was a fundamental part of its magic. It made you want to keep watching to find out what exactly it all meant- especially Rust’s hallucinations.

        True Detective: The Road Ahead