One of the more troubling outgrowths of the propagation of the Internet is the rise of the “lolcow” culture, which is mocking and dissecting Internet figures for entertainment. Figures like DSPGaming, Wings of Redemption, or LowTierGod have become recurring targets, with YouTube documentaries and commentary channels exploiting their struggles for views. Many alleged documentaries blur the line between journalism and pure harassment, turning personal hardships into spectacle. Sensationalized narratives encourage dogpiling, making real people into endless sources of ridicule. As audiences reward negativity, the question remains: should platforms and creators be held accountable for the harm they perpetuate?
Since 2016, stand-up comedy has become a recurring battleground in the never-ending jobs program that is online culture war discourse. Comedians who once sought laughter now chase applause, pandering to their audience’s sensibilities and falling into the hackiest, laziest tropes.
In 2020, Tim Heidecker released an hour-long YouTube special that took the idea of bombing and stretched it into an art form. By delivering a performance filled with forced crowd work, hack premises, and faux-political grandstanding, he exposed the formulaic nature of modern stand-up. What does this say about the state of comedy, and why did an intentionally bad special feel more honest than most real ones?
Originally dismissed as just another internet horror story, Sonic.exe has defied expectations, evolving into a staple of gaming culture. The story, which first emerged in 2011, followed the familiar "haunted game" trope—a corrupted Sonic the Hedgehog game tormenting its player. While its writing was often criticized as cliché, its eerie concept, unsettling imagery, and nostalgic connection to a beloved franchise struck a chord with fans of horror and gaming alike. – clark20253 hours ago
Originally considered a throwaway creepypasta, Sonic.exe has grown in a way many couldn't have conceptualized upon its first upload. What began as another cheesy story of a cursed game cartridge has become a notable part of the Sonic legacy. How did Sonic.exe escape it's roots as a somewhat obscure internet myth to into a staple in gaming culture, and why does it continue to captivate and evolve within the public imagination?
Originally dismissed as just another internet horror story, Sonic.exe has defied expectations, evolving into a staple of gaming culture. The story, which first emerged in 2011, followed the familiar "haunted game" trope—a corrupted Sonic the Hedgehog game tormenting its player. While its writing was often criticized as cliché, its eerie concept, unsettling imagery, and nostalgic connection to a beloved franchise struck a chord with fans of horror and gaming alike. Over time, Sonic.exe expanded beyond its origins, spawning fan games, remixes, artwork, and even discussions about its lore. The sheer creativity of the community helped cement its legacy, transforming it from a simple internet myth into a recognized piece of Sonic-related horror. It tapped into the fascination with "lost media" and "glitch horror," a subgenre that continues to thrive in the gaming world. But why does Sonic.exe endure? The answer lies in its adaptability. Unlike many forgotten creepypastas, Sonic.exe continues to evolve through new interpretations, fan creations, and modern gaming trends. Its influence can be seen in indie horror games and even official Sonic media, where eerie and distorted versions of the blue blur occasionally make appearances. What started as a "throwaway" creepypasta has become an unexpected yet undeniable part of Sonic's broader cultural impact—proof that even the simplest internet myths can take on a life of their own. – clark20253 hours ago
On Cinema is a review series that first started in 2011 as a podcast and then pivoted into video before ending up on Adult Swim.com In its 15 years of running the show has maintained a startling consistency with regards to the characterization of it's two leads. While mainstream critics debate objectivity and audience reviewers chase engagement, On Cinema sidesteps the entire conversation by embracing cluelessness. Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington’s arbitrary ratings, personal vendettas, and refusal to engage with films meaningfully feel like an exaggerated version of real-world criticism.
From YouTubers like Nostalgia Critic, who's reviews serve almost as lackluster replacements for Hollywood films, to Chris Stuckmann and Jeremy Jahns, who prioritize likability over depth, and even to culture war-fueled channels like The Critical Drinker, On Cinema unintentionally mirrors how film discussion online is often more about branding and personality than actual analysis. How does the show’s absurd approach expose the flaws in modern criticism?
Rugrats (1991), Ren and Stimpy (1991), Pinky and the Brain (1995), Hey Arnold (1996), and Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999) all have moments or episodes with disturbing themes in them, such as Hey Arnold's train ride to the underworld, Archie needing surgery on his sinuses in the Rugrats, or Fred the hairdresser in Courage the Cowardly Dog, for examples. The topic taker should take the time to analyze some of these episodic themes and detail how, despite their disturbing nature, they might help viewer cope with their own complicated feelings around things like having a surgery, encountering an abandoned train, or getting a bad hair cut, though Fred seems to also serve as a message about boundaries and consent as well. Following that, the topic taker could also examine whether these disturbing themes had the opposite effect on viewers. In addition to this, the topic taker is free to also consider the psychological impact disturbing scenes like these might have on younger viewers, to better determine whether these themes are helpful, harmful, or somewhere in between when it comes to children's developing understanding of the world.
Delving into the history of the time and what may have influenced the developers of the show to create such imagery and disturbing elements into their shows could also inform the intent behind certain episodes' existences. Taking a brief historical view could also bring some of the potential global current events of the time into focus and allow parallels to be drawn between those events and the show as well, which could provide an interesting lens into what American media was trying to say about the event. Also, having a holistic view of the cartoons mentioned could also shed light on what, exactly, the show was aiming to convey and why those disturbing episodes are important to the plot.
Of course, the topic taker is free to examine shows outside of the ones mentioned, so long as they are an American production and were created in the 90s. However, it is advised that the topic taker consider how the breadth of additions could detract from the depth of the piece and the focus of the article.
Wikipedia to Ren and Stimpy: (link) YouTube analysis on Rugrats: (link) Wikipedia to Hey Arnold!: (link) Courage the Cowardly Dog Fandom Wiki: (link)
This is so in depth but most of these shows, I just watched carefree, cause I was a child obviously but it nice to look back at thoughtful analysis – Karena3 days ago
Generally speaking, swimming pools are modern status symbols. They represent wealth, freedom and control. In movies and TV shows, this symbolism is often exploited for various purposes. In coming-of-age movies, for example, swimming pools can help portray youth and fun. However, sometimes a swimming pool can also symbolize decadence and abandonment (if it’s dirty or contaminated, or even if it’s empty). In “Breaking Bad”, for instance, people piss, vomit or bleed out in pools. Walter spends a lot of time cleaning his pool, but nobody actually swims or has fun in it. What movies or TV shows use swimming pools to represent deterioration, corruption or even sin? This topic should focus on the ominous side of swimming pool representation.
Swimming pools often serve as powerful visual metaphors in film and TV. In The Great Gatsby, the pool symbolizes Gatsby’s wealth and ultimate downfall, as it becomes the site of his tragic death. Similarly, Sunset Boulevard uses a pool to reflect faded glory and despair. Your mention of Breaking Bad is spot on—Walter’s pool is a constant reminder of his moral decay. Any other chilling pool scenes come to mind? – danielledunham6 days ago
Sleep and dreams are central motifs in Shakespeare's Macbeth, symbolizing guilt, psychological turmoil, and the disruption of natural order. Throughout the play, sleep represents peace and innocence, but as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become consumed by ambition and crime, their ability to sleep is gradually undermined, reflecting their deteriorating mental states.
Explore the significance and role of sleep and dreams in Shakespeare’s Macbeth
How does *Moby-Dick* explore queer themes? Look closely at the closeness between Ishmael and Queequeg, the tension in Ahab’s relationship with Starbuck, and the way the all-male crew interacts. What does the story say about breaking norms, hidden desires, and finding yourself in a world that forces everyone into the same mold?
The topic taker should examine both the DCU Cinematic Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Specifically, the topic taker should consider the ways in which the handling of adapting comics to film or broader mediums brings attention to the superhero genre. For example, Spider-Man (2002) is considered to be a major success for a superhero movie, following the success of X-Men (2000). Does the attention that a cinematic universe creates gain new audiences for certain characters, regardless of the franchise, or is a divide created between the film adaptation and the comics? Are there aspects of the DCEU and the MCU that keep the superhero movie franchise fresh, or is the genre stagnating? Specifically, consider how Marvel's multiple phases might actually be daunting for a newcomer to the superhero franchise. The topic taker should dig into these questions, reviews of major movie entries, and should also consider what could be done to improve how superhero stories are told.
While a theory about the newly announced Superman movie, this seems to bring up some interesting points on the direction DCU may be taking, and hints at some thoughts surrounding the superhero movie genre: (link)
While potentially biased, this Wikipedia page has a discussion board on the reception of the MCU, and may prove to be a decent starting point into understanding how the MCU performs: (link) article: List&text=The films within the franchise,14 Hugo Awards, winning two.
Just to note, the DCU and DCEU are two distinct cinematic universes with different continuity. DCU is a soft reboot of the DCEU. – Sunni Rashad3 weeks ago
Here's to hoping the MCU has a solid clean-up plan – alyholmberg17 hours ago
'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' is a widely acclaimed science-fiction work that explores the notion of human existence as a unique but non-essential and reproducible phenomenon. The novel is additionally known for its film adaptations 'Blade Runner' and 'Blade Runner 2049'. However, a less explored but arguably equally important theme in Philip K. Dick's body of work is religion and its psychological and mystical influence on people. In 'Do Androids', humans worship Mercerism which ends up impacting the climax of the story.
Mercerism is a fictional religion that compels individuals to use devices known as empathy boxes to feel the physical pain inflicted on a figure named Wilbur Mercer, whose appearance is only shown through a TV program as he journeys through a desert plain. Sometimes, rocks are thrown at him to wound him which triggers pain to everyone using an empathy box. This is a communal activity as multiple people tune in to watch and partake in Wilbur Mercer's suffering thanks to the empathy box.
Some possible questions and avenues to explore belief in science-fiction: What is the purpose of Mercerism in the story? How does it encompass Philip K. Dick's own mystical experiences? What real-world influences does Mercerism draw from? How does Mercerism differ from other fictional religions and belief-cultures in popular media? Why is Mercerism unexplored in both Hollywood adaptations of the novel?
Do they follow similar patterns or is one typically more successful than the other? What have you noticed about the reception from fans for each type of adaptation? Why do you think these results have occurred?
Hmm... interesting subject, but I'd add more explanation as to why this topic is in need of an analysis and reflexion. – Beaucephalis2 years ago
This could be an interesting subject! Though I feel like the fact that anime is episodic and longer than a movie would make the comparison a little odd - in some ways, I feel manga to anime vs book to tv show could be a more apt comparison. While the latter isn't as common, I feel the differences in the length of a single movie vs a series makes comparing the two in a productive way a little harder. It the comparison being more about the mediums for their structural differences in length rather than being about adaption. There's also a lot of factors here that can influence the difference between manga to anime vs book to film/tv show - the strengths and limitations and costs of animation vs live action, the nature of prose vs manga/comics as a medium, and of course cultural differences between the places making these movies and anime. – AnnieEM2 years ago
I think this is an interesting topic. Though I'd argue that these are a very large categories to explore, which could make analysis challenging. – Sean Gadus1 year ago
Fascinating Topic! I feel that in terms of visual aesthetic Manga to Anime is more closely affiliated when compared to book adaptations. With Manga, one is clear as to how a character looks whereas with books oftentimes the cast is completely different from their on-page persona. That difference could be worth exploring within this topic. – Eeshita1 year ago
Great topic. Maybe just give guidance on which examples to focus on – Laurika Nxumalo3 weeks ago
I do feel that since most anime's tend to alter the authencity of the manga to appeal to a wider range of audience. Something interesting to then delve into would be to discuss whether it is ethical and respectful to the author of the manga to alter their work just to make it seem more interesting to more people. – klsquatre1 week ago
Analyse the current state of the canon between Eva and it's rebuild. Compare the emotional highlights from the first anime with their analogs in the rebuilds and what the variations between the two mean for the story.
Analyze the characters and how they're different between the rebuild and the original series.
Highlighting the differences not just in the emotional state of the author but in the conceptualization of the story after having been finished once and now finished again.
Maybe give a background story - is this from a book or film, and who is Eva? – Laurika Nxumalo1 month ago
Eva is Neon Genesis Evangelion, one of the most notable anime in the history of media.
It is a defining work of the Mecha genre. – Sunni Rashad1 month ago
Pokémon has always had a close relationship with lore communities because of the nature of the Pokemon world being just that, a world. A fictional world, with its own quirks and stories and legends different than but somewhat inspired by real-world folklore.
Mythology within the world of Pokemon serves not only as a main pathway for lore to be shared with fans. It also allows for the world to be explored within the views of the inhabitants. Mythology gives the characterization of the world. That said, mythology within Pokemon has always been contentious with regard to the subject matters addressed and the consequences of said stories.
While many don't have much to say about the myriad stories of the legendary Pokemon, that is the Pokemon that are deemed more powerful and rarer than most, other stories such as the Sinnoh myth of how people used to marry Pokemon were seen and received much more hostility and revulsion
With that in mind, however, in 2024 there was a leak of unprecedented scale of unreleased files about the creation of various Pokemon, their regions, and the lore surrounding both. Because of the leak, the function of mythology within the Pokemon world has come into question again because of the especially controversial nature of some of the stories.
With some clear parallels to Greek and old Japanese folklore of gods and spirits seducing mortals, there was a severe backlash and revulsion.
The general reception to the myths about certain Pokémon raises the question of what is the function of mythology in the games. And even if a myth isn't "canon" for a universe what role does it play in shaping its world and what does it say about the world that was being created?
If the leaked stories didn't receive a widespread backlash, the Pokemon franchise would have come up with some even crazier stuff. – Chidubem4 weeks ago
Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are newer Legend of Zelda games that feature open world mechanics and the return of the collectathon, in a sense. A collectathon is a type of video game where there are items and objects to collect in order to either progress in the game or obtain an upgrade. An older example of a collectathon would be Banjo-Kazooie or Jak and Daxter. In Breath of the Wild, the collectathon element of the game is Korok seeds, except there are about 900 to collect in the game. Tears of the Kingdom increases that number.
The topic taker should see if this newer collectathon element is too much to do for the player. The topic taker is free to examine other newer forms of collectathons than the two mentioned in this topic. Research points to include:
– The time it takes to do these collecting elements
– The reward for completing the entire collection
– Player feeling about the collecting element in the chosen game or series
– The topic taker is free to also include an element of the psychology behind why collectathons work, if they wish.
Podcasts have a massive impact on shaping the identities of young boys and men. Recent research has shown that young boys and men are falling behind in what consumerist societies consider successful worldwide. In the last decade, we have seen the rise of podcast industries that promise to motivate and change men to be successful. We know this is a business. However, we may need to ponder if these podcasts change or deconstruct the concepts of masculinity. Do they reinforce or deconstruct what we know as "toxic" masculinity? Many of them focus on building successful relationships in family and workplaces. How do you think 21st-century young boys and men respond to them? How do these podcasts interact with feminity and queer identities?
I kept the topic statements generic to maintain the openness of ideas. Mentioning the research citations may create disciplinary and contextual limitations. If somebody chooses this topic to expand, he or she may wish to limit the research and geographical contexts. And change the title accordingly. The purpose of this topic is to generate ideas and then explore either Western or non-Western or English-speaking or non-English-speaking settings and countries. – Golam Rabbani2 months ago
I'm fascinated by this proposal-but I think it needs to be narrowed down a bit. Also, it may be a bit difficult for you to find citations. – CherryVVine2 months ago
Maybe identify one podcast that the writer can listen to and use it as a point of reference – Laurika Nxumalo1 month ago
There Will Be Brawl is a 2009 parody based on the video game Super Smash Bros. Brawl. A contentious game in its franchise, this web series has little overlap with the game it's inspired by or the movie There Will Be Blood.
It's a detective noir where Luigi takes center stage trying to piece together the mysterious deaths of various video game icons.
Its legacy is that many of its stars, from Matt Mercer as Ganon to Kyle Herbert, have gone on to bigger and better things.
But the writer should seek to explore what did this story of a gritty Mushroom Kingdom say about the world of 2009 and more than that what if anything can be gleaned from it over a decade later?
The writer could also examine how There Will Be Brawl reflects 2009’s cultural anxieties—economic instability, political distrust, and moral ambiguity—and whether its darker take on nostalgia still resonates in today’s era of reboots and reinterpretations.Don't you think? ;) – Beatrix Kondo2 months ago
The writer could explore the challenges and opportunities in adapting Harry Potter into a TV series. How might this format allow for deeper dives into beloved characters and overlooked subplots? What risks come with retelling a story already ingrained in global pop culture? The piece could also examine the impact of fandom expectations and the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling’s public statements on the reception of this adaptation.
Good topic! For starters, you might examine the controversy surrounding the desire for a British-only cast, vs. the potential non-British actors could bring to the series. Along with that, you could examine some of the elements JKR has "retconned" or said she wishes she added, such as Hermione being a person of color or the fact that Hermione should have ended up with Harry, not Ron. – Stephanie M.2 months ago
The writer could also look at the risks of changing the setting. Could this degrade the quality of the story? Could this make people walk away from the franchise? – KomikSans2 months ago
The writer could analyze how games like The Last of Us Part II and Disco Elysium tackle moral decision-making. Do these choices genuinely empower players, or are they crafted to create the illusion of control? By exploring the narrative techniques behind these dilemmas, the piece could shed light on how game designers manipulate player emotions to craft deeply impactful experiences.
The author could also look at the history of moral decisions in video games along with the motivations of the developers in adding some, one notorious example is the "good" ending of Legacy of Kain. – Sunni Rashad3 weeks ago
Skyrim has a video game has a reputation longer it seems than any and it's franchise and more dominant than most in its genre.
Despite its release over a decade ago it's still stands as one of the most popular RPGs to this day.
With that in mind it also has a very immersive and expansive world and within that world there is an innumerable mass of stories and legends.
One such tragedy is the story of what happened to the snow elves also known as the Falmer.
According to the law of the game the snow elves were a people that existed before Mankind and the land of Skyrim and through Conquest or retaliation the humans that settled the area eradicated them forcing them to join forces with the Lost race of dwarves that exist in the universe of Elder Scrolls and becoming cursed to be a fallen race of Mer or elf.
The author can use the lore from previous games they can use the lore from the Elder Scrolls Online they can explore the nature of existence for a species of people who seemingly don't exist anymore within the world that they used to.
Their story is called the tragedy of the snow elves and so one must ask was it a tragedy and Who Weeps for them?
Mark Twain's portrayal of Widow Douglas, another of Huck's guardians, emphasizes the topic of religious hypocrisy. The Widow Douglas represents a respectable, "civilized" society that seeks to reform Huck by imparting Christian moral standards in him. She educates him about prayer, urges that he be "civilized," and opposes his reckless behavior. Twain, on the other hand, gently challenges Widow Douglas' moral authority by exposing her errors. For example, she discourages Huck from smoking yet readily consumes snuff, a type of tobacco. Her own habits reveal the moral contradictions in her faith.
I think this could definitely address the elephant in the room with slavery and even reference the good John Brown who was killed trying to fight for the abolition of slavery. – Sunni Rashad3 months ago
I see where you're going, but this doesn't read as a topic. Rather, it reads as a paragraph lifted from an existing article. I think what you want to do is construct a topic like, "Widow Douglas and Other Fictional Examples of Religious Hypocrisy." You could stick to Huckleberry Finn as a main source or (my recommendation), start with her and then compare and contrast religious characters from other books and adaptations. – Stephanie M.3 months ago
The writer could look at why is it difficult for some Christians to stick to what their faith teaches – Laurika Nxumalo2 months ago