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Awesome Shin Megami Tensai Games for People New to the Series (Besides Persona 4)

Persona 4 and it's spinoffs have tended to be everyone's go-to game when it comes to the Shin Megami Tensai series. Especially with the new Persona 5 and SMTxFE coming out, what are some other great games to start out with and prepare for some of these new games.

Talk about some other Shin Megami Tensai games that make the series the fantasic blockbuster it is such as Devil Survivor, the original Shin Megami Tensai games, Soul Hackers, etc.

  • This would be interesting. I think factors like mood, difficulty, genre, and contents warning(i.e. strong religious content for SMT 2) should be considered to make the list since SMT was used to be more of hardcore gamers' series; some gamers might be put off by older series' first person RPG perspective, or might not be interested in emotionally stressful scenes etc. Of course, people might be even more intrigued when there is a warning sign. – idleric 9 years ago
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  • I can understand that. Of course the term "to each his own" is a commonality in the SMT games as each series displays different gameplay and depth into each story. So it would definitely be best if when talking about a game, the writer of the article mentions mechanics that differ from other games of the series and how they may appeal to certain gamers. For example, Devil Survivor carries a style of game mechanics similar to Fire Emblem square movement mechanics mixed in with Pokemon-style battle style. Basically if you like this play style then you might like this game kinda thing. – Kevin Mohammed 9 years ago
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Who are the bad guys?

Real life events often inspire films, yet theatrical convention always works to shoehorn characters into the 'good' and 'bad' guys. Recent releases such as "Argo" came under criticisms for its portrayal of Iranians as 2D 'bad guy' characters, instead of granting more complexity to Iran's complex internal politics. Political enemies may become partners, affecting acceptable portrayals of that nationality. I would be interested to see a kind of "bad guys" ranked. Who seems to have been the most detestable enemies in American film? The Russians? The Japanese? Who has had the most nuanced portrayals?

  • I think this topic can be more concise. For example, what types of villains are most dominant in different cultures, and why, or If certain villains are too simplified, then why would that happen? And could you give more explanation when you say about "ranking" bad guys? – idleric 9 years ago
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  • Sorry, I meant "precise", not concise. Also, you could research deeper into the topic by observing if the villains ever changed, and for what reason. I remember that Rambo 3 was dedicated to the "Afghan Warriors", which clearly shows that the different time and situation change whom the popular media vilify. – idleric 9 years ago
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  • really interesting suggestion, you can delve into this and find some really good examples. – LaurenJane 9 years ago
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  • Someone could also do a villan piece along gender lines, such as famous villainesses like the Borg Queen. I love it when a movie has a really great female villan. – Munjeera 9 years ago
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Looking Back on Alan Rickman's Filmography

With the tragic passing of the British actor Alan Rickman, it seems right to look back on his impressive career. His role as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter franchise is one of his most memorable roles and for good reason. There are also roles like Hans Gruber in Die hard, Alexander Dane in Galaxy Quest, The Sherif of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, and much more.

  • Whoever takes this on will be brave. The standard will be high to do him justice. When paying tribute it will be difficult not to insert opinion so I am cautioning the writer against that from the start. I recomend testimony from actors he worked with. – Christen Mandracchia 9 years ago
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  • This an article that should be written. I agree with Christen Mandracchia though, in that it will be a tough article to write. Rickman played so many roles that touched so many people. I also agree that it will be difficult to remain unbiased, but a tribute to his work would be appropriate. – sophiacatherine 9 years ago
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  • Aaron has been able to produce a great article on the legacy that had belonged to Christopher Lee, and I am certain if willing, he can do so again. – N.D. Storlid 9 years ago
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  • An incredibly important article to write and one that does carry a burden to do justice for his contribution to the film industry. Particular mention should also be made to his work as a director and his most recently released film 'A Little Chaos' – Jacqueline Wallace 9 years ago
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Things Carnal and Bloody: The Appeal of the "Lower Pleasures"

It seems that in many television series produced for mature audiences, there is an abundance of explicitness, whether it be in gory violence or raunchy romance. Especially in HBO shows such as Game of Thrones, True Detective, and Rome, all of these rather "carnal" appeals almost dominate the shows. It is almost as if these themes are what define these series. What is it about such adult themes that makes these shows popular? Do they take away from the show's overall message? Are there shows that don't even seem to have a message beyond explicitness for entertainment?

  • For other possible examples, Spartacus is another show with a large amount of explicit violence and sex. – Emily Deibler 9 years ago
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  • It may also be worth noting the background for those examples you have noted, such as Game of Thrones being based from the books, and observe other elements that indicate where the interest from the audience has been focused. – N.D. Storlid 9 years ago
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Gone With the Wind. Classic Movie to be Embraced or Dated and Offensive?

The same can be asked about many films of this era, particularly with regard to their portrayal of African Americans. However, this film won Hattie McDaniel an Oscar for her portrayal of Mammy. Did she accomplish something extraordinary as the first African American woman to win an Academy Award or was she being rewarded to cementing stereotypes? An article on the topic would take these and other questions into consideration when finding a place for this film in today's world.

  • In all fairness, it should be praised for it's beautiful production quality and cinematography, the hurdles it went through to get made (having gone through four directors), and the accomplishments it made with regards to getting Hattie McDaniel said first Oscar for an African American actor/actress. However, it should also obviously be understood and recognized for it's stereotypical and unfair portrayal of African Americans, both in the context of the time period the film was presenting to us, and in the context of when the film was actually produced. – Jonathan Leiter 9 years ago
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  • The portrayal of African Americans, especially those considered domestic slaves in the film was different from other movies of the time. The film was still criticized by African Americans during the 40s and 50s as an image of glorifying slavery. One of the reasons may have been the somewhat "good" relations between the O'Hara's and the slaves, which was very much contrary to what was expected and known of the history of slavery in the south. This is an intriguing topic and would be interesting to see what has been written on this by others. – aferozan 9 years ago
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  • To jump on the bandwagon -- would be interesting to examine how this film differs from other films of that period and how they portray black Americans. Was the subject broached at all in critical reviews when the film was released? Is there any significance to there being any black characters at all? – sophiacatherine 9 years ago
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LoveLive!: What the hell is that?

Discuss the huge impact and wild success of the franchise LoveLive!, relating to its various forms (from manga to anime to game), and its problematic themes that have stirred many arguments within the franchise's fanbase and outside anime fans. Is it really problematic, or is it the context, the period, and the many tropes it 'uses' that make it seem like that?

In addition, compare it to different franchises and rhythm games and their own success and popularity.

  • If I remember correctly I did see an article on how there are certain locations in which people can now make offering to their favorite female anime character with LoveLive! being a main focus of it. I for one have never seen the series, but have been told by friends to watch it. XD – Kevin Mohammed 9 years ago
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MOBAs and Your Career - Being a Team Player

Discuss MOBAs as a learning experience. What is there to be learned by playing these games? There are many elements one must take into consideration in a MOBA game, especially concerning teammates and teamwork. On top of strategy and planning, MOBA players who expect to be successful must be very effective at cooperating with others – especially when it comes to regularly playing with strangers. While there tends to be a stigma of the "toxic" player in popular MOBAs such as League of Legends or DotA 2, this would be a look in the other direction, seeking out the positive and constructive mindsets that find success in the game. Most importantly, this would consider how the skills learned from playing games in this genre could ultimately benefit individuals outside of the gaming world and particularly within their own careers. Could we learn to be helpful members of a team within a workplace by practicing teamwork in MOBAs? Maybe!

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    The Ethics Behind Downloadable Content in Videogames. When Should We Draw the Line on Excessive Pricing?

    With recent game releases such as "Starwars Battlefront," a lot of gamers are frustrated with the lack of content on the base, $60 game, with most content locked away behind an additional $50 price tag. While some DLC can add a lot to a game, such as extra story missions in the "Borderlands" series or new playable characters in "Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS," other DLC feels like the developers are just showing their inner greed (ex. downloadable content that is almost crucial to understanding the game's full story.) Explore the ethical issues when developers, almost intentionally, leave games unfinished and devoid of content. When does DLC become less of a "reward" for players looking for more content and more of a quick, money-making business scheme?

    • (Make sure to capitalize the words in the title). I think this is a really interesting and relevant topic. It could also be interesting to talk about what the cause of the trend toward including DLC is, and why its becoming so omnipresent. – Null 9 years ago
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    • I don't view this as an ethical issue, as both parties are using their free exercise to create video game content, and to purchase that content (or not in either case). I see this more as a question of motives for creating content. – JDJankowski 9 years ago
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    Women's Roles in Martial Arts

    Analyze the history of women's roles in martial arts and how it has changed from then to now. If you wanted to, you could broaden it and discuss any type of fighting. You could even mention Disney's 'Mulan' and 'Brave' as examples of progress towards women and fighting.

    • If I were to expound on this topic, I would look more in the direction of MMA or Mixed Martial Arts. Women are making serious strides of success in this sport and new and interesting headlines. I taught traditional martial arts for over 5 years. I am a second degree black belt and I can say that when MMA started to take form--by mixing both standup and ground fighting styles--the thought of women fighting in such a bloody sport was unheard of. This is a good topic. Ask for more info about women in the MMA. Scott – SWBiddulph 9 years ago
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    • Would definitely be important to mention Hou Hsiao-Hsien's film 'The Assassin' and the recognition it has had for being 'feminist' – Jacqueline Wallace 9 years ago
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    • This is a big but fascinating topic. There is a huge number of films to choose from, depending if the author is writing from a Hollywood or international perspective. – sophiacatherine 9 years ago
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    The Role of Art in Presidential Campaigns

    Discuss the role played by graphic design and art in determining the success or failure of presidential electoral campaigns. Did Shephard Fairey's Iconic Obama "Hope" poster play a substantial role in his electoral success? Describe the evolution of "buttons" used to demonstrate support for candidates beginning at the turn of the twentieth century to today's graphic modes demonstrating support (bumper stickers, t shirts).

    • Such an interesting topic! I think the hope poster really nailed the message of Obama's campaign. It's become iconic. – mattybas 9 years ago
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    • I totally agree. A good slogan, a good logo is a huge help. I think people associate slogan's/images with things very easily. It is easier for someone to recognize and support an image than recognize a person's face. It's easier to remember a slogan and have certain feelings roused in them, than it is to remember long agendas and speeches. – Tatijana 9 years ago
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    • Would it be helpful to consider television ads in the examination? One immediately thinks of Johnson's "Daisy." – Bo 9 years ago
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    • Would be interesting to touch on how presidential captains have evolved throughout the years, especially with new emerging technologies. – aamenson 9 years ago
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    • This has always been a very interesting topic to me! I think it has a huge effect on campaigns - Jeb Bush just changed his imagery/slogan to try to get a push in the campaigns. It would also be interesting to see the history/evolution of art through the years (screen print, woodcut, digital media, etc.). – epiphanysk 9 years ago
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    • Hi, this is Jen who proposed this. I just wanted to say thanks for the lovely comments. I'm glad the topic was of interest, as I'm a brand new addition to the community. I look forward to the article. – Jen Marler 9 years ago
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    • Interesting! I think that another way to look at this is how social media also impacts the ability of art to play an important role in presidential campaigns. The hope poster was something easily shared, and captured a feeling that Obama had in his 2008 campaign. Now, people can even incorporate some of the elements of political statements into Facebook profiles-like how a ton of people changed their profile picture to the colors of the French flag after the attacks there. – cray0309 9 years ago
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    Keeping Fear to a Minimum in an Age of Popularized Violence

    There's violence everywhere these days, but it seems most prevalent when it comes to real incidents that are later broadcasted or written about on loop. Anything from random muggings to mass shootings winds up disseminated on every major, and many minor, news sources, which not only makes viewers increasingly anxious, but may inspire copycat attacks by appearing to glorify them. However, few sources will avoid these stories because they're popular and attract more viewers.

    What can we do to mitigate this cycle without ignoring the news entirely? While we should know about such incidents, should we change the story, i.e. stop focusing on the criminal and focus more on the victims/aftermath? And, how do we explain violence in a way that doesn't leave the more vulnerable of our population, like children, afraid that something will happen to them as well?

    • To mitigate fear, I think that it's necessary to emphasize hope. Without hope we cannot anticipate possibility for change, regardless of the situation. Under absolutely no circumstances should a story ever be changed just to make people feel better. Different versions of the same story leads to incorrect information being spread, which can be dangerous in forming people's opinions. Concerning explaining this type of news to our children, we have to emphasize hope here as well. Any child could be the right person that successfully ends some facet of the horrific society we live in today if they are given the right push. – sarahj31996 9 years ago
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    Hardcore Gamers and Hard-Nosed Gaming

    'Hardcore' gamers often separate themselves from other gamers because they play for more than just completion, or the standard definition of 'fun'. Dark Souls may be a tough-as-nails RPG, but some players have completed it never levelling up, or naked (the character, not the player), or with only shields as weapons. The most popular levels on Super Mario Maker are usually the hardest, with players like PangaeaPanga making diabolical levels like Skyzo and Bomb Voyage (youtube them!). Pretty much any single-player game can become highly competitive once you decide to play it 'hardcore', especially if you want to speedrun it.

    The charity speedrunning event Awesome Games Done Quick for instance, in progress at the time of writing, is a showcase of the hardest of hardcore gamers. The entertainment those runners provide, also including races between runners and gimmicky events like '2 Players 1 Controller' for Dark Souls II and blindfolded runs of Super Punch Out!!, is a powerful force for fundraising. The last event of this kind, Summer Games Done Quick in 2015, raised $1,215,601.49 for Doctors Without Borders.

    This article would explore the benefits of playing 'hardcore' in consideration of the above and other aspects such as, potentially, the impacts of challenging yourself with video games using research on the psychology/sociology of the issue. Why is hardcore gaming popular, to watch and to do yourself? What does it take to be a speedrunner, to spend weeks or months playing the same game daily before you beat your last Personal Best? How can this relate to the science and psychology behind competitive sports in general, and are hardcore gamers really playing with or against each other?

    For balance, however, some drawbacks should also be considered. The general focus of the article could be on how the risk/reward system of game design extends into how one chooses to play games in the first place. If research however outweigh the positives of such gaming, the article could suggest that hardcore gaming, while 'hard-nosed', may be harmful to the gamer when pushed too far. The subject can be taken in many, many more ways.

    • When I read this I thought of the Nuzlocke challenge in the Pokemon games where people impose upon themselves restrictions of number of pokemon to be caught, where they may be caught and that they are considered dead and to be released should they faint etc. Pokemon is not a hard game and is highly forgiving so it's interesting that people adhering to the challenge want to heighten the difficulty. – Slaidey 9 years ago
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    • Perhaps completionists could be talked about here? For the record, completionsists aren't just people who beat the whole game, but who get all of the Achievements (Xbox) or Trophies (PlayStation). There could be some interesting psychology behind the idea of Achievements too, and how your worth as a gamer can be measured by your Gamerscore. – ericg 9 years ago
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    • Competitive game communities could be talked about as well. In the smash bros (particularly melee) community, there is often drama and legitimate hate between the players, but also many of the top players have found their best friends through it. Also, there's the idea of what part of a game is lost when you play it 'hardcore,' as well as what parts you discover. It seems like it often changes the way we play them. – Null 9 years ago
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    • I instantly thought of Super Smash Bros. Melee as well, and its growing competitive scene. Personally, it's the only game I've learned to play on a competitive level. What I like about it is the range of options for the player. You don't have to play competitively if you don't want to. The game is still just as fun for a casual, party style multiplayer experience. If anything, in addition to joining a community, competitive play opens up entirely new ways to play the game that even the developers may not have considered (ex. wave-dashing in Melee as a major aspect of the competitive scene). – Filippo 9 years ago
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    • I suggest reading Alasdair MacIntyre and his thoughts on intrinsic/extrinsic motivation. – Rael64 9 years ago
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    Love and Marriage in Japan

    In Japan, the ideologies behind "love" are a little different than that of the United States. Through television and film – which are the primary sources of information on both cultures, outside of individual research – How is the culture and moral beliefs portrayed in affect to how people view "love" in either country? And how does that affect marriages? How do the customs of each country delegate the reasons behind marriage, and does that affect the ideologies behind "love"? Is there a difference between what is being portrayed through the media and what is true to the culture?

    • This would be quite an interesting topic. The author would have to do a lot of research to understand the concept of love in a different country! They could also talk about how we, as Americans, view their habits of relationships, and how we interpret Japanese love in our literature or films – carleydauria 9 years ago
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    • It will also be interesting to see how such cultural practices differ between those living in Japan and Japanese-Americans. Miki Crawford has written an interesting book on Japanese war brides in America; for those who might be interested in writing about this topic. – aferozan 9 years ago
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    • There is a lot of literature out there that chronicles the switch in emphasis in western culture from marriage as an economic union, to a 'love match' – louisestupar 9 years ago
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    How Historically Accurate is the Viking Series?

    In the recent decades, the History channel, as well as other networks have shown great interest in brining major historical characters or events to TV screens. Vikings, an Iris-Canadian historical drama has gained popularity since its premier in 2013. We get a contrary image of the vikings, unusual to the brutal, and "savage" warriors . While brutality and war is a dominant feature of the series, we also get a glimpse of loyalty, honour, compassion and of strong females who occupy significant roles in the storyline. To what extent are these images representative of a true viking culture? What historical events can we detect that are somewhat accurate?

    • I have seen some elaboration of this in come Wikipedia citations from historians in that field. Also, I can say from looking at the history that the chronology is modified, and certain details of the chronology of Ragnar Lodbruck are unmentioned in "Vikings", or at least not covered yet. – JDJankowski 9 years ago
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    • I'm a huge fan of this series and I read some great interviews with the writer Michael Hirst who is an academic and researches heavily before writing. Perhaps you would be interested in reading a bit about his process. http://www.scriptmag.com/features/vikings-michael-hirst-writing-tv-series-solo-critics-historical-accuracy http://www.medievalists.net/2015/02/19/qa-michael-hirst-creator-writer-vikings/ – louisestupar 9 years ago
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    • It is highly encouraged for those getting involved in this topic to research the historical equivalent of the Vikings, the Normans and Danes of the 10th and 11th Century. They were exceptionally known as warriors, and would partake in the Norman invasion of Britain when the various kingdoms had occupied the country. They would of course conquer most of the territory, except Wessex, the Anglo-Saxons, and they would eventually form together long after the initial invasion of the land. This is where you will gain your material in research of this topic, and better understand the history of the Viking image. – N.D. Storlid 9 years ago
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    The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the 1970s

    Analyse how the transformation of the United States during the 1970s affected the world of the Mary Tyler Moore Show. These changes can be cultural, such as Mary discovering that her male predecessor in her producer job made more money than she did, Lou's divorce from his wife, and Lou's one-night stand with Sue Ann. But these changes can also be economic, such as Phyllis making cutbacks in the household, and gaining employment (in addition to her housewife duties) due to inflation. These angles are examples of what can be used in an article.

    • One interesting angle to explore this topic with would be to look at the ideas of femininity and masculinity and how postmodern American politics pertaining to gender shaped these types of TV shows. Of course these policies impacted the show's content as well as Moore's own personal and professional life as a woman. – aferozan 9 years ago
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    • This is a great topic; one that I would definitely be interested in writing perhaps myself. As Aferozan mentioned, it would definitely be advantageous to look at the ideas of femininity and masculinity. Originally, Mary Richards was supposed to be moving because of a divorce, but producers were afraid that it would appear that she was divorcing Dick Van Dyke (Rob Petrie) from The Dick Van Dyke Show; as such, they had Mary leaving town because of a boyfriend. That in itself is interesting when concerned with masculinity and femininity, and it's odd to think that people would not be able to differentiate Laura Petrie from Mary Richards. As The Mary Tyler Moore Show progressed, it definitely dealt with cultural issues of the time - Mary was a single woman who had boyfriends and stayed the night with them on occasion; the show dealt with equal pay for women, homosexuality, and addiction, to name a few. It was definitely snuggled appropriately with other groundbreaking series of the 1970's like "All in the Family", "Maude", "Good Times", etc. I would love to see this topic written about, and will keep my eye on it. If it isn't grabbed, I would love to take it. :) Great idea! – Douglas 9 years ago
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    • A sad, ironic comment related to this topic is that while MTM's efforts way-back-when supported freedom for women, she succumbed to cosmetic surgery - which I believe are fueled by sexist expectations pressuring women (often by women) - and now looks awful. – Tigey 8 years ago
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    The Significance of the Interview Format of World War Z

    The novel World War Z is structured as an oral history, in which dozens of survivors of a zombie apocalypse are interviewed on their experiences. The interview format is one of the most striking things about the novel, and what sets it apart from other zombie apocalypse stories.
    How does this structure change the readers' perception of events? What role does the unnamed and uncharacterized narrator play? If the novel were kept the same but followed a single character, possibly with flashbacks to other events, would our perception of the world change? What does this wide range of stories bring to the novel, and how do the separate interviews still form an overarching story arc?

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      The sense of morality in ''Choices Matter'' video games

      With the recent rise in popularity in ''choices matter'' based video games, such as Mass Effect, Life is strange, Heavy rain, It's given players a new sense of immersion with each play through and outcome shaped by the flexibility of the one's choices. But does that it essentially It may teaches morality?

      • You could even expand this to ask if these games SHOULD teach morality. You could also discuss games that make the player think they are doing something morally right, when their actions are actually a lot more subjective (I point to season 2 of Telltale's The Walking Dead as a good example of this). – JMPetrequin 9 years ago
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      • This is a great topic for exploration. I would consider changing the title, though. Perhaps something like "Choices and Sense of Morality in Video Games"? It could be useful to look at the history of morality systems and how the function of them changes in particular games. For example, I found in Knights of the Old Republic I felt horrible whenever I did a 'dark side' option because when the writing comes up its in red and plays this HORRIBLE music. – Jordan 9 years ago
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      • Undertale would also be a good mention, given that the entire game's premise and commentary is based around the "Choices Matter" mechanic. I agree with JMPetrequin in that expanding it to asking if they should teach morality could be really cool, especially since it seems difficult to analyze whether a game can actually "teach" morality per se, only that they could inform it. – Null 9 years ago
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      • I'd debate that Mass Effect, as a whole, is a game in which 'choices matter'. From my experience of playing it, one half of the game is such a game where you explore relationships, while the other half is shooting. I never found one to affect the other. Undertale is a good addition; a reference to Dark Souls, where killing an NPC (and you can kill almost all of them) can have many unforseen consequences, may also add an interesting dimension to the discussion. One of the most vital things to consider, I think, is how games label 'morality' or karma alongside how the choices that are labelled as such affect the narrative. KOTOR has the light and dark side of the force and a different play-style for each. Fallout 3 had 'karma' that didn't really change anything aside from what noise was played after what you did. The Fable games are also useful to think about - note the change over time in the series. Being bad in the early games made you look ugly, but in Fable 3 you could look be an absolute [expletive] and still look dashing (but the kingdom you ruled might not). Does this reflect how the morality of the settings of the Fable games degraded over time? – JekoJeko 9 years ago
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      • I don't think these games actually teach morality, but they allow us to use our own morality to make decisions in game. I think a question you could ask is what these games teach us about ourselves? – Jiraiyan 9 years ago
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      • Drawing a conclusion in this regard depends on the definition of morality. Some, including me, would argue that morality is subjective. From that point of view these games force moral choices on us that have different meaning to the makers than to themselves. Furthermore, the choices are very often a simple black/white, yes/no affair. Such clear cut morality is unrealistic. I believe this idea is coming to fruiting, but has a long way to go. – fleish31 9 years ago
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      • I think it's important to realise what games are actually giving a choice that effects the total outcome of the game - a kind of immersive theatre event where each person will undergo a different experience based on their character decisions- or an illusion of choice where the player is meant to feel that their actions make a difference, but in the end they will still have a similar experience to every other player. What also makes this interesting is that whichever path a game designer chooses there will always be a differing opinion upon the game as a whole. – CurtisCarlyle 9 years ago
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      Burn out or Fade Away? Television, Entitlement and Proper Endings

      In 2003, Joss Whedon's Firefly was cancelled by Fox. The show was witty, original and would retroactively become beloved. The show became a cultural signpost for the idea that fans could "save" a show and the browncoat movement was born, eventually pushing an excellent and satisfying move into production. Jump to 2006 and fans of the cancelled show "Jericho" sent 9 tons of peanuts to CBS offices in protest to the show's looming cancellation. (It made sense in context, honest.) Later, Netflix briefly revives Arrested Development. Later still, Yahoo "saved" Community so it could get its shot at "six seasons and a movie". As the internet improves fans' ability to communicate directly with the creators and distributors, and as those fans get more savvy with their methods, the power of deciding "what's on" is more and more in the hands of the viewer.

      But is this always a good thing?

      Would Firefly be as beloved if it had continued another 3 seasons? Does Community still work without Donald Glover? As televisions fans gain more power and direct control over their favourite shows, are we not also becoming more responsible for the tough decisions? And ultimately, who has control over when a series ends? The fans who love it, embrace it and for whom it was ultimately for? Or the creators whose blood, sweat and tears are the creative juice that made it so good in the first place?

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        Serendipity: a Philosophical Conversation

        Serendipity is defined in the 2001 film as a "fortunate accident". The film then progresses to give different philosophical inferences and destiny and fate are constantly mentioned and reflected upon. Which philosophers/theologians have mentioned destiny and fate, specifically, and how can that be related to this film? Suggestions of philosophers and theologians could be Stoic Philosophy, Epicurus, Aquinas, Anselm, Luther and the doctrine of predestination, etc. Does the idea of destiny and fate impede or fulfill our lives, especially with respect to love?

        • Will this be about the film or the philosophical term? The first option sounds interesting. The second option sounds a little out of the scope of The Artifice. – T. Palomino 2 years ago
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        Steven Moffat the sexist: The Whovian Dilemma

        Steven Moffat, the writer for Doctor Who since 2010, has said horrible things about the female fan base of this show, and Sherlock, which he co-created, as well as detestable things about women in general. Highlights might include calling women "needy," calling actress Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) "wee and dumpy" and claiming that women only enjoy Sherlock because they are attracted to Benedict Cumberbatch. This is enough to enrage anyone, but does it affect the quality of his Doctor Who episodes when he dismisses the majority of his own fan base as boy-crazy, "needy" idiots.

        There has always been a sort of dismissal for anything in pop culture which attracts female viewership, (especially young female viewership), implying that girls don't know the difference between good and bad entertainment. As feminist scholar Stacy Wolf says, "Historicizing the devaluation of girls' tastes shows how categories of cultural worth are highly gendered." (Changed for Good, 222) Does this apply to Doctor Who since Moffat took over? This study would compare the quality of female characters on Doctor Who before and after Moffat and their overall impact on the quality of events.

        • I haven't personally read or seen any of Moffat's sexist remarks. Although that doesn't mean that I don't believe he said or meant them. If he's like this, I can believe it. However, only recently have I felt truly like his writing of female characters has shown it's true colors. When Russel T Davies was running Doctor Who, Rose Tyler was interesting, she had her cliched female moments and she could be rather self-centered, but she was fun and unique. Martha Jones wasn't much of a character for the most part. She was a tad vague and devoid of distinctive identity I felt. But then Donna Noble really shook things up and had a strong voice for a change. She also had no romantic interest in the Doctor, thank goodness. When Moffat did fully take over, Amy Pond was really really delightful, especially when she was eventually married to Rory and their companionship together took off apart from the Doctor: which had only happened once before (I believe), way back with the first Doctor. Then there was River Song on and off. She's been incredibly captivating and intriguing, especially when we finally get to see how she went from being Amy and Rory's daughter, to Amy and Rory's childhood friend, to the River Song we eventually know, and then up to when she has to kill the Doctor, after which we find her locked up in prison, randomly escaping to go on adventures throughout the 11th Doctor's run. Finally there's Clara Oswald. And after all of the ups and downs (minor ones) with the previous companions and characters, Clara is the one I was most disappointed in, because at first I really really loved her. She was spunky, she was steadfast, she was inquisitive, curious, and very very loyal, and she was also rather attractive to me personally. But her character just fell apart when the 12th Doctor came around. His transformation changed her, revealed her to be an incredibly shallow character, beyond the reasonable reaction of not knowing who or what this new Doctor was or was going to be compared to the last one. She also showed that she could be incredibly needy, selfish, and even demanding when it came to her relationship with the Doctor, when before she would have never acted that way. All of these observations and feelings have been confirmed and shared by many other fans as well. She just turned into such a unlikable person that by the end, I'm rather glad to see her finally go. I just wish it had been a tad sooner. So if anything, Clara's character at the moment the 8th series began is when I could tell something was screwy with Moffat's writing of female roles: when before it was only in small slightly awkward doses. I'm not sure who or what I expect for the next companion, but if anything, I'd appreciate another duo dynamic by bringing on both a male and a female companion, but more of a platonic pairing rather than a romantic one. I also believe Moffat is supposed to be leaving the show now, though he may have changed his mind recently. I don't know the exact details on that. – Jonathan Leiter 9 years ago
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