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Why do some television series finales succeed while others seem to fail?

The furor over the series finale of Game of Thrones is only the latest iteration of the phenomenon of long-running television series that unsettle, disappoint, or even enrage a show's devotees. What did such programming as M*A*S*H or Downton Abbey do right that other popular shows like The Sopranos or Game of Thrones fail to accomplish in order to satisfy their audiences?

  • I cannot say I watched Game of Thrones but I did follow Downtown Abbey and I can tell you that a lot of empathetic people watch great series and are invested in the characters and even more so than identifying with or relating to the characters, we choose to spend our time watching. This is our life; we expect a payoff, satisfaction, a well-written ending. It is obvious when writers have put a lot of time and energy into the finale. It is equally obvious when the writing is poor and they can not pull it together. An example I will use is Orphan Black. I am not a sci fi fan but I enjoyed the concept of the show because it was not that far fetched. I decided to watch it and noticed the writing waning with each successive season. Unfortunately it was due to the demands of the actress. Hollywood in the last fifteen to twenty years has copped to the demands of the actors rather than the actors collaborating with the writers or actually just shutting up and letting the writers do their jobs, hence sometimes it is no fault of the writers but the executives who limit the writers by giving in to demands of actors who are often narcissistic and want to make their characters more like themselves which ruins the character arc and the show. In the end, what fans expect is something momentous because of the time invested. People watched Game of Thrones for several seasons; that is a lot of time in one's life spent.:) – youngmollflanders 5 years ago
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  • This is a really interesting question, I think there are several things to note here, first of all unlike the other series mentioned Game of Thrones was a book series before it was a TV series and with this becomes a harder situation, when you read a book you have already decided an ending before you have got to it, you have decided how the characters would look and act even noticed things that would never be captured on screen and so that when a TV series is created, it is tough to compete with the books and it will almost never satisfy everyone. There are other issues such as budgeting and also when the show was cancelled and also issues of cutting down series for the final series. I think many people did not enjoy the finally as it was a twist that people were not expecting and with so many people invested with both the main characters it was always going to be hard on them for a twisted finally. I also feel them cutting down the episodes meant they did not have enough episodes to cover it whilst in comparison Shadowhunters which was a success got an extra two hours to cover everything. I also think it will always be hard to please everyone particularly a show with such a huge following. Also, the fact that the books are not finished but the series is also making it hard. – ezara 5 years ago
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  • Moll, like you, I loved Orphan Black but elected not to finish the series because the narrative arc seemed to have lost its forward momentum. Your response almost begs for an additional topic -- why do series fail before they even have a chance to reach a finale! – MarkTodd 5 years ago
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  • Moll, like you, I loved Orphan Black but elected not to finish the series because the narrative arc seemed to have lost its forward momentum. Your response almost begs for an additional topic -- why do series fail before they even have a chance to reach a finale! Ezara, I also really like the nuances you add to this topic. The pressures of production, budget, and creative direction are very real factors in the success and failure of a hopefully long-running show. And, of course, the book-before-the-movie/series could really be a separate topic -- even though it's clearly a factor for this one. – MarkTodd 5 years ago
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  • From my understanding of Game of Thrones' finale, it was cramming too much into too few episodes, rushing everything without development. You could explore other series finales that make this mistake. – OkaNaimo0819 5 years ago
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Transformation of professional wrestling in 21st century

Though the general popularity of professional wrestling might not be the same as in the Golden age or in Attitude era, professional wrestling is still alive. When Cody Rhodes and Young Bucks organized the independent wrestling event "All In", the tickets were sold out in 30 minutes(they sold about 11000 tickets), which led to the foundation of All Elite Wrestling(AEW). AEW's first Pay-Per-View event Double or Nothing was another sold out show(also sold out under 30 minutes), and their August event All Out(sequel to All In) sold out in 15 minutes. This event is planned to be held at the same arena for All In, so that would be another 10000 tickets sold out within 15 minutes. So the interest in professional wrestling was not dead.

As of 2019, there are various professional wrestling promotions with different styles. New Japan Pro Wrestling presents their show to be more sports-like or, to some fans, manga-like style. Progress Wrestling in Britain promotes themselves as British strong style wrestling( punk rock), or wrestling for grown ups. Pro Wrestling Eve, women's wrestling company in Britain, presents themselves as feminist punk-rock promotion. DDT wrestling in Japan is well known for their often comedic style of wrestling. And there are many, many more promotions. Each wrestling company specializes in different flavor of wrestling, presenting more variety than before.

It would be interesting to see how the professional wrestling industry transformed over the past 20 years. What triggered this changes? How did the companies grow? What were the challenges? How do they differ from WWE? And how would this history similar or different from different art forms such as comics?

  • Whilst I have absolutely no interest in wrestling, I appreciate that there are those who enjoy it. I don't have much to add to this topic suggestion, other than a memory of watching my grandfather watching wrestling on 'the telly' back in the early 1970s, on ITV's 'World of Sport'. The bout was between Giant Haystacks and someone whose stage name presently slips my mind. Even to the young teen I was back then, it was so obviously staged that it was very nearly comical and I recall my grandfather becoming quite irate when I told him it was all fake! I don't doubt there were many such staged bouts - like pantomime only with a lot more grunting and showmanship! It was strangely fascinating to see just how caught up in the moment the audience became - screaming and yelling at whichever competitor they had bet on, when he failed to live up to their expectations. I wonder, were there ever such obviously staged shows in American wrestling? Anyway, I think you have an interesting topic suggestion and it's one I would never have thought of in a million years (excuse the hyperbole). – Amyus 5 years ago
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Depictions of Space Flight in Film

Scientists have spent a lot of time shaping films concerned with space flight in science fiction. NASA spent a lot of time advising the producers of the 2015 film Martian. Kip Thorne, a theoretical physicist, shaped Nolan's Interstellar (2014) to make it an accurate depiction of time dilation consistent with Einstein's Special Relativity. Kevin Grazier, a planetary physicist who worked on the Cassini/Huygens Mission to Saturn and Titan, also advised the producers of the 2013 film Gravity. How have the interactions between scientists and filmmakers shaped the depiction of space travel in science fictions films on different occasions?

  • It might be worthwhile to make a distinction between the types of films you're addressing versus the types you aren't, for example space flight in "science fiction" like "The Martian" as opposed to "space fantasy" like "Star Wars." The more "grounded-in-science" films certainly benefit from a realistic representation of space flight; even more "fantastic" sci-fi films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" or "Battlestar Galactica" emphasize the technology level of the humans by more realistically depicting how their ships maneuver in space. Stories like "Star Wars" or even parts of Star Trek (especially "Wrath of Khan") that are rooted more in fantasy, however, usually aim to be more exciting than completely physically accurate, so Kirk and Khan circle each other like 18th-century warships exchanging cannon fire in ships that are capable of faster-than-light travel (which is what audiences prefer). Collaboration between scientists and filmmakers in depicting space flight seems more and more useful, but ultimately is more important to science fiction than to space fantasy. – CulturallyOpinionated 5 years ago
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Drawing a fine line between freedom of speech and offence.

What exactly is the definition of freedom of speech and at what point is it considered offensive? We all are passionate about one thing or another and have the free will to act upon it by saying what we believe in. So what if your point doesn't bode well with someone else's? To what extent can you express your opinion about a particular belief, topic or idea without causing an outrage, violence or backlash for holding your opinion?

  • I think this is a really interesting topic, but do you have particular examples of writing and literature concerned with freedom of speech (eg. Karl Popper and his paradox of tolerance) you want to include? What made you interested in this as a topic? – Elpis1988 5 years ago
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  • It may be helpful to contextualize the dichotomy of free speech and offensive speech (slander/libel/hate speech) within the legal framework of a given culture. In other words, try to talk about this two sided issue as it relates to the United States, or to another given country. That could give the potential author of this topic some structure to discuss the issue. Consider also the early legal cases in the U.S. over “free speech,” especially Alexander Hamilton’s roles therein. – James Polk 5 years ago
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What makes a movie memorable?

What stands out to you about a movie that will most likely make it a memorable experience? Is it the score, characters, dialog, camera shots, etc? What are some of your favorite movies and why do they stand out? Example: "The Shawshank Redemption" is regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, but why do you personal think it is (or isn't)?

  • It's very hard to pin point just one movie to be considered the greatest of all time. In movies, the characters relationships both on and off screen make a huge impact in what stands out the most. As an audience, you can pick up on certain characters relationships which also set the tone and flow for a movie. Also character development, which is a huge part that writers and producers should work on. There are many movies where characters are introduced and then you're left asking, "and then what?" What happens to this character? How are they relevant and how do they progress further on into the film? – tahneemaxwell 5 years ago
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Cosmic horror fanart

Fanart of cosmic horror novels and short stories, particularly those by H.P. Lovecraft, comes in many forms. Some of these artists attempt to capture the otherworldliness and terror inspired by the monsters found in cosmic horror, whereas others try to make them seem cute and inviting. Some of these art projects stand alone, whereas others are part of storybooks and games, like the "C is for Cthulhu" series or the board game "Cthulhu in the House". How did we get so much fanart of this genre, and how has it evolved over time? Is anything lost by trying to render cosmic horror creatures (which are supposed to look unnatural and inexplicable to us) visually?

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    Depictions of Nuclear War

    Threads (1984) depicts a small town in England, grappling with the ramifications of a nuclear war breaking out. The movie is full of raw footage of human suffering and is said to have left audiences numb in horror. So much so that audiences of its initial release reported: "that people had just sat there thinking about it, in many cases not sleeping or being able to talk." Ronald Reagan, the president of the United States at the time, was said to have watched the film as did many British politicians. Given the research done to make the film as close of a depiction of a real nuclear exchange, how did this and other depictions of nuclear war – like The Day After (1983) – shape the public's view of mutually assured destruction (M.A.D. theory) as a military strategy, if at all?

    • 'Threads' was one of those moments in TV history, like the release of 'Edge of Darkness' (1985), that made me wonder if people were finally beginning to wake up to the real horrors of the nuclear arms race. Maybe they did, for a while, but then everyone seemed to go back to sleep. – Amyus 5 years ago
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    Analysis of characters in BoJack Horseman.

    BoJack Horseman is a well known Netflix show that gained a lot of popularity. I think many people know it for sure. I am thinking of doing character analysis about some characters in this show for my first try for an article. So, I have some occurring thoughts about it.

    The main character in the series is BoJack. He is a very complicated personality that has psychological issues, hidden and unspoken traumas. However, he is also a horse, not a human. That is a really important point – the character represents the human trauma and human personality traits but has a form of an animal. Since I am interested in Animal Studies, this occurs to be a very significant point from a psychological point of view. The viewers can identify with BoJack, however, a certain distance will still remain between the character and viewers because of the character's physical appearance. BoJack feels like a human suffers like a human, but yet is not the same as a human. Because of this reason, viewers that have similar problems to BoJack's can identify with him better than with a human character experiencing the same problems – the "psychological distance" makes BoJack like an imaginary friend of every viewer having traumatic experiences. BoJack becomes like a symbolical figure of human trauma but he still has horse traits and horse behaviour stereotypes. Actually, these traits are much harder to be than for example in other characters like Princess Carolyn or Mr.Peanutbutter.
    Basically, while analysing BoJack's personality, there are many paths to do it.BoJack's personality can be viewed from the angle of Animal studies, from psychology (I think Carl Jung's psychology is the best here) or simple analysis of his changes during the seasons.
    I gotta point out, I am a big fan of Princess Carolyn as well. Her character is not the main, however, it is well developed. We can see many references of cat stereotypes in her behaviour and also we can see her well-developed personality, facing other challenges and problems than BoJack. Actually, in one of the first episodes, we see a very clear reference of A.Kamiu philosophy in her character.
    Overall, BoJack is a pretty good show with some truly well-developed characters worth speaking more of.

    • I like where you are going so far with this. There is a rich history of anthropomorphic stories and I wonder if certain animals were chosen for particular reasons; whether it was intentional, for comedic effect, or for just being straight up absurd. Lisa Hanawalt, the art director for the show, has some great comics that might be of aid to you in this topic, alongside what she has spoken of in regards to the show. Though he is human, Todd is another great character that is worth exploring further as there really aren't that many respectable, nuanced asexual characters in any form of media. The same goes for Diane, in that she is a three dimensional woman who can be both confident and have episodes of depression and anxiety. I wonder if the emotional connection you speak of in regards to the animal characters is more felt or less felt with the humans on the show? – AnthonyS11 5 years ago
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    • I absolutely adore this show not just because I find the humor entertaining, but as I watch these characters and learn their back stories, they also morph and grow and change from episode to episode (even if these episodes may or may not be connected story-wise. I have only thought briefly about the choice to make some characters animal while have other remain human. I think it's a fascinating avenue to explore. You mentioned how this choice creates a relatable distance; however, doesn't the medium of animation do this as well? Opposed to being a live-action show with human characters, what does having this show be animated do as well -- especially since cartoons are initially thought of as being for children? How does adult animation function for this specific show/story? – msimon 5 years ago
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    • @AnthonyS11, speaking of animal and human characters, i think both are very complex and expressed in a really detailed way. In animal characters, we see both traits of humans and animals and that's why this mix makes me so curious. However, I choose to focus on anthropomorphic characters simply because I had a course "Animal Studies: Introduction" and for this course, I wrote an essay about BoJack Horseman :) so this topic hooked me up, I am just really curious about animal-human features in these characters. But I totally agree that it would be really cool if somebody analysed Todd or Diane. Todd's an amazing character, one of my favourites :) p.s. this is probably totally not the best way to show this (maybe my comment will even be deleted haha) but i started my own blog about animal studies and media. honestly, i am gonna change many stuff, but if any people want to check and read my shit and give me feedback, i would be thankful.there's the link: http://www.justinavondanzig.com/blog/anthropomorphic-characters-in-bojack-horseman-princess-carolyn-modern-sisyphus-or-a-suffering-neurotic-cat/ – JustinaVonDanzig 5 years ago
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    • @msimon, that's a very good point. personally, i have just read one article about children education. when children(age 5-6) learn from books that have personalized or 'humanized' animals, they score better at answering the questions. Very interesting, isnt it? animals for some reason are understood as something different in our cultures but they still are symbols to us. just remember, humans used to glory or worship animals in the past and yet they still remain some 'magical' that triggers our mind and helps us in one way or another. I think it might be connected with our biologyical and psychological conditions. And speaking of BoJack,i think that BoJack is a pretty good imaginary friend to every person who has a mental disease. for people who have mental diseases watching shows with human characters that have the same conditions or similar issues it might be too hard because it would simply remind their own pain. while BoJack is something more like an imaginary friend. he acts like a human, he suffers like a human, but yet he has a human horse. and this little details plays with out imagination and psychology because we as humans create a distance between us and BoJack just because he is biologically different. sometimes, or actually,often, it is too hard to watch something that reflects your condition or pain, but when this pain is 'hidden' under the curtain of anthropomorphism, it doesn't strike so much. or maybe it even helps to heal or see oneself from a different perspective. but that's just my opinion, lol. i haven't dig this specific topic yet, but it is worth attention. thanks for bringing this up! – JustinaVonDanzig 5 years ago
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    Tommy Wiseau, The Room, and Watchability.

    The Room, an American romance film directed by Tommy Wiseau has been labeled one of the worst films in history. And yet, the film has a cult following and is watched from the view of what some call Camp, a taste towards terrible cinema. What can one make of the viewing experience of those who enjoy a film that is reviewed by critics and audiences as terrible? What does this tell us about how people watch and enjoy a film?

    • Terrible movies such as "The Room" and "Troll 2" are entertaining because they turned out to be comedies, when they were supposed to be anything but. Maybe the directors really did want to make some sort of satire or comedy with these films, but in all likelihood they had serious intentions. Because of these intentions, we get amusing films. – Jusmey1983 5 years ago
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    • The Room is a common example of the irony in any sort of creative production, where something is just so bad, that people are attracted to seeing it. In an industry with blockbuster films that take months to make and millions of dollars, viewing The Room is almost like a collective laugh at the ridiculousness and incredulity that something so bad could make it to the silver screen. – Huntforpurpose 5 years ago
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    Video Gaming and the Art of Education

    Video Gaming technology has passed a threshold – from arcade-style entertainment to virtual realism. As such, games have become an increasingly literary, story-driven experience. What future might Video Games have as educational devices in the literature classrooms of tomorrow? Could the teachers of today legitimately present works of gaming literature in the classroom for students to explore and analyze?

    • My comparative lit colleagues and I spoke about this topic once and I suggested that choice-based episodic games released by the now defunct Telltale Games would provide great materials. As a natural transition of the Choose your own adventure books, games such as the Walking Dead or Fables (Wolf among us) can prompt discussions about the medium, narrative structures and philosophical choices. The community aspect (where all the choices are tallied in the end) is also an interesting aspect worth of attention. – kpfong83 5 years ago
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    Credit Where Credit Is Due: Artists' Edition

    It's widely accepted that people who create or find something, whether a painting, a computer, a car, a book, a scientific discovery, etc. should receive credit for it. Yet in the online world, this seems to only go so far for artists, specifically illustrators and animators.

    The internet and social media sites are rife with people posting art without crediting the artists. Many try justifying this by stating that "people can look up the art themselves" or they're giving the artists "exposure." None of these hold water, as it's been proven that most people do not go out of their way to search the artists. Exposure doesn't mean anything if people don't know who the artist is, let alone care enough to find them. It also certainly doesn't mean anything to the landlords whom artists must pay their rents to.

    If a scientist published an academic paper online, and say, a college student plagiarized it and tried to pass it off as their own, I doubt many would oppose that student being punished and ridiculed for doing so. Yet if an artist protests a person for reposting their art without crediting them, that artist is labeled as "sensitive" or "greedy".

    I find this double standard to tie into inherent laziness in internet users, but also a possible broader sense of people not seeing art, particularly illustration, as a legitimate profession. There are millions of artists all over the world who make a living off their art; the foundation of Hollywood is based on this (as well as nepotism and debatably cyclical abuse, but that's another discussion) yet trying to enter an art industry can be met with mockery. Many people only see the final product, and not the hours and hours of work that go into artistry, whether it's music, animation, painting, sculpting, or illustration. They assume it's effortless and that artists only do it as a hobby, not for income.

    Why do you think this societal stigma is so prevalent, especially in this era where digital media is so widespread and exposes more people to more artforms than ever before? What about art carries such certain connotations that separate it from other fields and professions? How do you think this could change?

    • I love this topic! Art is so easy to plagiarise without credit given the prevalence of social media and the ease of reposting or screenshotting the work of others. Art, to an extent, is also easier to copy and claim as your own when compared to a scientific discovery or mathematical theory. Not only can the work of the original artist be claimed, another artist can replicate the work, or create something similar - which is where it gets even more tricky. How do we know if they were inspired by the original work? Had they seen it before? It is impossible to know. – Cassidy 5 years ago
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    A.I. and the Creative Drive

    Recently the DWANGO corporation (Japan) made a presentation to Hayao Miyazaki (co-founder of the Studio Ghibli anime house) to demonstrate its 'Deep Learning' programme, created to teach A.I. how to "draw like humans do," (Nobuo Kawakami, Chairman). The result was a hideous zombie like creature that propelled itself across the screen, using its head like a leg. "It looks like it's dancing," Kawakami joked. Miyazaki was disgusted, pointing out that an A.I. has no concept of pain and human suffering: "I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself".

    Discuss whether the 'creative' output of what will eventually become autonomous A.I. will ever be able to match the natural creative drive of humans. Or will it forever merely mimic its creators? Could A.I. ever 'evolve' to the point at which it feels the subtle touch of the muse? After all, it is, quite often, those small imperfections in human creative expression that make art (in all its forms) unique and sensitive.

    • interesting set up. yes. AI will be "creative" but not if it is limited to our perspective on what creative is. As a different species, it will evolve and find other methods of expression that we may not recognize. – billhillism 5 years ago
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    Films about the Financial Crisis and their influence on audiences?

    The recent movie The Big Short, based on a book by the same name, features a number of high ranking actors and received positive reviews. And yet the movie, like Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and The Wolf of Wall Street spend a lot of time focused on the finance industry and the recent financial crisis. Do films like this inform us for the better or leave us with a sense of dizziness and circularity, that history can and will repeat itself again?

    • I don't think that any mainstream film will ever truly help to educate the masses about the inherently corrupt banking system. What we see instead are 'smoke and mirrors' designed to mislead us into thinking that, despite numerous scandals, crashes and frauds, the system will somehow clean-up its own mess, which it never does - and time after time it is we who foot the bill. I've already recommended 'Four Horsemen' (2012) in reply to another topic suggestion. This film is just as relevant to this topic suggestion. – Amyus 5 years ago
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    • Love this topic. I think all of those movies you picked do a pretty good job of informing audiences on many complexities of the financial industry without feeling too overwhelming. Especially with The Big Short, I think the flaws in the system are outlined in a fairly understandable way; whether or not and how these flaws might be addressed so as to avoid similar crises in the future is less clear. Despite their digestibility, these movies don’t exactly leave me feeling optimistic that things won’t repeat themselves, so maybe it’s not one or the other, but a little of both. A couple of other films I might recommend for this topic are Margin Call and the HBO adaptation of the book Too Big to Fail (though that’s a made-for-tv film). – bradleyhewittk 5 years ago
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    Perception of Animation in the U.S

    Despite its innovations and endless creativity, animation has and continues to be dismissed by general audiences as only suitable for children in the U.S. While there are many historical and industry reasons for this, animation has proven itself to be a legitimate medium just as any other, whether in the U.S, France, Japan, and through other platforms such as Newgrounds and YouTube.

    Companies such as Netflix and Sony Pictures have shown to be investing heavily in animation and trying to globalize productions and creative voices in the medium, with Spider-Verse being the most recent example. Even Japan has recently been recruiting more foreigner animators, and South Korea and China are starting to prop up their own animation industries.

    On the other side, you have Disney live-action remakes/retellings which may be perpetuating the notion that animation is inferior to live action. General audiences, especially adults, can often be insecure about watching cartoons, and seeing them as live action seems to deliver the idea that realism makes these stories more mature.

    How do you think animation will be perceived in the future in the U.S? Do you believe the perception will even change at all? If so or not, how?

    • It's an interesting topic, but I'm not sure I agree that cartoons aren't seen as legitimate forms of adult entertainment. For instance, it seems like many people nowadays recognize that anime can be for all ages, not just for children. And it seems like you also see more and more Western cartoons out there that contain jokes and plotlines intended as much for adults as for kids (Adventure Time and Regular Show come to mind here). Can you come up with specific examples of people looking down on cartoons because they think they're for kids, or is it just your conjecture that people do this? – Debs 5 years ago
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    • As stated by Debs ^, I would also argue that many American cartoons cater to (and are sometimes even written directly for) adult audiences. I would look specifically at cartoons such as Warner Bros Bugs Bunny cartoons, as well as modern shows like Spongebob Squarepants or The Simpsons. In some cases, these series' go beyond mere adult themes or jokes; they are written with direct adult messages. There is, I think, growing demand for animated entertainment among adult audiences. Perhaps the question to explore should be - what audiences or demographics tend to embrace animation the most in the United States? What can we point to as possible reasons for any discrepancies found? – jkillpack 5 years ago
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    • I suppose I should've been more specific and stated 2D animation instead. Animation as a whole has been embraced, but in the general zeitgeist, most of that admiration is directed at feature animation from Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, and Illumination. Animation done outside these studios doesn't receive as much attention and can be actively dismissed due to not being tied to the Big Four. For example, while Into the Spider Verse made its budget back, it didn't do as well as it could've. While a lot of this can be attributed to competition from Aquaman (2018), there are many anecdotes that have described general audiences being put off by Spider-Verse's animation, which doesn't adhere to the standard, smooth animation people are used to from Disney and Pixar. These also add that people dismissed Spider Verse because they didn't want to watch a cartoon. Many people lament the absence of 2D animation in cinema, but general audiences seem to believe it as being reserved only for TV/streaming. I completely agree that U/S animation has catered to other demographics, but many of these shows also seem to be overt in their adult targeting through vulgarity, nudity, violence, etc. just to prove it. I also believe you'll be hard-pressed to find the average adult on the street who would openly admit to enjoying animation, particularly if it's 2D and not from Disney or Pixar. – ImperatorSage 5 years ago
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    Will Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order be the Star Wars game fans have been waiting for?

    Electronic Arts' handling of the Star Wars franchise has been notoriously troubled. With controversies ranging from loot boxes for both Star Wars Battlefront games to the closure of Visceral games (working on a first person adventure game with Uncharted writer Amy Hennig), the corporations have been criticized for its mishandling of one of the world's most prolific brands. The recently revealed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a first person action adventure game set in the years after Revenge of the Sith, has brought excitement to many Star Wars and video game fans. With this in mind, will this be the Star Wars game fans have been waiting for? The article could analyze gameplay/demos released so far, information discussed by the developer, and the listed influences for the game to help explain why Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has so many fans excited about Star Wars video games once more.

    • Interesting topic. Since footage from trailers and demos rarely reflect actual gameplay seen upon release, I think it might be interesting to see whether the game's hype stems more from the footage we've received or whether it's more rooted in the Star Wars brand and not the specifics of the game itself (i.e., are Star Wars fans just excited for ANY quality Star Wars game at this point that they're willing to overlook possible red flags like early access or special additions that cost more, usually for superfluous content like cosmetics). That being said, it might also be worth noting that while the initial release of EA's biggest Star Wars game to date, "Battlefront II," was dampened by complaints about the game's initial lack of content and its lootbox controversy, "Battlefront II" is now considered a successful game and liked by the majority of the gaming community. This has only come after over a year of updates and patches, so it might also be worthwhile to discuss whether Fallen Order will strive to be ready on launch day (a rarity in contemporary game publishing), and how not being ready at release will affect its reception. – CulturallyOpinionated 5 years ago
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    Post-Modernism's Representation in Media

    Post-Modern ideas have been spreading since the 1960s when the birth control pill came out and liberated women. Since then, we've seen a rise in claims of a Patriarchal society as well as the increasingly casual nature of sex. This article could investigate media representations that seem to purposefully place women in a position of power over men (ie short dialogue lines, Dinsey Channel characters, commercials). Comment on the nature of Post-Modernism. While Post-Modernism has helped advance females in society and has created new questions about meaning in the wake of "the death of God", as Friedrich Nietzche put it, has Post-Modernism lead us to an age of hypocrisy? Anti-Social social media, diversity that is divisive, and affirmative action that results in lack of merit. Investigate current thinkers on the matter.

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      Treasure Shelf

      Where can you find our most valuable asset? On the shelves of cafes and libraries. The feel of a book from the hard cover to the soft egg-shell pages hold a lot of undiscovered secrets as we pass the opportunity to read as much as possible. Do e-books give the same satisfaction as a real book?

      • There was a topic suggestion very similar to this one, posted about a year ago, if memory serves. It would be worth digging through the archives to locate it. I recall commenting to the effect that whilst I love the look, feel and smell of a 'real' book, times move on. We've gone from stone tablets, papyrus scrolls, to vellum and paper and now the electronic page. In principle I agree with your sentiment though and for me at least, a shelf full of books has far more allure than a fistful of memory cards. Perhaps the real satisfaction comes not from the format, but in how the information contained therein is received by the reader.Ps. To anyone thinking of using 'a fistful of memory cards' - hands off, 'tis mine and I'm using it in a short story. :) – Amyus 5 years ago
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      Compare the themes of British cinema and Latin American Cinema

      Analyse different themes within British cinema and Latin American cinema to see whether they portray similar themes . If they don’t have similar themes then compare the films on what makes them so different and whether the themes are in keeping with the time they were released.

      • Based on several years of Latin American film study during college and just as much leisure viewing of British film production, I venture to say that both exhibit an 'Old World' atmosphere that overlap and that cater to certain personal inclinations. To be fair, you can replace the British portion of this topic with any other European country and still argue consistently with equal efficacy. It is a viable topic that would prove fascinating for a discerning audience, given the right author. Only suggestion is to amplify by exploring and examining social, political, or economic themes rather than just general themes as posed. – L:Freire 5 years ago
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      • An interesting topic suggestion, but one that would benefit from a little more definition. Perhaps examining specific genres explored in the films from different countries in Latin America in comparison to those from Britain. It's also worth considering that cinema from the Northern parts of Britain can be, and is often, radically different in the way it deals with similar themes and/or issues that are also explored in the South. As an example, look back to the 60' and 70's 'kitchen sink' dramas from the North of England that dealt with issues such as long-term unemployment, owing to the closure of ship yards and traditional industries. There is a distinct North-South divide in Britain. Is there such a divide amongst Latin American countries, and if so, then how is this portrayed in cinema from those countries? – Amyus 5 years ago
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      • What would be the goal here, if I may ask? Is there any particular reason behind such choices for comparison? It feels like a a random analysis with no foundation or explanation whatsoever. – T. Palomino 2 years ago
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      Sexuality in Black Mirror Striking Vipers

      After watching all other seasons of Black Mirror, it seems apparent that sex isn't as pervasive in other episodes. Black Mirror seems to have focused more on Psychological Thriller, whereas this episode focuses almost exclusively on sex. This article could breakdown the questions asked by this episode: Are online matters considered cheating? When IS it considered cheating? Investigate how sexuality is questioned in this episode and comment on societal changes to our approaches of sex and sexuality.

      • I made a similar observation after watching this episode, and I think even though it's one of the weaker episodes of the show, it definitely plays with themes of sex and sexuality in interesting ways. I do think that some episodes address sexuality more clearly (the famous San Junipero episode comes to mind immediately), but Striking Vipers seems like a more modern take on same-sex relations because the climactic kiss in the rain was treated as a casual, logical next step, and they were not necessarily concerned about being gay; it was all about finding out if they were actually interested in one another. Closer to the observation you are making, I think the questions of sex, infidelity, and the digital spaces we inhabit is fascinating. This episode definitely raises more questions than it answers, but they are important questions as we move further into a 21st century relationship world. I hope this topic gets picked up. – Aaron 5 years ago
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      • I think it's fairly obvious that yes, it is cheating. The way the episode is framed makes it abundantly clear that the main character knows he's cheating. He feels constant guilt, and it causes a strain on his relationship with his wife. It only becomes not cheating when his wife gives him permission to hook up with his friend online on his birthday at the end of the episode (it's marked on the calendar and she's the one to give him the VR set, indicating her permission). Regarding the themes of sexuality, I think many viewers are missing the mark. It's not truly about sexuality. This is made apparent when his best friend reveals that he's been having sex with several other characters, including a polar bear, but it isn't the same when it's not with the main character. This is because they're very close friends and understand each other on a deep level. It's about intimacy, not sex. Their irl kiss just proves this point further. I don't think either of them are gay. His best friend simply wants a partner who truly knows him on every level, which he's been unable to find in the real world. Striking Vipers makes the main character available to him in a way that he isn't- and never could be- outside of VR. – JPost 5 years ago
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      Are Blockbusters in Trouble?

      The summer of 2019 has offered a plethora of films to entertain the masses, but there has been a strange trend in recent releases. Films such as "Godzilla: King of the Monsters", "Aladdin", and "Dark Phoenix", which can be considered standard blockbusters have been receiving middle-of-the-line to flat out bad reviews from critics and audiences, and for "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" and "Dark Phoenix" this had led to lower-than-expected showings at the box office. But it goes further than that; "Toy Story 4", part of a beloved franchise and from a studio known for making juggernaut hits, is reported to come in less than expected at the domestic box office. Are audiences turning their backs on blockbusters or are they just not going to the theaters? Could all of this be blowback from "Avengers: Endgame"'s performance critically and monetarily; for comparison did a similar instance happen in 2009 with the release of "Avatar"? Does this foreshadow anything for upcoming blockbusters?

      • Great article idea. As a side note, I keep seeing articles about how the summer theatrical rerun of Spirited Away has been beating Toy Story 4 in the Chinese market. Does this speak to a difference between newer movies versus older ones? Different expectations? Is it the cost of movie attendance? There are many different angles to take on this topic and I would be excited to see where it could go. – Eden 5 years ago
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      • Awesome idea! I like the final note on whether you think this is part of a wider trend. Can you explain a little bit more what you mean by this? What do you think might be causing it? I think needs to be drawn out a little bit more. Also, can you think of another example of this happening (other than now and 2009) and if so, what does this suggest about their being some sort of trend of flops following major successful blockbuster releases like Avatar and Endgame. – Elpis1988 5 years ago
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      • This honestly sounds like a great way to discuss online streaming services and a possible lack of creative ability in the current media landscape! There’s many ways this can branch out, good luck! – rosiemanuouiha 5 years ago
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