Does being part of an acting family detract from individual performance? Or does the family dynamic contribute to the development of the character in ways not otherwise possible? Is the acting a product of the individual drawing from early formative experience or from a constant effort to avoid it and seek a unique path to stardom? Consider the dilemma or the benefit using famous Hollywood families such as Martin Sheen, Drew Barrymore, Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, and Julia Roberts.
Breaking away from the Hollywood-centric theme of this suggestion could produce some interesting results, such as: Armendáriz-Marín (Mexican), Asher (British), Banai (Israeli), Depardieu (French), Fox-Richardson-Redgraves (British), Gleeson (Irish), just to name a few.Good topic suggestion anyway. – Amyus6 years ago
In the past, a baker's son would become a baker, and a candlestick maker's offspring would be stuck with waxing the wick. The same with actors. When you grow up in a certain world, you learn the vocabulary and the ins and outs. You also get the connections. And the populace's embrace. Why else would Clint Eastwood's son be acting and Stallone's kids be models? Name recognition. – brandonjudell6 years ago
Don't forget about the Von Trapp family (the real ones). I find them a good fit for this topic. They were somewhat forced to hone their singing talent so they could have the financial means to live through an economic collapse and escape Nazi Europe, and those stakes arguably followed the whole family throughout their American musical career. Maria's eldest biological daughter Rosmarie actually had a nervous breakdown once, partially because Maria did not approve of her leaving the group. I'd love to see the Von Trapps included here. – Stephanie M.6 years ago
Why do films with a car as the main attraction appeal to the audience as much as films with human actors? How does screenings such as Herbie, Christine, Knight Rider, or Smokey and the Bandit compare to established portrayals such as Star Wars, Star Trek, or Terminator in that cinematic rendition? Consider the same effect that animals have on the audience; Lassie, Grizzly Adams, and Mister Ed.
Part of this could be the discussion of iconography such as the Star Trek uniform symbol or any of the superhero symbols. I think key props may do the same job psychologically that iconography in real life does. – SaraiMW6 years ago
Ah, interesting! Consider delving into how these inanimate characters or animals are often humanized to connect with the audience. – Stephanie M.6 years ago
Ever wondered how creators come up with fictional languages? It would be interesting to look into some of the processes behind creating fictional languages and their popularity amongst fans. Some examples to think of: Elvish (Lord of the Rings/ Hobbit), Klingon (Star Trek), Valerian (A Song of Ice and Fire Series/Game of Thrones) and Na'vi (Avatar).
This is a very interesting concept. I know that Tolkien spent a lot of time in the development of his based both on the plethora of modern and ancient languages he knew as well as cryptographic codes he developed at college. – SaraiMW6 years ago
there is an interesting YouTube series produced by Wired about this very topic. Valyrian was pretty much gibberish until the show came along. Klingon was gibberish in the original series but then turned into a real language with TNG. – LFH6 years ago
Very cool topic! I have seen books in the film and television sections at Indigo that teach you how to speak fictional languages like Klingon, but it would be interesting to find out how these languages were actually created – Scalera186 years ago
David J. Peterson, a linguist who has recently written a book called "The Art of Language Invention," is the creator of the Dothraki and Valyrian languages as it is spoken in the TV version of Game of Thrones. He invents languages for a living. – Jos6 years ago
Analyze how Better Call Saul's characters portray problems that people in real-life may deal with everyday. For instance, the talented lawyer who will not be hired by anyone due to lack of good references (or jealousy from those you least expect).
Not only is Better Call Saul a television series that hooks you instantly with drama, it is a series that makes the viewer see everything is not black and white, sometimes there are grays in between.
I definitely agree with the fact that BCS' characters do portray problems! One thing I'd like to suggest is that you narrow down two or three characters as opposed to staying general. Perhaps even write about one character and how they portray issues/problems. – stefanjovanovic6 years ago
Many baseball books that are in the popular conscience are books like The Natural, Ball Four, and The Art of Fielding, typically range from fictional novels to biographies to nonfiction. Despite the range of styles, these books mostly focus on the players or teams.
Moneyball, on the other hand, is very different from other popular baseball books. It focuses on the front office, economics, and sabermetrics of baseball rather than revolving around players. It was the first popular baseball book about the economic and sabermetric side, and since then many other books in that vein have been written.
But why haven't they gotten as popular as Moneyball? Moneyball showed that these books have an audience and can even be marketable to adapt into a film (although the film is very different from the book). But other books like The Extra 2% haven't had the pop culture impact or reach that Moneyball has had.
So what makes Moneyball stand among other sabermetric literature and what keeps it as the king of that hill?
First, the title helps. The book was well written and baseball stats are not difficult to grasp, unlike a college-level statistics course. In the movie, easy to grasp stats were discussed, formulas just went by quickly. A number of moments in the movie that should lead to a pause where they should be explained in depth, could be glossed over. An enjoyable movie that did not really need to go into the depth of thinking behind the statistics of baseball. – Joseph Cernik6 years ago
With new tv shows coming out every season, what triggered the return of old tv shows? Why are they becoming a trend? and what's coming next?
People are running out of ideas. I also feel as if this generation has an abject fascination with what we consider "retro" or "vintage". MeTv airs these shows twenty-four seven, but one can easily see why they might not be as popular. Most are in black and white, or the special effects are cringe-worthy. Perhaps we love the ideas and story-lines of the older ideas, and with the vast arsenal of special effects and technology in general, feel we can reboot the old shows better than they were before. – Morgan Le Fay6 years ago
When I look at Disney Channel now, nothing catches my attention unless it's something like Raven's Home or Girl Meets World; this too only because the titles are recognizable to shows of the past. This generation knows what they want to watch- the originals played on these channels (I mean I would die to see Smart Guy on Television again) or perhaps brought back in a modern fashion. This is experimental though. It can work to a degree how Girl Meets World did, or it can flop to a great extent and not even our beloved veteran characters can save the reboots. They are popular as they draw off the nostalgia of this generation while presenting something the younger generation can relate to. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. – Kiranpreet Sandhu6 years ago
People are tired of current tv trends and want more substance. The long for shows that have benefit and leave you feeling good at the end of an episode. Families are starving for clean programming that they can refer to a friend, which is few and far between these days. – charisewilson6 years ago
Examine the struggle of black jazz musicians and their racial tensions with white striving jazz musicians. Jazz musicians, like Chet Baker and Miles Davis, have battled with their stature in the realms of jazz music. This race towards the best is and will always be a relevant topic to explore. How could their complex relationship correlate to our modern generation? How has cultural appropriation hurt people of minorities in the jazz culture?
I have wondered the same thing. Has jazz been white-washed or tokenized since it has moved from a fringe art form to an academic cash cow? Could the same argument be made about other musics that have found acceptance in the conservatory system? – LFH6 years ago
God of War has been a smash hit since its release April 20th. With a strong sales launch and massive critical praise, the game is primed to be a benchmark in AAA gaming. By setting the game in the Norse world, God of War borrows the mythology of the Norse cultural groups. In doing this, The game sets expectations for what enemies you will see, what locations you will go to, and what events will occur. However, the game plays with the conventions and established canon of Norse Mythology in surprising ways. This article would analyze how Norse mythology is applied to the God of War universe and how the game subverts our expectation of traditional Norse myths and characters.
I preordered this game and definitely do not regret that decision! Fantastic game, 10/10 would recommend. Underneath this topic, I think something interesting to explore would be the emphasis on Freya as a mother. I didn't think of her as primarily as mother figure before playing the game, so that would be a change to the original mythology perhaps to explore? – Nezumiria6 years ago
From the Italian horror 'Suspiria' (1977) to the psychological thriller 'The Neon Demon' (2016). Neon lighting typically implies something sinister, maybe something otherworldly. It's most frequently associated with horror genres or sub-genres and something perhaps set in the past. There's a certain nostalgia that comes to mind with the combination of dramatic synth music and a high contrast monotone, a la 'The Guest' (2014). It's gritty in 'Springbreakers' (2012) and uncomfortable in 'Enter the Void' (2009). No matter the colour, the scene or the themes one thing's for certain. Throw a high-key neon light in a film and your audience is bound to feel uneasy. Any thoughts?
I've always felt that neon is the new black. It is good reflection of modern society too, we love bright lit skylines and surrounded in art/culture. However, we like to eventually escape to darkness, look up at the sky and see the stars. Darkness is almost a comfort these days as if it is the only form of privacy. Seeing that neon is comfortable for most of us, throw it in a horror film and it would mess with the audience mentally and emotionally. If I ever get to make a horror movie, neon will be something I use. – MoonKat6 years ago
Another recent example would be Riverdale. Neon lighting seems vital to the mystery of the show. – Indigo6 years ago
Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, Community, the Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Farscape, Person of Interest, and many other science fiction/fantasy shows have had episodes inspired by the movie Groundhog Day. A character relives a series of events multiple times, occasionally making changes to see what the effects are. There have also been movies revolving around the same idea, including Happy Death Day and When I First Met Her. Explore the reasons why the idea presented in this movie (or possibly originating earlier, if you can find past examples) is such a crowd favorite. Are there deeper meanings to be found here, or is it just a comedy bit that other writers reuse because it's well-liked?
I think it has something to do with our fascination of wondering what we could do differently if we could go through the same day again. After a hard decision, who hasn't thought: "what if I did this instead?" I suppose it's a fun and easy thing to explore for an episode or two in a TV show. A fascinating look at these time loop stories is 2016's "Re:Zero" a fascinating anime about a boy in a fantasy world who after dying discovers that he comes back to life several hours before his death. The disturbing nature of facing unavoidable fates and dying repeatedly to save the people he loves is the emotional core of the show, and showcases the true horror of endless time loops. It's a dark and interesting look on the genre/cliche. – Dimitri6 years ago
An intriguing topic suggestion and one that deserves a broader and deeper investigation. I'd suggest breaking away from the limitations of 'Groundhog Day' to consider how other cultures have addressed the same, or similar theme. Off the top of my head I'd recommend the very clever and fiendishly evasive Korean time-loop tale 'A Day' (2016. Directed by Jo Seon-ho) in which not one, but three disparate characters experience the same day, each from his own perspective. No spoilers as to the outcome, but it is unexpected. – Amyus6 years ago
Excellent feedback. I wouldn't have thought of those examples because I know very little about anime, Korean drama, etc. Considering how other cultures see the concept of quantum do-overs would be a great addition to this article. – noahspud6 years ago
Films like Freaky Friday and She's the Man glamorize the topic of body/life switching. Why do we as human beings hold such a strong fascination for trading our life experiences? Other films with the theme could be discussed, as well as the reasons the character in these films switch bodies or lives (willingly or not). Perhaps some human psychology to flesh out the thinking behind some ideas why we romanticize body/life switching.
Great topic! Empathy might be a good psychological concept to explore in an essay written on this topic. Empathy is all about being able to imagine yourself in someone else's situation, seeing things from their point of view, etc. "Human psychology" might be better termed "humanistic psychology." Empathy is a key concept in humanistic psychology. "Romanticize" (meaning something like "treat as idealized or heroic") doesn't work for me as a term here. – JamesBKelley6 years ago
I think this is such a fascinating topic. Talk about how people becomes so internalised that it is refreshing to think that there are other people that are living similarly complex lives as we are – thomasin226 years ago
The 2010 film "The Switch" might also be worth discussing. I think this topic is all about a) developing empathy for another character and b) exploring what it would be like to not be us- the body swap is usually preceded by the character's frustration with their own lives- experience how the grass is greener on this side, and then come to the conclusion that we would rather be ourselves- a sort of attempt to reassure people that even if the grass seems greener on the other side, that side also has a whole host of problems you're unaware of and ultimately you'd be most comfortable in your own situation. – Shivani6 years ago
The recent Netflix series "Counterpart" is fascinating. It is not so much about life-switching as it is about meeting, interacting and trading lives with an alternate version of oneself! – Jos6 years ago
Sorry, "Counterpart" is on Cravetv, not Netflix! – Jos6 years ago
Historically we could argue that there were film makers who genuinely controlled all aspects of their creative work, Sergei Eisenstein, Orson Welles and Stanley Kubrick come to mind. Today in an increasingly complex cinematic world and one in which investment in films is perhaps more directly controlled by mega-studios how do we make this distinction?
An interesting question. We do still have this with filmmakers such as Guillermo del Toro and Quentin Tarantino, but they are not prolific filmmakers and we do see people wanting to put their stamp on their films. I think this would be a good discussion to have. – SaraiMW6 years ago
After a little more thought, Pedro Almodovar (in his early incarnation) would be a 'classic' auteur. Can an auteur be classified on the basis of one film - that is another thing to consider e.g. Robert Rodriguez after El Mariachi, or is he an 'incidental auteur' based on the expediency-triumphs approach he took to making a film for less than $30k... – Menadue6 years ago
In a large amount of tv aimed at teenagers, realism is thrown out the window. Disney sitcoms and CW dramas seem to exclusively deal in stereotypical characters and not with how teenagers actually act. For me, American Vandal and the Inbetweeners are the best recent examples of accurate portrayals, but I'm sure there's more.
What makes a good portrayal of a teenage character? Which shows do it well? Why do shows aimed at teenagers ditch realism in a way that other shows do not?
I think that a lot of shows ignore how teenagers would typically act because it wouldn't provide enough entertainment or drama. Most teen-based shows are filled with drama and different love triangles, and there may be a glimpse of realistic teenage feelings, but the reactions are only determined in order to create wreak havoc in everyone else's lives. – Lex5i6 years ago
Not enough shows actually show teenagers being kids and having fun. Drinking, partying, sex, and drugs are a huge part of the modern depiction of teenagers and while it has told some interesting important stories - I think it has also glamorized a certain aspect/view of teenagehood that can ultimately be misleading and not accurate. I would love to see more shows about teenagers doing more chill things, and goofing around. This isn't to morally grandstand, I don't think we should avoid tough or controversial topics, but let's not forget how young teenagers can be. I think a great example is the anime "My Hero Academia." The way that the central Class 1A unit function in the show, hanging out and boarding together and dealing with tough classes and societal pressures around their role as "elite students" feels much more real than the way Skins makes you think every kid off the street is a heroin addict. There is a balance. – Dimitri6 years ago
You can also look at shows like 6teen. It's a bit older now but I think it's still relevant to this discussion. One of the main things that tv shows gets wrong about teens is how they talk, often assuming that they are constantly using (outdated) slang. Speech patterns are often quite different in teenagers than adults, but that doesn't come across in shows. – banne6 years ago
What do you think of Victor Frankenstein and his monster? I have always believed that the death of his mother caused him to go mad. His creation of the monster was his ill attempt at trying to resurrect a being so that the same method may be used on his mother. I have heard that he may have been mad since childhood and the death of his mother catapulted him into his obsession with creation.
I just re-read Frankenstein in my English class this semester and I must say, the connection you made between the monster and his mother is something that has shooketh my perspective on the book. I never looked at the experiment this way but it makes sense and gives Frankenstein some purpose. It is clear to me that the monster is more Victor, less his creation. – Kiranpreet Sandhu6 years ago
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has always been a book I over examine. I made the same connection with the death of Victor's mother and his growing insanity, however I usually took an extra step further. The monster would open a door of possibilities for Victory. As you pointed out, he could use the same for his mother. I think that Victor also wanted to make something he could maintain, control and have as a companion for ever. He could replace body parts as they decay and he could keep it living for all time. His mother died and that made Victor realize that everyone, including his love, will eventually die. A manufactured monster? Could be his friend, companion even a lover for ages to come. – MoonKat6 years ago
WWE recently collaborated with HBO to make a documentary, and you don’t need to care one iota about wrestling to find the whole movie enthralling. The documentary, called Andre the Giant, examines the life of the titular wrestler. Analyzing how the documentary humanizes a man who was often portrayed as a monster could lead to an interesting article.
Discuss the show 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'. Rebecca Bunch is not your typical heroine or female role model protagonist in a series. The title of the show literally refers to her as ‘crazy’ and the show starts off with her moving across the country to stalk her ex-boyfriend to play tricks and games in hopes to make him fall in love with her. Yeah sure, she behaves crazy and insane and is completely delusional but is there something profoundly powerful in her character as well? Is she a positive and strong female character for viewers? In this past season she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and the last few episodes dealt with her trying to understand and work through her new diagnosis. Often women have been labelled as ‘crazy’ by ex-boyfriends or men in general to excuse their own behaviour or to diminish the validity of women’s claims. What is this show tackling in using the word ‘crazy’ and what is the importance of Rebecca Bunch’s role on television?
In Victorian literature, many of the women within the pages of novels and poems fall under the wings of the 'angel in the house'. Meaning, they are submissive and devoted to their husband/father/some sort of male figure. But, do you think the angel in the house is gone? Has she returned in modern day texts? Subconsciously, is she still apart of many women in literature today?
Love this topic. I hadn't heard of the "angel in the house" before, so thanks for that, too. I do believe she still exists in literature, but has had to modernize herself for the sake of readers who have different views of devotion and submission. Jane Eyre is one such angel that comes to mind. She's from a "classic," and becomes devoted to Rochester. At the same time, she makes it quite clear to him that she has an independent will, expects to be treated as a person, and will take no crap. – Stephanie M.6 years ago
Throughout the years, young-adult fiction has been a fascinating sub-genre of novels, ranging from sparkling vampires to dystopian worlds. In particular, the growing popularity of these books, and the recent trend of books-turned-movies has shot YA fiction into the spotlight. With popular series’ like “Twilight” and the “The Hunger Games,” there has been a surge of ‘copycat’ themes and styles arising, which has influenced the genre in many ways.
Starting from the origins of young, coming-of-age novels, like S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders,” where has the genre shifted, changed, and grown? How has the content of these novels altered and does that reflect a difference of perspective in modern times?
Oh, there's so much you can do with this topic... :) – Stephanie M.6 years ago
I think it's important to talk about how the popularity of the movie adaptions of these books in turn also changed the focus of these works. (How the changes made in the production of the movie have since perpetuated similar shifts in the writing of new YA books based on the good reception of the movies) – PfD6 years ago
Great topic. You can mention how the trends in YA Books influence in different generations: pre-teens, teenagers, young adults, and their parents. – sterlinajames6 years ago
As an avid reader of YA, I would love to read something like this! Something that I think would be really interesting to discuss is the increasing popularisation of subgenres within YA, most notably Fantasy and dystopian Science Fiction. For some reason, I see people talk more about these kinds of books than the more realistic ones. I personally think that both of these kinds of YA novels have their merits but it'd be really interesting to see the author's take in this. – PhoebeLupton6 years ago
Bioshock and objectivism. Braid and determinism. Senua's sacrifice and free will. Videogames frequently borrow concepts and tropes and sometimes are based entirely around philosophies. In what is eventually a limited medium – as one has to 'win' the game – is this a misguided attempt to elevate an ultimately flawed art form? Or can videogames be an entry point towards encouraging philosophical thought in others?
While this topic would be very interesting, it would be very broad to apply philosophy to 'video games' generally, but could be very interesting if written as specific articles focusing on a certain game or genre of game and relating a philosophical theory or thought to it in that way. Although this area is something I would definitely like to see more of at The Artifice. – Nodgnal6 years ago
I think "one has to 'progress through' the game" is fairer because maybe getting stuck is the point of some games. Or other games like The Stanley Parable or Until Dawn finish no matter what you do.
I think this is a good topic though and l suspect the case will be that philosophy can absolutely be explored through video games. I look forward to seeing some obvious and less obvious examples about video games that do this. – CallMeMaybe6 years ago
Acheivements have been available for quite some time in the form of PC gaming on Steam. However, with the addition of these starting the XBox 360/PS3 era, I think there has been a shift in how many people perceive playing games. For myself, I research video game literary studies, so I have seen my own perceptions in playing games. When I was younger, I played simply to enjoy a game, play a story, do a little grinding, but when it moved to this acheivement system, I found myself playing game differently. No matter what, the trophies are in the back of my mind. I am constantly thinking about what I need to get the Platinum. Also, when I play as a researcher, I am looking for more story moments, so games that are combat heavy (BioShock Infinite) that have a great story tend to feel like a slog. How can we, as gamers and researchers, keep these different gaming "personalities" in check so that gaming doesn't feel like a job or chore, and what does it mean for gaming in the future? Looking at somthing like a David Cage game (I'm looking at you, Detroit: Become Human) is obviously great for the research, but playing to get the Platinum is an entirely new beast altogether, and they tend to meld when playing.
To boil it down, how has the advent of achievements/trophies changed the way gamers look at, and subsequently, enjoy video games? Do the trophies make them more fun or more of a chore after so long?
I think this is an interesting topic. I have found that chasing platinum trophies keeps me playing a game well past the point of it being fun. The competitiveness of a given game reaches into a kind of meta-realm where the achievements of gamers are comparable through an achievement/trophy system. The desire to escape this phenomena could possibly be linked to the resurgence in retro gaming. No recorded achievements, simply gaming for gaming's sake. – Kormax6 years ago