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Latest Topics

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A Thousand Bags of Popcorn: What On Cinema Reveals About Modern Online Film Discourse

On Cinema is a review series that first started in 2011 as a podcast and then pivoted into video before ending up on Adult Swim.com
In its 15 years of running the show has maintained a startling consistency with regards to the characterization of it's two leads.
While mainstream critics debate objectivity and audience reviewers chase engagement, On Cinema sidesteps the entire conversation by embracing cluelessness. Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington’s arbitrary ratings, personal vendettas, and refusal to engage with films meaningfully feel like an exaggerated version of real-world criticism.

From YouTubers like Nostalgia Critic, who's reviews serve almost as lackluster replacements for Hollywood films, to Chris Stuckmann and Jeremy Jahns, who prioritize likability over depth, and even to culture war-fueled channels like The Critical Drinker, On Cinema unintentionally mirrors how film discussion online is often more about branding and personality than actual analysis. How does the show’s absurd approach expose the flaws in modern criticism?

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    Analyzing Disturbing Themes in American 90s Cartoons

    Rugrats (1991), Ren and Stimpy (1991), Pinky and the Brain (1995), Hey Arnold (1996), and Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999) all have moments or episodes with disturbing themes in them, such as Hey Arnold's train ride to the underworld, Archie needing surgery on his sinuses in the Rugrats, or Fred the hairdresser in Courage the Cowardly Dog, for examples. The topic taker should take the time to analyze some of these episodic themes and detail how, despite their disturbing nature, they might help viewer cope with their own complicated feelings around things like having a surgery, encountering an abandoned train, or getting a bad hair cut, though Fred seems to also serve as a message about boundaries and consent as well. Following that, the topic taker could also examine whether these disturbing themes had the opposite effect on viewers. In addition to this, the topic taker is free to also consider the psychological impact disturbing scenes like these might have on younger viewers, to better determine whether these themes are helpful, harmful, or somewhere in between when it comes to children's developing understanding of the world.

    Delving into the history of the time and what may have influenced the developers of the show to create such imagery and disturbing elements into their shows could also inform the intent behind certain episodes' existences. Taking a brief historical view could also bring some of the potential global current events of the time into focus and allow parallels to be drawn between those events and the show as well, which could provide an interesting lens into what American media was trying to say about the event. Also, having a holistic view of the cartoons mentioned could also shed light on what, exactly, the show was aiming to convey and why those disturbing episodes are important to the plot.

    Of course, the topic taker is free to examine shows outside of the ones mentioned, so long as they are an American production and were created in the 90s. However, it is advised that the topic taker consider how the breadth of additions could detract from the depth of the piece and the focus of the article.

    Wikipedia to Ren and Stimpy: (link)
    YouTube analysis on Rugrats: (link)
    Wikipedia to Hey Arnold!: (link)
    Courage the Cowardly Dog Fandom Wiki: (link)

      2

      Swimming Pools in Movies and TV

      Generally speaking, swimming pools are modern status symbols. They represent wealth, freedom and control. In movies and TV shows, this symbolism is often exploited for various purposes. In coming-of-age movies, for example, swimming pools can help portray youth and fun. However, sometimes a swimming pool can also symbolize decadence and abandonment (if it’s dirty or contaminated, or even if it’s empty). In “Breaking Bad”, for instance, people piss, vomit or bleed out in pools. Walter spends a lot of time cleaning his pool, but nobody actually swims or has fun in it. What movies or TV shows use swimming pools to represent deterioration, corruption or even sin? This topic should focus on the ominous side of swimming pool representation.

        2

        Sleep And Dreams in Shakespeare's Macbeth

        Sleep and dreams are central motifs in Shakespeare's Macbeth, symbolizing guilt, psychological turmoil, and the disruption of natural order. Throughout the play, sleep represents peace and innocence, but as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become consumed by ambition and crime, their ability to sleep is gradually undermined, reflecting their deteriorating mental states.

        Explore the significance and role of sleep and dreams in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

          2

          Queering Moby Dick

          How does *Moby-Dick* explore queer themes? Look closely at the closeness between Ishmael and Queequeg, the tension in Ahab’s relationship with Starbuck, and the way the all-male crew interacts. What does the story say about breaking norms, hidden desires, and finding yourself in a world that forces everyone into the same mold?

            2

            Are Cinematic Universes Ruining the Superhero Genre of Movie?

            The topic taker should examine both the DCU Cinematic Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Specifically, the topic taker should consider the ways in which the handling of adapting comics to film or broader mediums brings attention to the superhero genre. For example, Spider-Man (2002) is considered to be a major success for a superhero movie, following the success of X-Men (2000). Does the attention that a cinematic universe creates gain new audiences for certain characters, regardless of the franchise, or is a divide created between the film adaptation and the comics? Are there aspects of the DCEU and the MCU that keep the superhero movie franchise fresh, or is the genre stagnating? Specifically, consider how Marvel's multiple phases might actually be daunting for a newcomer to the superhero franchise. The topic taker should dig into these questions, reviews of major movie entries, and should also consider what could be done to improve how superhero stories are told.

            Links to get the topic taker started:

            Spider-Man (2002) information: (link)

            X-men (2000) information: (link)

            Reception of DCU Cinematic Universe – (link)

            While a theory about the newly announced Superman movie, this seems to bring up some interesting points on the direction DCU may be taking, and hints at some thoughts surrounding the superhero movie genre: (link)

            While potentially biased, this Wikipedia page has a discussion board on the reception of the MCU, and may prove to be a decent starting point into understanding how the MCU performs: (link) article: List&text=The films within the franchise,14 Hugo Awards, winning two.

            • Just to note, the DCU and DCEU are two distinct cinematic universes with different continuity. DCU is a soft reboot of the DCEU. – Sunni Rashad 2 weeks ago
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            3

            Religion in Sci-Fi : Philip K. Dick's 'Mercerism' in his titular work 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'

            'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' is a widely acclaimed science-fiction work that explores the notion of human existence as a unique but non-essential and reproducible phenomenon. The novel is additionally known for its film adaptations 'Blade Runner' and 'Blade Runner 2049'. However, a less explored but arguably equally important theme in Philip K. Dick's body of work is religion and its psychological and mystical influence on people. In 'Do Androids', humans worship Mercerism which ends up impacting the climax of the story.

            Mercerism is a fictional religion that compels individuals to use devices known as empathy boxes to feel the physical pain inflicted on a figure named Wilbur Mercer, whose appearance is only shown through a TV program as he journeys through a desert plain. Sometimes, rocks are thrown at him to wound him which triggers pain to everyone using an empathy box. This is a communal activity as multiple people tune in to watch and partake in Wilbur Mercer's suffering thanks to the empathy box.

            Some possible questions and avenues to explore belief in science-fiction: What is the purpose of Mercerism in the story? How does it encompass Philip K. Dick's own mystical experiences? What real-world influences does Mercerism draw from? How does Mercerism differ from other fictional religions and belief-cultures in popular media? Why is Mercerism unexplored in both Hollywood adaptations of the novel?

            9

            Manga to anime adaptations vs. book to film adaptations

            Do they follow similar patterns or is one typically more successful than the other? What have you noticed about the reception from fans for each type of adaptation? Why do you think these results have occurred?

            • Hmm... interesting subject, but I'd add more explanation as to why this topic is in need of an analysis and reflexion. – Beaucephalis 2 years ago
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            • This could be an interesting subject! Though I feel like the fact that anime is episodic and longer than a movie would make the comparison a little odd - in some ways, I feel manga to anime vs book to tv show could be a more apt comparison. While the latter isn't as common, I feel the differences in the length of a single movie vs a series makes comparing the two in a productive way a little harder. It the comparison being more about the mediums for their structural differences in length rather than being about adaption. There's also a lot of factors here that can influence the difference between manga to anime vs book to film/tv show - the strengths and limitations and costs of animation vs live action, the nature of prose vs manga/comics as a medium, and of course cultural differences between the places making these movies and anime. – AnnieEM 2 years ago
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            • I think this is an interesting topic. Though I'd argue that these are a very large categories to explore, which could make analysis challenging. – Sean Gadus 1 year ago
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            • Fascinating Topic! I feel that in terms of visual aesthetic Manga to Anime is more closely affiliated when compared to book adaptations. With Manga, one is clear as to how a character looks whereas with books oftentimes the cast is completely different from their on-page persona. That difference could be worth exploring within this topic. – Eeshita 1 year ago
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            • Great topic. Maybe just give guidance on which examples to focus on – Laurika Nxumalo 2 weeks ago
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            • I do feel that since most anime's tend to alter the authencity of the manga to appeal to a wider range of audience. Something interesting to then delve into would be to discuss whether it is ethical and respectful to the author of the manga to alter their work just to make it seem more interesting to more people. – klsquatre 3 days ago
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            Film

            American Dreamz: Apolitical, political satire
            American Dreamz: Apolitical, political satire
            Lord of the Rings’ Old Forest: A Place of Danger and Beauty
            Mary Lennox’s Healing Journey In The Secret Garden
            Unveiling the Shadows: The Flawed Femininity of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”

            TV

            Miss Piggy from ‘The Muppets’ and Body Positivity
            Miss Piggy from ‘The Muppets’ and Body Positivity
            The Wheel of Time: Adapting a Fantasy Epic
            The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a Fascinating Case Study in the Challenges of Adaptation
            A Detailed Look at the Cast of The Office

            Animation

            Goofy and the Reimagination of Masculinity
            Goofy and the Reimagination of Masculinity
            Disney Dads: An Exploration of Fatherhood
            Randy Haycock and Princess Kida: Breaking the Disney Princess Mold
            Spider-Man: The Trans Advocacy

            Anime

            Isekai: A Genre That Just Won’t Quit (And We’re Kinda Glad)
            Isekai: A Genre That Just Won’t Quit (And We’re Kinda Glad)
            Did Boruto “kill” Naruto? The Impact of Boruto on the Narutoverse
            Kaze no Stigma – the value of mid?
            Blue Gender: Pop Eco-Facism

            Manga

            One-Punch Man’s Saitama: The Alienation of a Hero
            One-Punch Man’s Saitama: The Alienation of a Hero
            Vagabond: Beautiful Lessons in Takehiko Inoue’s Manga
            Exploring the impact of social medias through Helter Skelter and Black Mirror’s Nosedive
            Berserk, Sisyphus, and The Indomitable Human Spirit

            Comics

            Marvel Ruins: An Exercise in Cynicism
            Marvel Ruins: An Exercise in Cynicism
            Superman, Alienation, and Evil
            Why Don’t Superheroes Change the World?
            Continuity and Connectivity in Comic Book Movies

            Literature

            The Death of the Author: When the Pen is Mightier Than the Problematic Past
            The Death of the Author: When the Pen is Mightier Than the Problematic Past
            Eco-feminism in Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer
            The Quietly Subversive Poems of Gwen Harwood
            From Innisfree to Byzantine: Nature and Culture in W. B. Yeats’ Critique of Civilisation

            Arts

            The Horror Genre’s Ableist Underbelly
            The Horror Genre’s Ableist Underbelly
            …But is it ‘Art’?
            Can Art-ficial Be Art?: The Human Heart Behind the Machine
            Ten Years Wild: How BTS’s Dark & Wild Ignited a Global Phenomenon

            Writing

            Is the Pen Mightier Than the Keyboard?
            Is the Pen Mightier Than the Keyboard?
            Whump And Its Role Outside of Fandom
            Movement and Location: A Brief Comment on Meaning in the Literary Experience
            Writing About Place