Sean Gadus

Sean Gadus

Hi, I am a graduate from the Cleveland State English Department. I am a 5th year English/Reading teacher. I love watching movies, reading fiction, and listening to music.

Columnist I

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  • Article of the Month
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  • Articles
    25
  • Featured
    22
  • Comments
    142
  • Ext. Comments
    76
  • Processed
    69
  • Revisions
    50
  • Topics
    36
  • Topics Taken
    2
  • Notes
    150
  • Topics Proc.
    340
  • Topics Rev.
    67
  • Points
    8442
  • Rank
    10
  • Score
    4646

    Latest Articles

    Latest Topics

    3

    In Comics, Are There Real Life Topics That Are Off Limits?

    At San Diego Comic Con 2018, Tom King unveiled his upcoming Heroes in Crisis event for D.C. Comics. The event will focus on a super hero rehabilitation center that is the target of a mass shooting. Tom King has been up front about his belief that comics should confront real issue that society is dealing with, but will this subject matter be too serious and rooted in reality to be successful (both commercially and artistically)? this article could examine other situations that explore real world issues (the struggle of Pakistani-Americans in Ms. Marvel or Drug Use in Batman:Venom) and if and how these more grounded stories are successful. You could also include the comic book industry's use of rape and domestic abuse as a plot devices, which have largely been criticized by critics and fans alike as often being insensitive or used in inappropriate ways.

    • I suppose the answer is largely no and the focus of the article would become about how these topics have been used in different dicotomies - realistic/unrealistic, objective/subjective, respectfully/insensitively, constructive/destructive. A great topic to discuss indeed! – SaraiMW 6 years ago
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    1

    Is Creed The Truest Sequel To The Original Rocky?

    Since its release in 1976, the academy award winning Rocky has received six sequels (Rocky II-V, Rocky Balboa, and Creed). The original Rocky was a relatively low budget film focused on a down in his luck boxer with an extraordinary chance to prove his worth inside and outside of ring. It was hailed for its underdog story, acting, and its iconic training scenes. The subsequent sequels often opted to forgo many of the ideas and the low budget style found in the original film. Sequels sometimes included cartoonish villains and other elements that would be out of place in the grittier original Rocky. When Creed was released in 2015, it received near universal acclaim for its story and acting (especially by Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in the title role), which focused on a hungry fighter working to prove his worth to the world. Like Rocky, the film was a character study of a box working to confront his issues within and outside of the ring. Is Creed the closest thing in style and tone to the original Rocky?

    • I just watched the movie and it is one of the best boxing movies out there and I can't wait for the sequel. – VELOSportsUK 6 years ago
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    6

    What do you want from a new Bioshock game?

    Bioshock was a revered and renown franchise but except for a remaster of the original 3 games, the series has been quiet since Irrational games closed. With the recent announcement of a secret new Bioshock project called "parkside", there is a chance we will see a new game from the series. What do you want to see out of a new Bioshock game? What new setting would fit a new game? What mechanics would you want to see?

    • I would like a new Bioshock game in the vein of the original. Arkane has shown that the immersive sim genre is not entirely dead in the AAA sphere with Dishonored and Prey. The immersive sim is such a unique genre that could really benefit from having more developers involved in it. The two main things I hope for are pretty cynical but I think they're important. One is that I hope 2K doesn't continue with the AAA trend of nickel & diming players at every turn. I've been pretty burnt out on the AAA scene due to excessive mircotransactions, lootboxes, and game design trends that are meant to get as much time and money from the players as possible. I don't have faith in 2K to no do this, however. The second thing is that I hope the developers learn from Bioshock: Infinite. That game failed on so many levels I'm baffled it got any praise. From its design to its story to its themes, everything about Infinite was a step back from the original. Arkane may not make the greatest immersive sims, but they are good examples of how to make that sort of game in the modern AAA sphere. – Scott Dewalt 7 years ago
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    3

    How does God of War use and subvert traditional Norse Mythology

    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? – Nezumiria 7 years ago
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    0

    How did 13 Reasons Why change when it was adapted for Netflix?

    13 Reasons Why was hugely popular and important YA novel written in 2007 by Jay Asher. In 2017, it received a 13 episode Netflix adaption, which has renewed interest in the story. How did this story change, develop, or grow in its transition to the screen? Were these changes effective, or did they hinder or distinctly change the overall story or characters?

    Take us through the changes between the netflix series and the book that inspired it.

      13

      How does Binge Watching change the way we watch or engage with "television"

      With the popularity of online streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon, who sometimes release an entire season worth of content at a time, how does this difference in presentation change how we watch and engage with entertainment. Just a few years ago, tv viewers had to tune in week after week to view the last hit t.v. show, but now, many famous and successful shows are released on Netflix at a season by season basis. For example, House of Cards, Marvel Shows (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage), and Master of None all dropped with their entire season available for viewing from day one of their release. What is the effect on our thoughts and perceptions of a show when we can sit down and view the whole thing in one sitting rather than having to wait week by week for the next episode. What is lost and what is gained in this shift?

      • Very interesting topic. Another facet of it that may be worth exploring in relation to this is how the binge-format is changing, not only how we watch, but also how content is created and structured. For example, something that I noticed while binging BoJack Horseman is that most of the episodes (especially in the later seasons) end very abruptly without a punchy joke or poignant conclusion to facilitate the landing. This would be incredibly frustrating if you then had to wait a week for the following episode to pick up where they left off, but because the show is conducive to binging by design, it works quite well. That's just one example that comes to mind, but I'm sure there are plenty of other ways in which this new form has influenced the content to be found if you take a closer look at it with this in mind. – ProtoCanon 8 years ago
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      • Queer film critic B Ruby Rich writes in her book "New Queer Cinema" that television and film used to be community activities. Everyone would gather around a TV and watch it as a family or as a community, but now, it's all personalized and individualized. While people still watch TV and movies together, services like Netflix and Amazon make it much easier to watch television by yourself and in copious quantities. – X 8 years ago
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      • Definitely an interesting topic... any polls out there to show what people prefer? Do young people who have grown up with netflix see it as normal? Does the availability make people watch more? What kinds of people prefer binging or prefer waiting? – Sboother 8 years ago
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      • This is a particularly alluring topic to explore, especially from a psychological point of view. The concept of binge watching shows has become extremely relevant with the advent of Netlifx and especially, as you mentioned, their originals. Just because the whole season is out doesn't mean that viewers have to scrap their whole Saturday or stay home from work to watch it. The fact that binge watching has become a phenomenon has really highlighted the matter that consumers are showing less and less self control in yet another facet of life. – gabyelan 8 years ago
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      • Binge watching would also affect how tv writers create stories because there's no more waiting around. Before Netflix we would have to wait for the next episode to air & there was a suspense/feeling of anticipation, but that feeling has disappeared now b/c all of these shows are now available under our fingertips – seouljustice 8 years ago
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      • There's also the new water cooler elitism of those who can afford to pay for up-to-date programming spoiling shows for those who can't afford paid shows. Can someone sponsor me and solve this catastrophic first-world problem? – Tigey 8 years ago
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      • Film Crit Hulk, an insightful if somewhat informal writer, wrote a column about this: http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/10/12/luke-cage-netflix-and-the-death-of-episodic-tv I absolutely recommend that any potential writer on this topic read Hulk's thoughts before writing. – bookstudent4 8 years ago
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      • I have found that the final episode of a series is much more bitter than sweet when I have binge watched the entire season. If I have waited week by week for episodes to air, the season finale is much more exciting. Being forced to patiently wait for the finale adds to the thrill of finally watching it. When I watch a show all at once, I usually arrive at the end of the season without even realizing it's the end. Then I am just left to reflect and be sad that the season ended so abruptly. – InvidaSin 8 years ago
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      • I really like to concept of TV shows as forming a community. Even if you sat in front of the TV Thursday night to watch your show at a certain time alone, you knew that many others were watching what you were watching at the same time. What's also interesting is shows "dropping" a whole season at once and then having to wait a whole YEAR to see the next season sometimes. You binge and then by the time the next season comes around you have to rewatch the previous season to recapture the essence of the show again and reconnect with the characters and their plots. – Gaby 8 years ago
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      1

      Best Launch Titles In Video Games

      It is always exciting when a console or handheld device launches! But there isn't always great games to play day 1 when a system comes out. With the Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launching tomorrow (Zelda is receiving rave reviews from a variety of critics), what are some of the best launch games (on any consoles/handheld) in history?

      • Note, after playing Breath of the wild for a day, I think it should be high on this list... – SeanGadus 8 years ago
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      • Great topic, it should also be noted the impact of these launch titles on their respective console. – shynspears 8 years ago
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      • Be sure to go more in-depth with how these launch titles helped the consoles they came out for. – BMartin43 8 years ago
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      • Or how the console highlighted its features. For example: Super Mario 64 and the analog stick and 3D gaming. – SeanGadus 8 years ago
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      4
      Published

      Super Heroes films as Genre Films

      Super Hero films are here to stay. Each year a variety of super hero films are being released during the course of the year. While the genre "Super hero films" is the predominant label for these films, many super hero films fit very well into other established genres. Guardians of the galaxy fits well into the established Sci-Fi genre. Captain America 2's cast and director said that the film was influenced by 70 thrillers. The trailer for the new Wolverine film title "Logan" used Johnny Cash's haunting version of the song 'Hurt' to evoke a western feel. The director and star of Logan have gone so far as to dub it a "modern western". Recent trailers for Spider Man homecoming have focused Peter Parker's high school experience, which might fit in with John Hughes films and other coming of age high school films.

      A question that remains is this: What are the advantages and disadvantages of separating films from the label of "Super hero" films and putting them into other genres such as crime, western, sci-fi, and fantasy? Do we gain deeper insight into these super hero films when we examine the other genres that they are a part of.

      Does saying that a super hero film like The Dark Knight is a crime film help the viewer better understand the film and thus analyze its themes?

      This topic could be taken in many different directions depending the writer's interest.

      • I agree with you. Super hero films have been and still are a go to choice as far as genre among people. and think are here to stay. They are popular for all ages. and I think are here to stay as far as popularity. You got me to put on my thinking cap on to separate the advantages and disadvantages on super hero films? – veyonna 8 years ago
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      • I think that there could be a backlash coming to super hero films. I think that, like the western, it will vanish. Eventually people will lose interest, especially once their favorite actors start being replaced e.g., Robert Downey Jr. will eventually not be Iron Man. I think that they should be put into the box that best represents the theme of the movie. Ant-Man is definitely a heist movie, up there with the Ocean's movies and doesn't bear much semblance to a super hero movie like Guardians of the Galaxy or The Dark Knight. – ZachCarlson 8 years ago
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      Latest Comments

      Sean Gadus

      One of the only ways businesses will change their policies is for consumers to change their buying habits.

      Alternatives to Microtransactions in Games and Apps
      Sean Gadus

      Great article! The Sun Also Rises is a book that took me a long time to understand, but now I find it fascinating after reading through it several times.

      Barnes and Billy, and Living: An Analysis on Slaughterhouse-Five and The Sun Also Rises
      Sean Gadus

      The campaign in Battlefront II is one of my favorite things from Star Wars Video Games. I had so much fun fighting through the various battles and hearing the clones reflected on their experiences. Thanks for bringing that up!

      The Heartbreaking Symbolism of The Clone Helmet In Star Wars: The Clone Wars's Final Episodes
      Sean Gadus

      I really enjoyed this article. This is one of my favorite books. Some of the language in the book is so incredibly beautiful. Nice work on the article!!!

      Daisy Buchanan: Love, Folly and Money in The Great Gatsby
      Sean Gadus

      Interesting article, the Matrix is one of my favorite movies, so I enjoyed the discourse around it in this article.

      Plato's Cave and the Construction of Reality in Postmodern Movies
      Sean Gadus

      This is a great topic to discuss in 2021 and interesting analysis of it.

      Why Is Utopian Literature Less Popular Than Dystopian Literature?
      Sean Gadus

      Music is so critical to creating/adding to tone and emotion in a film. I love listening to movie music. Interesting article. Nice work on it.

      How the Score Impacts a Film
      Sean Gadus

      My students are obsessed with Kronk. They would love to see a Kronk spin-off. Plus, Patrick Warburton has one of the best voices in the history of acting so it would be fun to watch.

      Disney Characters That Should Get Their Own Spinoffs