Analyse existentialism and Thanos as a free and responsible agent of change through his own genocidal acts in the name of environmentalism, make a comparison to the environmental concerns we face today and if Thanos was right in his efforts to decrease or eliminate the population.
Interesting idea! I think it's also worth considering the idea that since the Infinity Gauntlet was so powerful, Thanos did have other options (e.g. doubling resources or reforming our existing structures/policies to be more sustainable). How does the possibility of these other options (which may have their own flaws, to be fair) further complicate the morality involved in his snap? – Demetra5 years ago
Obviously, COVID-19 has seemed to stop everyone in their tracks, even postponing blockbusters including No Time to Die (James Bond) and Black Widow. What does this mean for the theatres? Will the pushing back of highly desired films start the habit of staying at home and opting for an online streaming service (ex. Netflix/Hulu)? Will movie theatres be an item of the past? How have movie theatre sales been affected by past trauma?
This is a great question. I'm curious how this will affect the culture of cinema as a whole if the experience of going to the movies is taken away completely. – sophiawestover5 years ago
The 2008 neo-noir movie puts to light a conflict over different types of ethics; deontological and consequentialist wherein Patrick has to choose between doing the right thing by convention (returning the child to the mother) as opposed to ensuring the child's welfare by allowing the benevolent kidnapper to keep the child. An examination of this moral dilemma in terms of ethics and philosophy would make for interesting reading.
Do notions of right, truth and mercy matter? If so, How do they matter in relation to "Just Mercy (2019) ? How do legal terms such as beyond a reasonable doubt and burden of proof work in a society where disguising the truth is evident and inevitable?
I like the concept of your article, but I would think that you ought to clarify what you mean by these terms as well as what "modern world people" mean in particular. As a philosophy buff , I'm interested in how this goes. – RedFlame20005 years ago
Talk about an incredibly broad title. Maybe the focus needs to be on whether there was some consensus in an earlier period on truth and justice and what they meant now versus now. But, even then, that earlier period needs to address who was included and not included. – Joseph Cernik4 years ago
Dustin Hoffman said it best: Movies are at their worst – and there is a reason for that. In this topic, we shall explore what those reasons are and why it continues to happen in the year 2020 in Hollywood, Bollywood and Tollywood.
Are there any specific 2020 releases you want to draw attention to in this topic? – Emily Deibler5 years ago
I don't think I agree with Hoffman's claim. I would need to see some clear definitions (what does "worst" even mean here? worst in what ways?) and solid evidence or examples. It's easy to make a super general claim. Explaining and backing up that claim is where the work starts. – JamesBKelley5 years ago
Whilst I applaud your desire to broaden readers' perspectives by considering film making outside of Hollywood, it would help your topic suggestion by providing some references and context for Hoffman's statement. Where and when did he make that statement and was there a particular film or films that caused him to comment such? How does the output of Hollywood compare to that of Bollywood, Tollywood and, for that matter, the recent interest in Korean cinema, following the success of 'Parasite?' Where, in your opinion, is Hollywood going wrong and where are non-American mainstream film makers getting it right? – Amyus5 years ago
Agreed with Amyus. I would actually argue the exact opposite. Movies used to be dominated by one demographic and now are actually so diverse. Perhaps what Hoffman means is that movies are at their worst for him. – Munjeera5 years ago
I'd suggest explaining a bit about the structure of basic screenwriting and based on what specifics you or anyone would consider a script to be "good" or "quality". I think Syd Field has several good books that might help – hazalse5 years ago
"Movies are at their worst" that is already quite subjective to Hoffman. What defines a movie being good or bad, and if you are to compare the trends in Hollywood, Bollywood, and Tollywood (three diverse film industries) there is a lot to consider. As such, making the topic a little more focused would help. – ajaymanuel5 years ago
Analyse how films such as The Avengers, Harry Potter, and A Wrinkle in Time help motivate youth and adults alike and different.
I meant positive motivators such as improving one's life for the better, not giving up easily, etc. – Yvonne T.6 years ago
Yes, SaraiMW, I meant in very similar films' plots can help youth and adults. – Yvonne T.6 years ago
I'd say such films help kids and adults feel more motivated to be brave. They also motivate both kids and adults to get more into reading and watching movies. They also motivate adults more so than they do kids to get in touch with their inner child from their childhood days. They motivate kids to greatly appreciate the childhood they have now of reading and watching movies and adventure. I think that they motivate both kids and adults alike to enjoy good storytelling in books and in films. They motivate kids probably more so than adults to exercise and use their imaginations. These are some of the ways that I think such films as The Avengers, Harry Potter, and A Wrinkle in Time help motivate youth and adults in ways that are alike and different. – autenarocks5 years ago
I think that these types of movies create new worlds for people to lose themselves in. There are endless possibilities for people to see and perhaps want to create in. It allows for creativity to be passed down to new generations. Also, the characters can create new interests for viewers, and who they want to be in the future. – BookieRheaWookie5 years ago
Hi there! I'm Mike Muller
So interesting website – mikemuller74015 years ago
I have always thought the reality is more the other way around, where any given work resonates with someone because they see themselves and their desires reflected in it somehow. Simply put, people who want to feel or act a certain way look to their favorite media for inspiration, and their interpretations are colored by what they already want to see. – Debs5 years ago
The question is as broad as the examples are diverse. – T. Palomino2 years ago
Though I’m French, an overwhelming majority of the movies (and TV shows) I’ve watched are American, or, at least, from anglophone countries. So, I wondered… a few things!
Pell-mell: How are foreign movies seen in the US? And/Or in the English-speaking world? And/Or across the world?
Is there foreign movies (or TV show) – French ones, for instance – that are strongly rooted in the American culture, or in any other culture that differs from where the movie is originally from? And if so, why have those movies made such an impact? Are there biases depending on a movie (or TV show) origin?
And, finally, to what extent platform like Netflix may or may not have changed this tendency and these biases?
I also think moving this to TV would be really fruitful with Money Heist and lots of Scandi dramas infiltrating the mainstream too. – Marcus Dean5 years ago
I watch non American shows like Elite (Spanish teen series) and other Turkish and Arabic television series. One of my favorite Turkish series that streams on Netflix is called "Fi", which is a psychological thriller. – nsafwat5 years ago
As you mentioned, it is essential to talk about the importance of Netflix. The company, unlike other streaming services, has built quite a strong reputation bringing, producing and distributing quality foreign series and movies to North American viewers. I think it is also fair to talk about the recent popularity of movies such as Parasite, Roma or I lost my body. – kpfong835 years ago
Scarlett O'Hara is a selfish, stereotypical Southern belle. Julianne Potter (My Best Friend's Wedding) made multiple attempts to break up a happy relationship out of a belief her best friend "belonged" to her. Emma Woodhouse could be considered on the fence, because while she is charming and engaging, she does meddle in others' lives constantly, and looks down on those she considers "beneath" her.
These are only a few examples of the unlikable female lead, in literature, film, and other mediums. These women are not inherently evil, but they are self-absorbed, gossipy, backstabbing, and at times downright narcissistic. Yet…a lot of people like them. Why? Is there a "happy medium" between perfect, Mary Sue women and evil women, and have these or other characters found it? Discuss this, as well as whether the unlikable female lead does female representation more harm than good overall.
As someone who studied the Mary Sue phenomenon in comparing why certain female characters are adored while others are ignored, I would like to share my findings. Female characters, like other characters are nothing more than projections of society's fantasies of what it means to be a "cool", "strong" and "powerful" woman. It may seem twisted, but if the female character is an extension of the male character, and is constantly influenced by feminist ideals, these are the type of women are portrayed.
– Amelia Arrows5 years ago
I feel like this isn't really a uniquely female problem--there are plenty of obnoxious, self-absorbed, horrible male leads too. If anything, the problem is that society is more accepting of this kind of behavior in men than in women, so these male leads get a pass. – Debs5 years ago
And that in itself could warrant an entire, separate article. – Stephanie M.5 years ago
I think it's very important to mention Elaine Benes (Julia Louis Dreyfus) from Seinfeld here. She was arguably the first "unlikable" female character on US television. She was hilarious, witty, smart, independent, successful, yet extremely cynical, self-absorbed, blunt and occasionally downright mean.
I think what made her character appeal to so many was how she came across as someone extremely "regular", someone you'd know in real life or run into on the streets. As opposed to other female leads on other shows that aired along with Seinfeld, she was decidedly more "human" and realistic, in contrast to the "beautiful and shallow" Rachel Green or the "clean freak" Monica Geller from Friends, for example. Elaine was known primarily for her acerbic sense of humour and general zaniness, while Rachel and Monica, I would argue, were better known for being "perfect" girls with quirks that made them funny. I think Larry David, in one of his interviews, talked about how the writing team on the show saw Elaine as "one of the men". And if anything, I think this portrayal of women in the media is nothing but a positive example, as it calls for the audience to look at women as funny, intelligent and relatable for a change, instead of viewing women as just "pretty" and quirky, though I think there dies need to be a balance: excessive portrayal of women in this direction could definitely cause potential harm. – Aniruddha5 years ago
