JD Salinger's 1948 short story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" is our first glimpse into his Glass family. The story, first published in the New Yorker, discusses a WWII soldier's re-acclamation into society and has a tough, realistic ending. Salinger, a WWII veteran, provides an honest glimpse into American society as seen by recently returned veterans. How does Salinger's message in the short story resonate in today's culture of war and America?
I am deeply interested by this topic. I have always been a fan of Salinger, and I would very much be curious to hear other people's perspectives on the Glass family and Seymour. – tysonfraleigh8 years ago
There is so much to say on this topic. Seymour Glass, the protagonist of A Perfect Day For Banana Fish, is largely absent from Salinger's oeuvre despite being referred to in several of his other works. He is a member of America's 'Greatest Generation' that won what is often considered to be the last 'just war' (WWII). This all seems to have a jarring connection to what followed: Vietnam, Nixon, the CIA involvement in Latin America, Bush, Iraq, and directly the PTSD issue. – ptoro8 years ago
I definitely agree; Salinger was setting the stage for the PTSD issue for generations to come, but in a way that broke boundaries of newspapers or televisions. I think A Perfect Day for Banana Fish was far ahead of its time. – Aine8 years ago
Discuss how young adults are addicted to the instant gratification of texting and being on the internet and how this leads to the failure of engaging in more meaningful activities in the real world, such as reading, writing and creating.
This is far too general of a topic IMO. It's a good subject though. You're implying all young adults everywhere suffer from an addiction, which is a serious medical ailment. Read between the lines on this subject. Numerous people have written about the lack of solitary time (me time, thinking time, alone time, etc.) that has arrived since social media and quick and easy asynchronous communication technologies like SMS. The topic could be edited to add to this discourse perhaps? Either way you should edit this topic so a writer does not add to the millions of articles out there demonizing technology, addiction, and young adults. – Aaron9 years ago
I agree with Aaron that your topic should specify that not all young adults suffer from this addiction. Those who do also feel it in different intensities. Some people develop severe anxiety while others just get a little restless. I am strongly against our continual technology worshiping, but it would make your text stronger, I think, to include a bit of both worlds. I'm very interested in reading more about this topic. – Alstroemeria9 years ago
Following Aaron's and Alstromeria's suggestions, I would narrow it down to the fact that we don't deal with emotions because we distract ourselves with the internet. I would recommend watching "Louis C.K. Hates Cell Phones" and use his thesis as a starting point, and go from there to find actual evidence to see if he is right. – ismael6769 years ago
Texting and the internet are instantaneous: after pressing a few keys and the ever-powerful 'send' or 'submit' button, one can get their message and thoughts to anyone they choose. Writing, reading and creating are strenuous and difficult task. We live in a world where finding unique and impassionating topics (we often believe - and are presented with more and more evidence to support the fact that - individualized ideas have been exhausted). Texting and the internet are, unless otherwise formatted, anonymous and seldom entail immediate ramifications. Being creative will forever run the risk of criticism. To label creativity as 'more meaningful' may be contestable, but people like texting because its safe. Reading, writing and forming unique ideas can sometimes be anything but. – oteolis989 years ago
The Universe created by Ransom Riggs in the series of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is one built on the manipulation of time where the secret residents of the world, peculiars, live in time loops where they live the same day over and over again in a particular spot. Peculiars are aware of this and and may go about the day however they'd like and the future beyond that fixed point would never be changed and the day is always reset so that each morning is the same. How might this contradict or relate to the belief that time is either linear or circular? Are these loops directly related to time or are they more like a parallel universe? Is the universe in this series a parallel universe in itself?
This sounds like it would hurt my head. Can't wait! – J.P. Shiel9 years ago
Also, a good time for something like this as we approach Tim Burton's upcoming adaptation. – J.P. Shiel9 years ago
This is a great topic; I wondered how time and universe applied, too, while reading it. It seems as though the world of Miss Peregrine's house exists in a cycle of the same, directly related to time. It became fragmented for me when it became easier to go between the worlds and incorporate facets in both, especially when the peculiar timeloop fails to reset and they have to find another. – Aine9 years ago
As it is clearly relevant: Edge of Tomorrow is a film with the same basic premis and may be worth looking at from a film standpoint – Cory MacRae8 years ago
I am an avid Elder Scrolls fan and a history student. Recently I noticed some similarities between the fictional gods in the story line and the depictions of ancient gods in historical texts. For example, Molag Bal in TES is based on the horned god of the ancient Canaanite people. The same god the Hebrews worshiped underneath Mt Sinai with the golden calf, and the same god Moses destroys when he descends the mountain. So when players kill Molag Bal in the video game, they are fighting the same battle Moses fought in the Old Testament! How cool is that?
I'm willing to bet little nuggets of historical information have been hidden in countless RPGs and I think it would be a really cool topic for an article.
This would take a lot of research but it sounds so cool! You could take a look at the mythological structure of some of the theologies in these games and see which mythologies they are based off of. – LaRose9 years ago
It wouldn't have to just be limited to theologies; most game lore can be read like a history book. I'm sure there are a lot of ties to actual historical events as well. – GameGoose9 years ago
I am positive that TES interpret true historical events just as other RPG games. For example, Assassin's Creed and Fallout 3 (about slavery). In addition to your example. you could go a bit further and discuss how Elder Scrolls reflects Norse mythology. For instance, the northern lights, the scenery is equivalent to that of Northern Europe (specifically Sweden and Norway), and they use Northern names in the game. So just some suggestions there, but I like where this is going! I hope this transpires into an article. I'd love to read it. – breeyabrown9 years ago
There has been a lot of debate over the newest installment in the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, particularly from the Native American community. This is shocking to a lot of people, mainly the hardcore Harry Potter fandom who eagerly await the movie. Most fans are unsure whether this dissent from the Native American community is valid. A well-written article should address both sides of the argument and clearly lay out the issue.
Rowling recently released the house mascots of her new American Wizarding school. These mascots are based off of mythological animals in Native American culture. They are: The Horned Serpent, The Thunderbird, The Wampus and the Pukwudgie. These 'fantastic beasts' are steeped in traditional Native oral histories and I think it could be fun to delve into their stories and examine what they mean to Native culture.
This seems like a very interesting topic. As an aid Harry Potter fan myself, I would absolutely love to take this article up. But, I think I'd hold off until I've actually watched the movie. In my opinion, this is much better written once the movie has entered the cinematic world and the official Harry Potter canon. If, by that time, this topic is still open, I'll be back. – Adnan Bey9 years ago
I agree with the above. When we've seen what place and role the 'beasts' have in the film, then there'll be much more to discuss and chew over. – J.P. Shiel9 years ago
Romanticism was an 18th century movement that espoused imagination over rationality and the individual over the masses, but it also an existential state (i.e. a way of being) that some people continue to live in. In this way, it exists both in time and outside of time. As we plunge further and further into the grips of technology, and become ever more distant from nature and the reality of aloneness, are we losing the romantic sensibility? Are we too distracted to feel the sublime and the beautiful?
I do a lot of work in the romantic period and this is a question I have definitely thought about. I think that if we look at something like the movie "Her" it definitely gives one something to think about. Not only is it romantic in the common sense (genre), there are elements of romanticism and the gothic. I think this would make an awesome article – DClarke9 years ago
Great topic. In some ways you can access virtual nature, yes? Who hasn't relaxed to the sounds of the bamboo flute and a babbling stream? In some ways do you think technology can help us get in touch with beautiful spaces around the world? – Munjeera9 years ago
Great topic. Just as DClarke mentioned the movie "Her" I too immediately thought of said motion picture . I often feel we are currently at the brink of a great change in just about everything we know and think about the world. I am excited to see what will happen in the next few decades. – TK1029 years ago
For starters, I think you need to add a little clarity to your concept of beauty (the different kinds of beauty) and explain how it correlates to romanticism. In addition, there needs to be an explanation for how seeing or ignoring nature coincides with loneliness. Another question you might want to look into answering is whether or not more technology and virtual connection makes people feel more alone due to the different reality and awareness of how vast this world actually is? Lastly, I agree with you that exploring what your ultimate conclusions say about human nature would an interesting venture. – lgonsiorek8 years ago
Romanticism also addresses the role of the artist. Let me take Wordsworth as an example. He writes, “My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky”, - the rainbow is a symbol of hope, new beginning, simple and true nature; the promise given by God to the people that He will never flood the Earth again; rainbow is also symbol of imagination, something that is transcended, something majestic that holds mystery. Further poet says that his heart leaps through all stages of life – he feels same way as he young or old. Such a sensitiveness, sincere, true, and real emotions are contradict with materialism, and with reason itself – Wordsworth says “The Child is father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety”. The Great chain of beings is not just being challenged – it is being completely rejected: “Child is a father of the Man”. In addition, the Poet wants to feel the same way always, he is not being paralyzed by reason, his imagination goes in every direction – in past, in future, even in present, which is in the state of great joy, sincerity, and purity. All these themes are very romantic. Ultimately,the role of the poet focuses on the didactic nature. It is up to the individual to see the lesson and take it into the account or ignore it. Same approach may be used with any modern technologies, social media portals, and etc.: it is the individual choice either to notice "the sublime and the beautiful", or to ignore it. – kimletaon8 years ago
I am not sure whether Romanticism has necessarily to do with "the sublime and the beautiful." Nowadays artists have to deal with the modern and postmodern, which are more urgent matters. – T. Palomino2 years ago
Explore how Medieval English literature deals with the theme of death. For real life context, the article could examine the devastating impact of the bubonic plague on not just England, but the whole of Europe. The quick spread and constant recurrences of the Black Death (as well as the high casualties) spurred contemplations about death, mortality, and religion. Examples of works that capture the anxiety of impending death are “Gawain and the Green Knight” (and most tales involving King Arthur’s court), “The York Play of the Crucifixion,” and the morality play “Everyman.”
What do these stories say about how one should spend their time before death? Why is there an emphasis on urgency? In stories where death is personified, what is its true nature?
I'm not sure if you would like to investigate the apocalyptic fervor that arose in the wake of the plague in Europe, but if you are interested in investigating the history of how the plague contributed to anxieties evident in Medieval literature some good background information may be found in Norman Cohn's Pursuit of the Millenium. It may be a bit later than the period you're looking at but it is a good read. I also think that apocalyptic thought is behind the texts you cite, so some investigation in this area may prove helpful. Such a fascinating topic with so many possibilities. – margo9 years ago
There are whole books dedicated to this topic. – T. Palomino2 years ago
Play's such as Sarah Kane's "Cleansed" are not horror plays, or thriller plays, but nevertheless they contain, almost to the point of excluding everything else, a number of scenes of torture, pain and mutilation. Perhaps with reference to the Ancient greek theory of catharsis, examine what makes plays and media such as this so compelling, and why theatre companies keep staging them.
I would like to add a note that "Theatre of Cruelty" does not necessarily just refer to watching pain onstage. Theatre of Cruelty is a dramaturgical technique which is according to Artaud, an assault of the senses. I would hope that an article on this would first explain how Sarah Kane's "Cleansed" falls into this category before explaining why audiences respond to it. That being said, this play is not all that well known. Is it a good idea to explore the popularity of Theatre of Cruelty in a play that is not that popular? Finally avoid words like "we" as the writer cannot speak on behalf of the reader and "we" is a generalization. Not everyone likes to watch pain onstage so please be specific. Thanks. – Christen Mandracchia9 years ago
I've been seeing a lot of comments like Christen's, on how the topic are too broad or include all instead of the specific group. I have mixed feelings about this, so I suppose the decision lies in you. Looking forward to reading this article. – Alstroemeria9 years ago
If you must explore Sarah Kane, there is plenty to explore in both Blasted and 4.48 Psychosis, but both are probably more well known, as Christen says that Cleansed is not. (Maybe exploring the works of Sarah Kane is an option, given that her work is rather limited). And yes, the Theatre of Cruelty note is very important. It seems unclear to me if the topic is meant to explore Artaud, or just the portrayal of pain. – chandlerwp8 years ago
