A deeper look into different cultures' perception of beauty and how they can affect one's inclination to watch a movie or film
The article resulting from this would be compelling if it succeeded in saying anything other than "films with more attractive actors are also more popular." – IsidoreIsou8 years ago
Are there any films where more grotesque main characters actually make the film more appealing and thus more popular? Will there be a distinction between the actor's beauty and that of the character? Will the article resulting from this prompt consider exploring non-physical components of attractiveness and beauty? – IsidoreIsou8 years ago
What about frankenstein? Does that count? – dandeliaon8 years ago
Really interesting idea for an article. I would say that its kind of a difficult topic because its hard to really "prove" anything definitely in terms of popularity due to beauty. But the idea is very provocative and I think that looking at beauty and how it plays a role in cinema - esp modern cinema - is a really great idea. Maybe focus less on the popularity and more on just the role beauty plays. – SDale428 years ago
This is a really cool idea but I think you have to be careful because you could end up going down a rabbit hole of ideas that branch off of this one; such as beauty standards in America, beauty standards in media, etc. I think also it's important to have a thesis with this, like should we not see movies because the leads are attractive? What is the point of writing this? – hannahb8 years ago
Analyze how comedy is a legitimate form of rhetoric, as rhetoric is language that is intended to influence people. People that have been seen as successful rhetoricians are people like Martin Luther King jr., Plato, and Obama. These people have been popular in the field of politics, but how does comedy come off as legitimate way to influence emotion and character. Maybe try using TV shows such as The Office or Parks and Recreation.
This is an excellent idea but it is slightly broad. Consider distilling this topic by looking at a specific work or text. The author has suggested 'The Office' or 'Parks and Recreation.' That said, however, the author has also preceded that by referring to individuals with political perspectives and agendas. The writer of this prompt should consider looking at comedic works that either have or aim to have any kind of political influence. Many satirical works would be worth examining. – IsidoreIsou8 years ago
Many episodes of each Star Trek series feature emergent political conflicts. What can the examination of these stories teach us about the principles of diplomacy relevant to our own political struggles? Take one or two episodes and relate them to active conflicts in the real world today.
Cool topic. I think the original Star Trek series, especially, touched on some very interesting political issues. One episode that comes to mind - off the top of my head, anyway - is "The Cage" ("Wrong thinking is punishable; right thinking will be rewarded"). – OBri8 years ago
Sherlock Holmes has had many renditions, but BBC's Sherlock and CBS's Elementary came out about the same time. BBC's Sherlock takes the stance that Sherlock is a high functioning sociopath while CBS's Sherlock is a recovering addict. These renditions affect how other characters in the series were represented as well as how they interact with him. How do these differences compare to the books and do both versions show a strong representation of a version of Sherlock Holmes in their own right?
Interesting topic however I would urge the writer to tread carefully. When examining multiple editions and origin stories things can get messy. A focal point (perhaps characteristics all the renditions share? what is it that makes Sherlock "Sherlock" ?) is very important to execute this successfully. – Mela8 years ago
You've misspelled elementary in the title. – Tigey8 years ago
Do you believe that writers stray away from addressing metal illness/disabilities of any kind when writing for television? Seeing the trailer for "Speechless" (ABC, fall 2016), there must have been an enormous amount of research poured into the writing, but in general, do you think there is too much room for making mistakes or receiving backlash when addressing these topics? Do writers fear this type of work?
I truly agree, I think mental illnesses are becoming such a sensitive subject that it's not really touched by writers. Although as we become further into a generation or time period where mental illness is making itself known, As a society we have to be more aware of the many types of illnesses that follow and the only way to make these known during this time period is by television shows and social media. – Karolyn118 years ago
Addressing mental illness and disabilities is a sensitive topic that should be treated with care. I think if writers do their proper research, create accurate portrayals (not stereotypes) of characters with disabilities or mental illness, and cast proper actors, it's fine. Some writers might hesitate to create shows depicting these topics because they might not have too much experience with it, or they think it's not profitable, but these stories matter too. Mainstream television should make room for more diverse stories like these topics. – seouljustice8 years ago
K-dramas are internationally becoming more and more popular these days. Along with K-pop, K dramas have gained popularity from fans outside of South Korea over the years. What is it about K-dramas that international fans find fascinating? Does the growing number of people that watch K-dramas start out as K-pop fans?
The series "Dramaworld" might also be worth mentioning. It deals with an American girl's obsession with Korean dramas that literally sucks her into those fictional storylines. – aprosaicpintofpisces8 years ago
Thank you very much for that tip! this is my first time using The Artifice, so I am happy to recieve any tips and constructive criticism in order to help me improve as I write more topics/articles. – Nickskey238 years ago
You're welcome! I'm fairly new to The Artifice myself. Based on my personal experience, I'd say interest in K-pop can certainly lead to interest in K-dramas. Whenever you're learning about a different culture, you tend to explore as many avenues as possible whether it's movies, music, books, etc. I think it also might have something to do with the fact that K-drama stars, like many K-pop idols, tend to present audiences with ideals of beauty and character. People gravitate toward pretty, well-dressed people. I personally like how funny and heartfelt K-dramas can be. With the romances, the ones that aren't too clichéd or melodramatic, I like that the relationships tend to take their time and are built up slowly. K-dramas, like a lot of K-pop, doesn't tend to get too dark in its subject matter or at least in its portrayal of difficult subject matter. That can be a little off-putting, but it can also be a refreshing quality since it isn't as common in gritty, American dramas. – aprosaicpintofpisces8 years ago
K-pop probably does play a role! However, I think it definitely raises awareness of the Korean dramas more than anything else. I think Korean dramas retain viewership from cultures outside of Korea due to often their unique storylines and the fact that Korean dramas aren't afraid to be quite silly and funny at times. It definitely has its own merits that keeps it strong. – eugeneleec8 years ago
Coming from a Hispanic culture where we have novellas, Spanish soap operas, there are a wide range of events that can happen within one episode. However, a difference that I have noticed between these two mediums is that they differ in what they show the audience. In my opinion, K-dramas tend to be more on the traditional side of things, where any kind of physical interaction is taboo. However, in novellas all kinds of action take place, from murder to partial sex scenes. K-dramas tend to keep a innocent kind of love alive in which novellas depict differently and therefore gain different audiences. – rubym8 years ago
I really want to thank all of you for your opinions on my topic. I'm gaining a lot of insight from you all and I'm glad. I will work on writing more topics and articles in the near future. – Nickskey238 years ago
I think because most K-pop lovers who aren't Korean are just fascinated with it's uniqueness because its a sum of Korean culture and pop culture influence. – petronellarisita8 years ago
K-pop most definitely raises awareness to the culture in Korean media! K-dramas are completely different from those made in America, making it interesting to an outsider. The gender roles are different, leading to a different "cliche" plot than those in the United States or the UK. – Miranda McClellan8 years ago
One of the first shared themes I find connecting K-pop and K-dramas is heightened fantasy. In K-pop, the beautiful boys and girls are unattainable but seemingly forever single to appeal to audiences and let them fill in the blanks. In K-dramas, the love and tragedy are fantastically over the top while still emotionally accessible for audiences. It's having tangible images and scenarios but presented in a way that is so aestheticized that it plays out as fantasy. – bluishcatbag8 years ago
More and more television showrunners are pulling double duty as directors of their shows, foregoing the practice of bringing in guest directors. Alec Berg and Mike Judge alternated writing and directing episodes of season two of Silicon Valley. Sam Esmail took over directing duties for the second season of Mr. Robot. Does the lack of guest directors help or hurt a show's quality?
Interesting topic, but I don't necessarily agree with it. In most cases, the showrunner is the head writer, and is therefore not necessarily someone with sufficient directorial talent, experience, or inclination to bring their shows to life. An example that comes to mind is Vince Gilligan directing the final episode of Breaking Bad, which (despite being a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to an objectively perfect show) if viewed on its own, is one of the weaker episodes of the series. It begs the question as to how much better it might have been if he had let Michelle McLaren or Rian Johnson take the helm. – ProtoCanon8 years ago
What are the duties of showrunners? Are they too different from director's? Maybe these are questions that should be addressed first. However, this topic doesn't fit quit right with this magazine's themes. – T. Palomino2 years ago
Analyze the understanding of American cultural values in todays' shows and how they relate to the general public opinions and beliefs. Shows like "Notorious" is a perfect example where one can analyze the impact of media in our everyday lives. Gather data from the 60s shows and compare to the shows of today. Or even pick two different time periods to compare American cultural values across different genres of shows.
Even a selective chronology over the decades might form a useful comparison. How have views evolved? – Munjeera8 years ago
Examining the evolution of representations of gender/race over time is a current issue. Comparative analysis from a cultural standpoint would be a great addition to the material here. – DanielRobertKelly8 years ago
