pop culture
Modern popular culture topics in the geek sphere.
10 Reasons Comic Cons Are Sweeter than Christmas Morning
There is a certain kind of magic that surrounds comic cons, all sorts of people proudly count down the days until this feast of geekery returns. While I cannot feasibly list all the marvelous things that go on during these events, I can at least narrow it down to the top ten. So sit back, relax and enjoy.
By Kelley Pace8 years ago in Geeks
19 Years Later...
J.K. Rowling has managed to create her own army of wizards. The series that she first began publishing in 1997 (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) has earned a huge following. The author herself has over 12 million followers on twitter and continues the series discussion throughout the years revealing secrets during her time writing them. She continues to engage fans in the world that she created, a world that absorbed the imaginations of millions. The novels can be seen in high schools (and elementary schools) around the world. They sit snugly in bookcases, in backpacks, and on beside tables. Movies are played on TV while families gather and enjoy the magic together (the movies earning $7.7 billion in total). A world has been created based upon the magic that stemmed from the imagination of one individual: an amazing task to be accomplished in the literary world. Harry Potter World opened to thousands of excited fans who wanted to get a chance to enjoy the wizarding world they grew up reading about. They wanted to experience Diagon Alley and Platform 9 3/4; introverts and extroverts alike came together in a giant social setting to engage about a literary phenomenon. Twenty years after the first novel was published (ten years after the final, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) people are still bonding over the series. Toys and models are still being sold in stores depicting the famous characters with their lightning bolt scars, ginger hair, and intelligent stare. These novels have brought people together in a world that appears to constantly be drawing them apart. The author herself has added to this drawing together by continuing conversations and remaining down to earth in her public appearances.
By Katrina Thornley8 years ago in Geeks
Remembering Tobe Hooper Through His Masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Director Tobe Hooper died today, he was 74 years old. Hooper’s very first film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre became an iconic horror classic in 1974 without getting the credit it deserves as a film. People like my critical brethren to this day write off The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as just a slasher film intended to shock and appall. But there is so much more to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre than just hack n’slash. Whether he knew it or not, Tobe Hooper was directing the last movie of the Hippie Generation and capturing, in the most visceral and violent metaphor imaginable, the death of the ideals of an entire generation of people.
By Sean Patrick8 years ago in Geeks
Why Critics Are Important
Since the birth of artistic expression, criticism of that art followed close behind. In fact, in the 21st century, it's hard to deny critic's influence on media. Whether it's music, movies, books, or television—the effect critics have on art is undeniable. Visual media, in particular, are constantly adding new movies and television shows on a weekly basis. There's an over stimulation of new art and limited ways to filter the good from the bad. Really, criticism is the only way we as a society have to weed out the gems from the clods of dirt.
By Michael Bergonzi8 years ago in Geeks
How the Target Audience of Game of Thrones Has Changed
I am going to begin this post by stating that this will not be discussion of the poor quality of writing, gaping plot holes, or vast inconsistencies that have plagued the show in the past few seasons. This post will not go into the details of how the show has veered off and completely ignored the internal logic of its own universe. This is not a post that will excuse all that is wrong with the show. All of that will be discussed in a separate post. Instead, this post will take a look at how, as the show evolved, the audience that the show runners decided to target changed over the course of the series.
By Darshan Desai8 years ago in Geeks
Starcraft: The Board Game at 10
StarCraft: The Board Game would have reached its 10th birthday this year if it wasn’t for its untimely death in 2011. In its four-year lifespan, the candle burned twice as bright with a Brood Wars expansion and a Blizzcon Typhon planet promo. This was a beautifully produced child of Fantasy Flight Games with Blizzard Entertainment’s input and designed by Christian T. Petersen and Corey Konieczka.
By Wade A. Stewart8 years ago in Geeks
Disney Gets Ready to Stream the Magic Kingdom
Technology has blown a hole in the traditional entertainment business model. That’s been true for some time — at least since 2007 when Netflix vastly reduced its position in the DVD rental business and committed to streaming content directly to consumers. Now, Disney, the whale in the waters of entertainment content, has announced plans to get into the streaming game.
By Michael Eric Ross8 years ago in Geeks
Whatever Happened to My TV?
Times are a changing, folks. What once was no longer is. Go to your closet. Put on that shirt, if it has not been thrown away, from 10 years ago. If it is loose, you’re very lucky. If not, I understand. Look around you. What has NOT been changed in the last ten years that does not require a fitting of some sort? In my case, I am scared to look into a full-length mirror.
By Maurice Bernier8 years ago in Geeks
Disney's 'Weird' Period
Disney has been bringing animated and live action films to our screens for years and whilst I am a huge Disney fan I find that most of these films fall into the same cookie cutter category. Disney found a formula that worked and stuck to it, nobody can blame them for that when it makes them billions of dollars. However, when Mulan was released in 1998, we were suddenly given a new era of Disney film.
By Grace Lynch8 years ago in Geeks
