Pick Tycho's Research Paper Topic!

TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Or Don't. It's All Good.</div>So for English I've got a ~12 page research paper to write. The prompt is rather long and stuff, but I'm just going to give it to ya'll in blockquote form:

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->In your Researched Analysis Essay, you will write about a cultural text, using both research and your own analysis. This essay will draw upon research/writing done and skills developed throughout the semester. In it you will bring a range of sources together into a "conversation" with the goal of presenting an original argument about yrou cultural text, focusingon what it reveals about, and/or how it responds to, cultural influences, ideas, messages, or situations.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What that basically means is that I can write 12 pages about anything and as long as a I cite a lot of sources I will get an A.

The question is what to write about. My teacher's cool and everything so I can basically pick anything for a "text." I haven't thought about it a ton but here are the three that sort of came to mind:

1. <i>Catch-22</i>, my favorite book. This would probably be a pretty easy paper, because the paralleles between the Vietnam War (the war that made the book popular) and the Iraq War are big enough that I can just talk about those in the context of the book. You know, profiteering, what enemy are we fighting, cynicism, etc. Blah blah.

<img src="http://www.clubs.psu.edu/ma/englishclub/catch_22.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

2. <i>Transmetropolitan</i>, the awesome comic by Warren Ellis. Transmet deals with a lot of stuff but I'd probably look at how it addressed government oppresion/government in general, poverty and urban life, and the FUTURE!!!! which in this case is mostly dystopian. Plus maybe some stuff about gonzo journalism.

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/43/Transmetropolitan_2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

3. <i>Bioshock</i>. There are a few options but the biggest/easiest/the one I think I'd write about is Objectivism, and how Ayn Rand's ideals are worked in to the game.

<img src="http://xbox360media.gamespy.com/xbox360/image/article/736/736285/bioshock-20060928105628336.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

4. ? ? ?

<img src="http://www.zfcamaro.com/Riddler/Riddler1.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />

5. Profit!

<img src="http://www.biblehelp.org/images/stacks%20of%20money.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Which of those 3 sounds best to you guys? Or do you have an even better idea for me? I'm open to anything, the paper's not due until December or anything and we aren't even forced to pick a topic until a while from now. If you have any awesome suggestions that'd be great.
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  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    Personally, I would go with Catch-22. Awesome book, lots of good commentary on different things, abstract thinking, and other fun things.

    Plus, no difficulty in finding people that have discussed it, discussed its meanings, and discussed how it works into life.

    Transmet being the joy that it is would be a MUCH more awesome thing to write about. However it would be harder too do as all your sources would have to be talking about Gonzo journalism or modern day politics (or politics at any point), as I doubt there are many researchers talking about Transmet itself (which is a shame).

    bio Shock? Kinda a nifty concept if you are really into Ayn Rand.

    And you are still a bad man.
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    I will only help you pick it if you add my name to the paper..
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654088:date=Oct 4 2007, 02:47 PM:name=Epidemic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Epidemic @ Oct 4 2007, 02:47 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654088"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I will only help you pick it if you add my name to the paper..<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    No dice! You can write your name on your own paper.
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    downside of writing about something like Bioshock is that it's likely your prof hasn't played it, so you would have to spend extra time writing to the naive reader. probably more opportunities to sound smart if you talk about Catch-22 than a video game... though there's more opportunities to look cool for writing about a video game...
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  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    edited October 2007
    Considering the extreme lack of discourse in the mainstream, I would like you to address the modern transformation of US conservatives / Republicans into the 'Neo-Conservatism' movement, even though they are anything but conservative, their ties to evangelicals, and how Ron Paul has long been considered a third-tier candidate until fairly recently despite that he is one of the only Republican candidates actually representing himself on terms that the Republican party was founded on.

    As far as cultural text, this would be based on the writings and philosophies of founding fathers, and founders of the Republican party, as compared to recent books, lectures, speeches, etc, of Neo-Con politicians.

    Bonus points for slamming the hell out of Lieberman and Giuliani.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654099:date=Oct 4 2007, 03:25 PM:name=OttoDestruct)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OttoDestruct @ Oct 4 2007, 03:25 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654099"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Considering the extreme lack of discourse in the mainstream, I would like you to address the modern transformation of US conservatives / Republicans into the 'Neo-Conservatism' movement, even though they are anything but conservative, their ties to evangelicals, and how Ron Paul has long been considered a third-tier candidate until fairly recently despite that he is one of the only Republican candidates actually representing himself on terms that the Republican party was founded on.

    As far as cultural text, this would be based on the writings and philosophies of founding fathers, and founders of the Republican party, as compared to recent books, lectures, speeches, etc, of Neo-Con politicians.

    Bonus points for slamming the hell out of Lieberman and Giuliani.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yeah like I really care about a bunch of neocon nutsos. Honestly I'm not trying to find the most boring, depressing topic possible. I want something that I can spend a few hours and 12-ish pages writing about without getting bored or wanting to shoot myself. Meditating on the specific flavor of retard that happens to be in charge politically right now isn't my idea of fun.
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  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    I'd go with Bioshock. A review of an unorthodox art form taking on Objectivism with rather insightful results is something that would interest any teacher/professor thats worth a damn.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    I'd call Star Wars a cultural phenomenon, and WOULD suggest that, but unfortunately you don't know anything about it.
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  • Private_ColemanPrivate_Coleman PhD in Video Games Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7510Members
    edited October 2007
    Stop hot linking images you bandwidth murdering pedophile thief. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":angry:" border="0" alt="mad-fix.gif" />

    bioshock because it is a com puter game
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  • pardzhpardzh Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1601Members
    <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reefer-Madness-Drugs-American-Market/dp/0618446702/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-2212726-9757216?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191543654&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Reefer Madness:</a> Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market

    Now that's a cultural text for ya.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654136:date=Oct 4 2007, 07:02 PM:name=Private_Coleman)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Private_Coleman @ Oct 4 2007, 07:02 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654136"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Stop hot linking images you bandwidth murdering pedophile thief. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":angry:" border="0" alt="mad-fix.gif" />

    bioshock because it is a com puter game<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Google Image Search is the real thief. I simply channel its evil.

    And no, pardzh, I look enough like a pothead already. I don't need campus security doing the whole DEA raid thing.
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  • Private_ColemanPrivate_Coleman PhD in Video Games Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7510Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654144:date=Oct 4 2007, 07:40 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Oct 4 2007, 07:40 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654144"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Google Image Search is the real thief. I simply channel its evil.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Channeling evil is just as bad, son. What's wrong with you? Don't you love the internet that Uncle Sam has graciously provided for you? Well if that's the case why don't you get out and lurk in some dark net. There's plenty of other places for you to go instead of trying to ruin this one. People like you are what's wrong with this internet and I'll be damned if I let some smarmy 14 year old tell me that they're not doing anything wrong. The problem is you people don't do anything, just sitting in your "schools" pumping out self-important forum posts and relying on straw man arguments to satisfy your own ego in some megalomaniac state. I got on this internet just to post against terrorists like you, and if you don't like it you can just go to Iran and get bombed out and burn when the US gun machine knocks on your commie fascist red door OORAH
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  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited October 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1654146:date=Oct 4 2007, 06:21 PM:name=Private_Coleman)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Private_Coleman @ Oct 4 2007, 06:21 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654146"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Channeling evil is just as bad, son. What's wrong with you? Don't you love the internet that Uncle Sam has graciously provided for you? Well if that's the case why don't you get out and lurk in some dark net. There's plenty of other places for you to go instead of trying to ruin this one. People like you are what's wrong with this internet and I'll be damned if I let some smarmy 14 year old tell me that they're not doing anything wrong. The problem is you people don't do anything, just sitting in your "schools" pumping out self-important forum posts and relying on straw man arguments to satisfy your own ego in some megalomaniac state. I got on this internet just to post against terrorists like you, and if you don't like it you can just go to Iran and get bombed out and burn when the US gun machine knocks on your commie fascist red door OORAH<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    POTY
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  • pardzhpardzh Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1601Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654144:date=Oct 4 2007, 08:40 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Oct 4 2007, 08:40 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654144"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->And no, pardzh, I look enough like a pothead already. I don't need campus security doing the whole DEA raid thing.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You should really read the book, it might open your eyes a little bit.

    Or, remain blissfully unaware and continue equating smoking pot to killing babies and mainlining heroin.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654284:date=Oct 5 2007, 04:30 PM:name=pardzh)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pardzh @ Oct 5 2007, 04:30 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654284"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You should really read the book, it might open your eyes a little bit.

    Or, remain blissfully unaware and continue equating smoking pot to killing babies and mainlining heroin.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I don't have any problem with marijuana beyond the fact that its illegality means the people profiting off of it are mostly shady characters, but I don't feel like writing Gore Vidal's "On Drugs" all over again.
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  • MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654289:date=Oct 5 2007, 03:14 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Oct 5 2007, 03:14 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654289"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I don't have any problem with marijuana beyond the fact that its illegality means the people profiting off of it are mostly shady characters, but I don't feel like writing Gore Vidal's "On Drugs" all over again.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Jesus, what school is this where you get punished for reading a book?
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654315:date=Oct 5 2007, 10:52 PM:name=Mantrid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mantrid @ Oct 5 2007, 10:52 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654315"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Jesus, what school is this where you get punished for reading a book?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    It seems that the NS forums have not yet become acclimated to my sarcasm. In another 5 years, perhaps.
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  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    My freshman year my English professor had us write one paper on the Boondock Saints and another on car commercials. They actually ended up being pretty good, although it was hard to find corroborating sources.

    I would suggest the Name of the Wind since I know you have read it and you could talk out the conflicting goals of creating a fantasy world to escape in while maintaining some sense of realism and believability.
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  • X_StickmanX_Stickman Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
    You should write about Star Wars!

    Oh.... wait.... you want to <i>pass</i>...
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1654737:date=Oct 8 2007, 03:32 PM:name=X_Stickman)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(X_Stickman @ Oct 8 2007, 03:32 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654737"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You should write about Star Wars!

    Oh.... wait.... you want to <i>pass</i>...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    More like I want to <i>pass</i> on causing you the intense emotional pain and torment that would result from your realizing that my <i>Star Wars</i> paper demonstrated more knowledge about the trilogy than you ever imagined possible, more than you could even comprehend.
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  • X_StickmanX_Stickman Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1654746:date=Oct 8 2007, 10:06 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Oct 8 2007, 10:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654746"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->More like I want to <i>pass</i> on causing you the intense emotional pain and torment that would result from your realizing that my <i>Star Wars</i> paper demonstrated more knowledge about the trilogy than you ever imagined possible, more than you could even comprehend.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->



    .... Touché
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Okay well, I have a 4-5 page preliminary essay due Monday (an analysis of my primary source) and I still haven't chosen a topic. I'm vacillating wildly between Bioshock, Transmetropolitan, and some third, unknowable option which I feel would bring me great success. And I need to write 5 pages by Monday.
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  • CrispyCrispy Jaded GD Join Date: 2004-08-22 Member: 30793Members, Constellation
    Write about "The Evolution of Female Protagonists in the First-Person Shooter", or if you wanna have more examples, "...in Videogames".

    Just don't write about "Vaginas in Portal" like poor, misguided Bonnie Ruberg.
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  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    Even though I JUST finished rereading catch 22 I still say Transmet.

    Going with political figures, press coverage/muck raking, and all those other wonderful things.


    (toss in a bit about long pig and you are GOLDEN)
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    I thought you said you were going with goatse?<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    I went with Transmet. It's nice to have it all decided.
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  • alephaleph Join Date: 2007-10-12 Member: 62620Members
    tldr

    alternate suggestion: the effect of using the internet as a substitue for real social interaction

    here's some data to start you off (though you already have a wealth of firsthand knowledge on the subject): <a href="http://www.zogby.com/templates/printnews.cfm?id=1378" target="_blank">http://www.zogby.com/templates/printnews.cfm?id=1378</a>
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1658240:date=Oct 28 2007, 02:46 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Oct 28 2007, 02:46 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1658240"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I went with Transmet. It's nice to have it all decided.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    ^^^
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  • AbraAbra Would you kindly Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19870Members
    Just read the first few transmetropolitan. awesome.
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  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    edited October 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1658240:date=Oct 28 2007, 03:46 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Oct 28 2007, 03:46 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1658240"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I went with Transmet. It's nice to have it all decided.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    What are you writing on?

    Currently rereading Transmet (again) <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />


    (new avatar in honor of this, for now)
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