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Politics of Film and Theater

• Is it possible that staging Shakespeare’s classic plays can speak to contemporary political issues?
• Is contemporary cinema still capable of shocking, or has commercialism and the desire for sequels diminished this ability?
• An examination of whether the modern film industry has become dominated by star actors to the detriment of the rest. with a nod to Tom Cruise’s Mummy role (2017).
• Is contemporary film still a mirror of society, or is it more about emancipation?
• A look at the impact that films have had on contemporary youth culture.

Public Reception

• To what extent do fan-made films like ‘Dark Jedi’ (a Star Wars fan film, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn1o9lPTSbY) contribute to the franchise’s success? ) pioneer a new style of filmmaking made possible by platforms like YouTube?
• If cinemas are required to engage and divert the public away from made-for-TV drama, has the 2020 Covid Pandemic derailed this effort?
• A look at street theater and its influence on popular theater.
• Discuss how theater performances are adapted in today’s media-saturated world.
• Are the performing arts still affordable to the general public, or have they devolved into high-priced luxuries reserved for the educated middle class?
• Has Covid-19 ushered in a new era of independent film media production?

Gender, Race and Technology Topics

• Is it worthwhile to debate whether theater should employ gender- and race-neutral casting?
• Is theater a trend-setter or a trend-follower in terms of the current directions of social movements? What role does theater play in expressing these trends?
• In 2019, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) cast a female actor as King John. Is this a return to the tradition of cross-gender casting in all-male Elizabethan theater, or is it merely a “eccentric measure” that adds nothing to the show, as one critic suggested?
• The Royal Shakespeare Company was chastised by a Daily Mail theater critic for its “clunky approach to politically correct casting (which) weakened its stage product.” This conclusion is based on legitimate concerns about recent casting decisions and an alarming lack of appreciation for contemporary diversity.
• Is contemporary theater still speaking out against sexist and racist stereotypes?
• Is popular cinema still made in ways that satisfy masculine scopophilia, as Mulvey’s (1975) theories of the male gaze suggest?
• Discuss whether the male gaze in contemporary cinema has a direct female counterpart.
• Is VOD more accessible because it is delivered digitally rather than physically? Discuss Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman’s Netflix release.
• What impact will virtual reality have on film, live theater, and music in 2021, given how it has transformed the gaming industry?
• Is the use of computer-generated action on stage in ‘Pippin’ a step too far?
• The use of 3D technology onstage and in theaters has been a source of contention. Determine the viability of 3D theater and live performance.
• What does the moviegoer expect in terms of technology, or is this merely a smokescreen for a shoddy script?