Research topic: Netflix’s Marvel’s Luke Cage explores timely social issues

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The symbolism in Marvel’s Luke Cage, the newest of its Netflix superhero series, is not terribly subtle: “Having Luke Cage wandering around, wearing a hoodie as an act of defiance, reading Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man feels a bit on the nose,” noted Daniel Fienberg in a review for The Hollywood Reporter, “‘Marvel’s Luke Cage’: TV Review,” posted September 27, 2016. But the pointed commentary and the show’s willingness to engage with social issues may be one of its strengths. It’s the first television show to center on a black superhero, based on a character created during the Blaxploitation craze of the 1970s.

Learn more about Marvel's superhero series, Luke Cage. (Credit: Marvel, Netflix)

Learn more about Marvel’s superhero series, Luke Cage. (Credit: Marvel, Netflix)

That Luke Cage, sometimes known as Power Man, who is bulletproof, is increasingly relevant in an age of #BlackLivesMatter and increased media coverage of the shootings of unarmed black men. But that social consciousness is only one of the aspects of Marvel’s Luke Cage that would make an interesting research paper topic in your film and television studies or African American studies classes. It’s also a great source for an extracurricular reading list. Read more

The Light Between Oceans and psychology topics for your research paper

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The film, The Light Between Oceans, starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander tells the story of a couple’s tragic decision and its consequences. Grieving from the loss of three pregnancies, the lead characters find and keep an infant who survives a shipwreck near the lighthouse where they live.

Learn how you can discuss The Light Between Oceans in your psychology paper. (Credit: DreamWorks)

Learn how you can discuss The Light Between Oceans in your psychology paper. (Credit: DreamWorks)

Their motivations and how they deal with the discovery of the child’s natural mother make for gripping drama and a wealth of psychology topics to explore for your research papers. Read more

Hollywood movie remakes and Ben-Hur as your research topics

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For your term paper, you can write about how Hollywood prefers movie remakes and nostalgia when releasing the latest movies—the new Ben-Hur movie is a classic example. Remakes and reboots are popular throughout motion picture and television history.

Learn more about the Ben-Hur movie for your research paper. (Credit: Mountain Xpress)

Learn more about the Ben-Hur movie for your research paper. (Credit: Mountain Xpress)

Here are some interesting research paper topics on the popularity of the remake in Hollywood movies. Read more

Television history research topic: Television producer Norman Lear

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Legendary television producer Norman Lear is the subject of a new documentary, Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You. Responsible for many successful television sitcoms during the 1970s and 1980s, the 93-year-old has been called the most influential producer in the history of television.

Learn more about television history and Norman Lear. (Credit: ABC News)

Learn more about television history and Norman Lear. (Credit: ABC News)

His “All in the Family” episodes often dealt with controversial subjects of the time. His success and subject matter has influenced recent television producers, such as Shonda Rhimes. Here are some interesting research paper topics on Norman Lear. Read more

Harry Potter and the West End play: Research paper topics

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If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ve probably already picked up the bound version of the script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, J. K. Rowling’s eighth entry into the world of Potter and Hogwarts. While the print edition released with midnight bookstore parties on July 31, 2016 (the traditional release day of the Potter books, as well as Harry Potter’s birthday), the West End play, featuring Noma Dumezweni, an Olivier-winning actress of South African heritage portraying a black Hermione Granger, opened on July 30.

Learn more about the latest Harry Potter book for your research paper. (Credit: Pottermore)

Learn more about the latest Harry Potter book for your research paper. (Credit: Pottermore)

That the performance and the book debuted so closely together is atypical of the way that plays are normally published, and the large following the Harry Potter world has amassed since the first novel was published in 1997 makes the newest release noteworthy. Read more

Hamilton as your American history, theater or American theater history research topic

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On July 9, several of the Hamilton cast members made their final bow—but two weeks prior, two performances were filmed. What’s happening to that footage? That’s still uncertain, though a PBS Hamilton documentary, Hamilton’s America, is set to broadcast October 21.

Learn more about Hamilton for your research paper. (Credit: TwoCentsTV)

Learn more about Hamilton for your research paper. (Credit: TwoCentsTV)

Consider delving into any of the number of research paper topics presented by Hamilton, including: issues of representation on Broadway (or in American history); how the American founding fathers have loomed large as legends and how pop culture representation affects the audience’s ideas about those figures; or even the idea of an original Broadway cast receiving profit-sharing on a show’s success. Read more

Women in film: Backlash and issues with Ghostbusters reboot as your research topic

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When news of a Ghostbusters reboot hit the news, fans reacted very strongly. While there was some excitement, many fans loudly decried the decision of Paul Feig to cast an all-female ghostbusting team, led by Melissa McCarthy. The strong reaction from fans has continued to make news as the film debuted this July. Whether or not the film does well, it sparks an important conversation about women in film.

Discuss Ghostbusters and women in film in your research paper. (Credit: Heroic Hollywood)

Discuss Ghostbusters and women in film in your research paper. (Credit: Heroic Hollywood)

If you are looking for a good research paper topic for your film criticism or women’s studies class, consider grabbing some popcorn and heading to the theater to see the new Ghostbusters. Read more

Free State of Jones offers Civil War history research paper topics

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The historical movie Free State of Jones starring Matthew McConaughey is about citizens of Mississippi who disagreed with their state’s decision to secede from the Union at the beginning of the Civil War. The movie follows historical figure Newton Knight who deserted the Confederate army, led an uprising of guerilla warfare against the Confederacy and declared solidarity with the Union.

Learn more about the Free State of Jones movie and the Civil War here. (Credit: Showtime Networks)

Learn more about the Free State of Jones movie and the Civil War here. (Credit: Showtime Networks)

He also married a former slave leading to repercussions in race relations in Mississippi to this day. Here are some interesting research paper topics on Civil War history. Read more

Maxwell Perkins and Genius biopic as your film or literature research topic

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Most likely, few people outside of the publishing industry are immediately familiar with the name Maxwell Perkins, despite the fact that he played a large hand in shaping modern American literature. In the new biopic Genius, based on the biography Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg, Colin Firth and Jude Law bring to life Max Perkins, editor at Scribner’s, and Thomas Wolfe, the tempestuous, verbose author whose friendship with Perkins was nearly as much the stuff of legends as Wolfe’s novels.

Colin Firth as celebrated editor Maxwell Perkins, struggling with Thomas Wolfe’s first novel, in Genius. (Credit: Marc Brenner)

Colin Firth as celebrated editor Maxwell Perkins, struggling with Thomas Wolfe’s first novel, in Genius. (Credit: Marc Brenner)

If you are looking for a topic for your American Literature class, consider taking a look at Genius, Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, and the research behind both the film and the biography. Read more

Discussing disability issues in your next research paper

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Adapted from the bestseller, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, the movie of the same name has drawn much criticism from film critics and the disabled community alike. All agree that Emilia Clarke scores a quirky and stunning performance, but critics bemoan an overly romantic and maudlin storyline.

Learn more about disability issues here. (Credit: Warner Bros)

Learn more about disability issues here. (Credit: Warner Bros)

The disabled community find fault with the portrayal of a quadriplegic man who wishes to end his life by assisted suicide. An examination of how the disabled are portrayed by the media could be the focus of your next research paper. Read more