Compare and contrast Casablanca and The Rocky Horror Picture Show as cult films
Both these films are seen as archetypical examples of cult movies, yet they are extremely different. How can a concept broad enough to encompass them both be analytically useful? This analysis could specifically focus on the aesthetics of the two films, particularly in relation to Hollywood classicism.
Analyse Disney’s aesthetics as an example of cult aesthetic
If cult aesthetics are oppositional in nature, how can Disney’s mainstream fare be considered cult? For this topic, it is useful to discuss the reception of films, especially Eco’s notion of the extremely closed text.
Discuss David Lynch’s position as either cult director or artfilm director
This project would examine the differences between the two categories, particularly in relation to Jauss’ ‘horizions of expectations’. It could also examine David Lynch’s reception in the media from Eraserhead via Dune to The Straight Story.
Are the Coen brothers cult?
Films such as The Big Lebowski and Fargo could easily be classified as cult films, but what of O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Intolerable Cruelty, both of which have Hollywood stars in them? Can directors move back and forth between cult status and mainstream status, or do they inevitably bring their cult status to any project they make? A comparative study of two of their films is probably the best way to proceed.
Analyse George A. Romero’s Living Dead-trilogy, with special emphasis on the zombies
Can the zombies be read as symbols of something other than simply dead people? What does being a living dead mean in these films?
Analyse Susan Sontag’s concept of camp in relation to cult audiences
To what extent is there a connection between Sontag’s understanding of camp, and the textual productions of cult audiences? Is camp confined to a gay sensibility? Sontag’s essay “Notes on ‘Camp’” can be found in her Against Interpretation.
Discuss Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell to Earth with particular emphasis on David Bowie
What relevance does David Bowie’s persona have in connection with this film? To what extent does the film hinge on Bowie’s earlier career? What does Bowie’s persona bring to the film?
Using the concept of ostranenie (estrangement, defamiliarisation), discuss if Bourdieu is correct in assessing that the popular aesthetic refuses formal experimentation.
The paper will focus on the relation between the popular aesthetic and that of cult films and to what extent cult films are dependent upon estrangement in order to create the necessary distance from the text.
Discuss the changing media reception of Star Trek audiences
Lisa A Lewis (ed), The Adoring Audience: Fan Culture and Popular Media and Henry Jenkins Textual Poachers are good starting points.
Does Disneyland represent the ethics which the Disney Corportation upholds?
Show how Disneyland is based on the ethics which the Disney Corporation has as a basis. For a particularly interesting analysis, contextualise this to Baudrillard’s thoughts on Disneyland.
Discuss whether race, gender, class and so forth play any role in the construction of the cult audience
Some claim that cult audiences cut across typical divisions of age, race, gender, class and all other divisions. Only the text in case matters and as such, cult audiences or fan convetions, may be places where these divisions are suspended.
Analyse the reception of David Lynch’s Eraserhead, its evolution into a midnight movie and its now iconic status as Lynch’s most difficult film
This paper would investigate the different modes of reception which the film has undergone.
Discuss the position of some Hammer Horror stars (Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, etc) within mainstream, with a focus on why they become popular
Why do these actors, who are not necessarily wellknown for their acting talent, become favourites of mainstream film?
Investigate Star Wars as a cult phenomenon
Star Wars is usually seen as the epitome of Hollywood, and it also helped in coining the term New Hollywood. Yet these films also seem to have a very strong following, perhaps even a cult following. Discuss how mainstrem films can have a cult following, if cult films are understood as being liked by the minority.
Viewing cult vs. reading cult?: The case of The Lord of the Rings
With the adaptation of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the questions seems to be if a mainstream blockbuster can keep its cult status. Also, did Tolkien’s work have cult status before and if so how? This paper would bridge the span between the Adaptations course and this course, in order to discuss whether a potential cult status can be transferred in adapting a novel. It requires a discussion of whether such a popular novel can have a cult following, and what things are done in adapting the novel to keep the cult status.
Discuss the concept of ’slumming’ in relation to cult stars?
What does it mean for an actor to ‘go slumming’, and can this affect the popularity/status of said actor?
What is Johnny Depp’s position within Hollywood filmmaking?
From Cry-Baby to What’s Eating Gilbert Grape to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Depp does not seem to fit into one particular category as actor. Can he be termed a cult actor and what is his postion in the mainstream?
