UnleashF-5Fury Posted April 1, 2012 Report Share Posted April 1, 2012 OK Guys, I am currently a College Senior at Bowling Green State University. I am taking a class "POPC 2900: TV As Popular Culture." We have to a write an 8-page essay on a topic of our choice. I would like to write a paper on something within wrestling but I need to get a topic. The "History of Professional Wrestling" is entirely too broad. I need to get more of a focus. Topics so far include but are not limited to: -"The Federation Years" -"The Attitude Era" -"The PG Era" -"The Monday Night Wars" Also, my professor suggested "Comparing professional wrestling to UFC/Cagefighting or Boxing and its popularity." OR one superstar. Obviously one of the most famous faces in the history of professional wrestling is Hulk Hogan. I could do the essay on a superstar and their importance but at the same time, what ever topic I pick should relate to TV in Pop Culture. What do you guys think about all of this? Which topic above seems the best? If you have additional topics, COMMENT BELOW! (And remember, whatever topic I choose has to equal out 8 pages, so lets get some good ones!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caws.ws Resident Cowboy Posted April 1, 2012 Report Share Posted April 1, 2012 The various "top guys" how a face and a heel should act Why people are fans WWE's impacts on pop culture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maskedmaniac Posted April 1, 2012 Report Share Posted April 1, 2012 The PG era is just stupid with leprechauns running around and John Cena who looks like a Mark Whalberg rapper wannabee (this might be his real persona but people wont be able to move past this, trust me.) I suggest going with the attitude era because it embodied what pop culture was like at the time and what influence it had on people, this way you can include things such as Jerry Springer, Marylin Manson, the Columbine school shooting and just the amount of violence kids were exposed to in those days... The Attitude era happened because society let it happen, nowadays if someone saw Stone Cold giving a stunner to Vickie Guerrero parent groups would be up in arms and the network would have to do something about it. Also with the Attitude era you can still include the Monday Night Wars as a reason why WWE had to get so edgy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rise of Nightmares Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 The various "top guys" how a face and a heel should act Why people are fans WWE's impacts on pop culture That is a really good one, TC should definitely consider that one, but make it Wrestlings impact on pop culture, there is more wrestling that just WWE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivandude Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 If this were to go on a wrestling column website, then you could get all nerdy up in here and write about "era's" and "top stars" but really you need this topic to relate to the general audience out there who care NOTHING for the Attitude Era or the Maineventers, lets face it. I don't think many people have/will reply on an intellectual level considering you are in university and need to pass the exam, make a point of difference, and really come across with an impact on here. So if you are wanting to do a good essay, and it MUST involve your passion of wrestling, well try to make it accessible and not NERDY (to put it blunt). Imagine someone writing about Battlestar Galactica or Star Trek and then you'll realise how you might end up coming across if you start going on about how Stone Cold started the Attitude Era then went on to impact culture -_- he did, in our views, but not to University professors/lecturers. So, my ideas... "Also, my professor suggested "Comparing professional wrestling to UFC/Cagefighting or Boxing and its popularity." OR one superstar. Obviously one of the most famous faces in the history of professional wrestling is Hulk Hogan." That seems the right track, my thinking seems to go like this: Wrestling -> UFC -> Boxing + impact on culture/popularity/widespread views/violence/sports/TV You know wrestling already, now research it more. While you're doing that don't make it nerdy, make it interesting and go into the recent phenomena of UFC, and then the age old favourite of boxing through the decades, and how it has impacted culture in many ways. Once introduced various forms of sports-entertainment involving physical contact (violence) you can look into stars who have transcended the one realm of wrestling and sneakily use your passion & knowledge of wrestling to help you write it, but your professor and those reading it will be impressed that they actually know the people you mention. IE: Brock Lesnar (UFC+WWE), Kurt Angle (WWE/TNA/Olympics), Hulk Hogan (Movies,TV,MTV,WCW,WWE), The Rock (Movies,TV,WWE). The topic can be about how they started off on the wrestling stage and became such a big icon they transcended into mainstream culture or into other sports. Brief mentions for boxing: Mike Tyson, Mayweather as they have been involved in wrestling too, to cross promote sports/entertainment. Hope this helps you mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 My immediate thought whilst reading this was to discuss the Rock's transition from Rocky Maivia to Hollywood Superstar. I think the entire span of the attitude era as a topci would be really interesting, like when it began, why it began, when and why it ended, etc. But that discussion is probably more for the wrestling fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 I'd say the Monday Night Wars and the inclusion of celebrities. you could discuss the effect it had on TV as well as the positive and negative aspects to celebrities in wrestling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnleashF-5Fury Posted April 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 Thanks for all the input guys! Its very much appreciated! Last night at while watching WrestleMania with a group of friends, one friend suggested I write the essay on the "Face vs. Heel dynamic" and how it relates to what the superstars can and can't do on TV. He suggested I focus on Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Stone Cold and possibly Cena. Also, this allows me to talk about "Tweeners" and how all of the above managed to be technically a face or heel at one time but were recognized as Tweeners. What do you think about this? I think this could be an interesting topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknownsold13r Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 I'd be happy to help you out with facts and ideas if I can. I'd say your best bet is to follow the Cowboy's advice with WWE's effect on pop culture Consider something like this for a title: The real effect on popular culture by the surreal world of professional wrestling I just came up with that right now, and you're free to use it, alter it, whatever if you want. I wouldn't make your whole paper about just one star. Or if you do decide to write 8 full pages about Hulk Hogan, please don't have any readily loaded guns in your house as it will be tempting. You can definitely talk about different eras of wrestling. Just don't do it in a smarky type of way of course. The goal would be to show how each era of wrestling relates to popular culture in unique ways. -The WWWF's appeal to working class adults -The 80's targeting young people by becoming a live action cartoon in a sense -The mid 90's struggling to find a new audience in the decline of the New Generation era -The Attitude era and how T-shirts bearing nWo and Austin 3:16 became the greatest viral marketing campaign that wrestling ever unleashed. -The WWE's acquisition of WCW and how they used/misused the Invasion angle and how fans who grew up with wrestling in the 80's and 90's perceived this. -The Ruthless Aggression era's intent to continue to hook college aged fans who followed the WWE for a long time. -The PG era and it's goal to recapture a young audience. -The current transition into what some fans are already labeling the reality era... an attempt to borrow from reality TV and an attempt to make the product itself seem more like a shoot, especially in terms of interviews and promos. Show how wrestling's perception by the media has been reflected. Show how wrestling involves celebrities and athletes at times in order to gain more widespread coverage. Talk about the effect that wrestling has had on youth culture, slang, attire, attitude, etc.. I know this isn't a sociology class, but by adding some elements of sociology into your paper, it will give it depth. Thanks for all the input guys! Its very much appreciated! Last night at while watching WrestleMania with a group of friends, one friend suggested I write the essay on the "Face vs. Heel dynamic" and how it relates to what the superstars can and can't do on TV. He suggested I focus on Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Stone Cold and possibly Cena. Also, this allows me to talk about "Tweeners" and how all of the above managed to be technically a face or heel at one time but were recognized as Tweeners. What do you think about this? I think this could be an interesting topic That is not a bad idea for a subject within your overall paper and if this thing was like a 2 page ordeal, I'd say run with that. But you got 8 pages of the "face vs heel" dynamic in ya? 8 pages that a prof will want to actually read? I don't think I could personally drone on about a relatively simple dynamic for 8 pages and keep anyone interested. As far as the anthropological aspects of wrestling on culture go, one point of interest might be how adult marks (even though they know wrestling is scripted and are nothing like that It's still real to me jackass) take the heel thing to heart sometimes and get noticeably mad at heels for cheating and just for playing a character. Bring up some incidents of wrestlers getting chased out of arenas and such by crowds of people who are seemingly educated, rationale adults who deep down know it's all a performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 I'd be happy to help you out with facts and ideas if I can. I'd say your best bet is to follow the Cowboy's advice with WWE's effect on pop culture Consider something like this for a title: The real effect on popular culture by the surreal world of professional wrestling I just came up with that right now, and you're free to use it, alter it, whatever if you want. I wouldn't make your whole paper about just one star. Or if you do decide to write 8 full pages about Hulk Hogan, please don't have any readily loaded guns in your house as it will be tempting. You can definitely talk about different eras of wrestling. Just don't do it in a smarky type of way of course. The goal would be to show how each era of wrestling relates to popular culture in unique ways. -The WWWF's appeal to working class adults -The 80's targeting young people by becoming a live action cartoon in a sense -The mid 90's struggling to find a new audience in the decline of the New Generation era -The Attitude era and how T-shirts bearing nWo and Austin 3:16 became the greatest viral marketing campaign that wrestling ever unleashed. -The WWE's acquisition of WCW and how they used/misused the Invasion angle and how fans who grew up with wrestling in the 80's and 90's perceived this. -The Ruthless Aggression era's intent to continue to hook college aged fans who followed the WWE for a long time. -The PG era and it's goal to recapture a young audience. -The current transition into what some fans are already labeling the reality era... an attempt to borrow from reality TV and an attempt to make the product itself seem more like a shoot, especially in terms of interviews and promos. Show how wrestling's perception by the media has been reflected. Show how wrestling involves celebrities and athletes at times in order to gain more widespread coverage. Talk about the effect that wrestling has had on youth culture, slang, attire, attitude, etc.. I know this isn't a sociology class, but by adding some elements of sociology into your paper, it will give it depth. Thanks for all the input guys! Its very much appreciated! Last night at while watching WrestleMania with a group of friends, one friend suggested I write the essay on the "Face vs. Heel dynamic" and how it relates to what the superstars can and can't do on TV. He suggested I focus on Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Stone Cold and possibly Cena. Also, this allows me to talk about "Tweeners" and how all of the above managed to be technically a face or heel at one time but were recognized as Tweeners. What do you think about this? I think this could be an interesting topic That is not a bad idea for a subject within your overall paper and if this thing was like a 2 page ordeal, I'd say run with that. But you got 8 pages of the "face vs heel" dynamic in ya? 8 pages that a prof will want to actually read? I don't think I could personally drone on about a relatively simple dynamic for 8 pages and keep anyone interested. As far as the anthropological aspects of wrestling on culture go, one point of interest might be how adult marks (even though they know wrestling is scripted and are nothing like that It's still real to me jackass) take the heel thing to heart sometimes and get noticeably mad at heels for cheating and just for playing a character. Bring up some incidents of wrestlers get chased out of arenas and such by crowds of people are seemingly educated, rationale adults who deep down know it's all a performance. this would actually be a fantastic paper, or article in general to be honest. It could be written really well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnleashF-5Fury Posted April 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2012 Wow UnknownSold13r...You practically just did an outline for my paper! Great ideas! I think talking about multiple eras like you laid out versus talking only about the Attitude Era could work out better for the 8 pages. If thats the case though, I need help working out the years. As far as things like "Mid 90's decline," I would need help with more precise years rather than just the words Mid 90's. And what years would you guys say Attitude Era was? Most ppl cut it off in 2001/2002 but I've heard ppl not cut it off until around WM time in 2003. Also Ruthless Aggression Era...Like 03-05? Just help me iron out the dates guys. Thanks again for all the input. This paper should come together nicely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpion™ Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 The History of Wrestlemania. It'd be a paper that even non wrestling fans could relate to look at all the big names who's huge in Pop Culture and we're at Manias. Muhammad Ali Snoop Dog Machine Gun Kelly & Flo Rida Pam Anderson Kid Rock Mr. T and the list goes on and on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinebuster_94 Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 How about detailing Benoit's career. Then add in the stuff about the murder/suicide, and relate that to how drugs and drug testing in sports as a whole has changed as a result of it? Not sure if it's relevant to pop culture or not though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Believe Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Do a study on how WWE could become more culturally relevance, make particular reference to it's popularity in the mid to late nineties and it's fall from grace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknownsold13r Posted April 10, 2012 Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 Wow UnknownSold13r...You practically just did an outline for my paper! Great ideas! I think talking about multiple eras like you laid out versus talking only about the Attitude Era could work out better for the 8 pages. If thats the case though, I need help working out the years. As far as things like "Mid 90's decline," I would need help with more precise years rather than just the words Mid 90's. And what years would you guys say Attitude Era was? Most ppl cut it off in 2001/2002 but I've heard ppl not cut it off until around WM time in 2003. Also Ruthless Aggression Era...Like 03-05? Just help me iron out the dates guys. Thanks again for all the input. This paper should come together nicely Thanks, and no problem man! I'm glad to have made it through college, but at times I honestly miss it. As far as specific dates... well much of that is subjective. But... Firstly know your audience. After all, this isn't a history professor giving you a history assignment. Does your professor know anything about pro wrestling in the slightest? If not, then it doesn't really matter if the Attitude Era ended in 2001 or 2003 does it? Now if you have to read this in front of the class, someone is bound to know. But really, who's going to be that guy that argues with you about this out loud? Most people who've never followed wrestling don't know it even has "eras". Though everyone should know what you're talking about because people understand a difference between Hulkamania 80's wrestling and today's wrestling. Especially if your professor is the only one reading this, I don't think the dates are that important as long as they are in the right general time frame. What I feel is of greater importance is comparing/contrasting how each era affected pop culture, since you said the topic is on pop culture. Some of your classmates are going to have to explain how some dumb sitcom changed pop culture. But with wrestling you have a wealth of pop culture effects both positive and negative. You could go on for 28 pages if need be. Friends after all was never the cause of a high school senior class photo RE-shoot because half the students did the DX crotch chop pose. Also, the way in which internet culture has both united wrestling fans and caused a rift between perceptions of wrestling as a form of entertainment could be part of the effects of the more recent eras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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