Popshifter Story/Article Ideas and Topics

 

First, please read the Popshifter Manifesto.

the shining typewriter

Ongoing Column/Category Ideas:

Pop Culture Holy Grail:
An item, be it movie, album, book, toy, video game, comic, etc. that you’ve searched for in earnest and either found/didn’t find. Describe the quest and your success or failure.

New Old Stock:
In Popshifter terms, New Old Stock can be something that you either previously dismissed, never appreciated or discovered until recently but which you have now grown to love with a fiery passion. It can be a song, book, band, video, movie, etc. Discuss!

We Miss the Nineties!
Discuss aspects of pop culture unique to this decade. This is a very broad topic, mostly created for those who want to relive their fanzine heyday (like me)!

Waxing Nostalgic:
This is an ongoing series of articles which profile one particular album. Anything released ten or more years ago is fair game. If you can coincide your article with the month the album was released back then, even better! One person can do the article OR everyone who knows/loves the album can contribute 100 – 200 words about what memories that album evokes for them.

Other Story/Article Suggestions:

  • If you want to do interviews with any musicians, bands, artists, writers, and/or filmmakers—particularly if they are your favorites, you know them personally, or they are going to be performing/appearing/speaking in your town—LET US KNOW. Pitch your interview ideas to us and we will try to work some magic for you.
  • Describe the first video you saw on MTV and its impact on you. If you can find it on YouTube or another video site, that is ideal, but otherwise, at least one screencap or relevant graphic (if you want to draw a storyboard panel and scan the image, that could be fantastic).
  • Take an item from pop culture history that is usually hailed as genius. Debunk this item by discussing something you think really deserves the credit and why.
  • Tell the story of how you got into your favorite band or how you discovered your favorite director, writer, artist, etc.
  • Have you ever followed a band on tour? Tell the story!
  • Take a scene from one of your favorite movies and dissect it. Why is it significant to you?
  • What was your first concert? Tell the story, including the events leading up to the show, who you attended with, what you wore, what was good or bad about it, etc.
  • Have you ever purchased a videotape/DVD or album based on the cover art? Did it turn out to be mind-blowing? If so, tell us why.

  • What were your favorite magazines or fanzines when you were a kid/teen? Why?

  • Do you collect books by a certain author? Are you obsessed with this author? If so, tell us about it.
  • What cult actors and actresses deserve more notoriety and why?
  • Do you attend fan conventions? Tell us some good stories about them.
  • The Miniseries: Did you watch these in the 80s? If so, provide a fan’s perspective.
  • What is the most embarrassing album you own? This is not a guilty pleasure because there shouldn’t be any guilt involved. But it should be something that not everyone understands. Defend this album to the death!
  • Talk about film adaptations that worked and why. Conversely, are there any film adaptations which haven’t been made yet but which are begging for it? Why?
  • Take one to five comic book or film characters that you want to be real and why.
  • Discuss why you love the album artwork/aesthetics of a particular band or artists known for album artwork (For example, Hipgnosis or 23 Envelope).
  • Weird website round-up—which are the most bizarre yet strangely compelling websites you have found in your Internet surfing?
  • Which cities have you visited that are treasure troves of pop culture for whatever reason? If you have taken a road trip/pop culture tour, please tell us about it and include photos?
  • Have you been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? What was that like?
  • Game Shows—are you a fan? Do you prefer old school game shows or the new crop? Note: this article should NOT be about Reality TV.
  • Horror TV Shows—do you have any particular faves? Do you prefer one decade’s output to the others? Various aspects can be addressed under this topic.