Comics

Oct
29

What Exactly IS “The Mainstream”?

Justin on October 29th, 2009

Sure, I’ve lamented the depressing-down of pop culture over the past 30 years.  And yes, we in the social media field often debate whether or not what we’re doing has “become mainstream.” But what (or where?) is the mainstream?  And when does a creation of the culture become popular enough to qualify as “pop culture” [...]

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Sociology View Comments
Oct
27

The Death of Fun

Justin on October 27th, 2009

Remember the ’80s?  Those were my formative years, so their influence is hard to shake, but I can’t help but recall the ’80s as the last time in Western culture when fun was generally acceptable. I grew up reading comic books like Batman and Spider-Man, and watching cartoons like G. I. Joe and Transformers.  And [...]

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Sociology View Comments
Sep
28

10 Things I Learned at the 2009 Small Press Expo

Justin on September 28th, 2009

This weekend, I attended my first Small Press Expo, which is (according to its website) North America’s Premiere Independent Cartooning and Comic Book Arts Festival.  My friends Rachel and Josh went last year and they loved it, and since Baltimore is only an hour away from the event’s Bethesda ballroom, I joined them on this [...]

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Social Media View Comments
Sep
1

10 Disney-Marvel Mashups You WON’T Be Seeing

Justin on September 1st, 2009

Yesterday’s news that Disney is buying Marvel has touched off a firestorm of deliberation.  Whether the move will help Marvel in the long run is debatable, but any serious consideration of the business implications is irrelevant; it’s the potential Disney-Marvel crossovers that have everyone’s geek flag flying high. With so many icons now under their [...]

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Sociology View Comments
Jul
30

6 Ways Social Media Gets It Wrong

Justin on July 30th, 2009

I read a blog post from Elizabeth Shugg that raises very valid points about how social media just might be missing the mark.  I recommend reading her entire post, but if you’re pressed for time, the nutshell version is this: Why is so much of social media purposely over the heads of the very people [...]

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Blogging, Social Media, Twitter View Comments