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I feel the need to sublimate some of my spicier urges via fiction. I’m happily married, & I’ve had my share of whirlwind romances and flings and casual sex. I am finding myself a bit nostalgic about this, but not enough to jeopardize my reality. Time to live vicariously through the lens of fantasy as a healthy coping mechanism! Can you point me towards any fictional works - especially novels - featuring these specific concepts or tropes? [more inside]
posted by nukacherry on Nov 23, 2020 - 8 answers

Where can I find royalty free photography and art for science fiction and space? Things like black holes, worm holes, spaceships, and futuristic technology? I'm looking for something with a Weyland Industries vibe to it.
posted by cyrusw8 on May 28, 2015 - 4 answers

For a project I'm currently working on as part of my graduation in Graphic Design, I wanted to compile something like an atlas of fictional cities. These may be from books, legends, stories, video games, advertisements, comics, really whatever... Even "real" cities but alternate versions, imagined or in some way deviate from their real counterpart are valid. [more inside]
posted by ahtlast93 on May 18, 2013 - 47 answers

I'd like to compile a list of sympathetic monsters/villains, portrayed in any medium--film, fiction, art, music, myth. [more inside]
posted by ifjuly on Mar 18, 2013 - 44 answers

Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Robin Sloan's Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore describe immersive artistic experiences that echo Alternate Reality Games or events like the All Worlds Fair. What other books describe events and experiences like these? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Feb 24, 2013 - 8 answers

I've been asked to put together a longish reading list for a BA Art/Literature module, and I'd love some ideas for texts outside my current knowledge. The list should cover a series of genres and contexts, with writing from, and about, the history and theory of art, journalism, academia, design, architecture and film. Writing on design and architecture are particularly outside my knowledge. What innovative and critically significant writings can you recommend across any of these subject areas? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Dec 14, 2012 - 8 answers

I'm a huge fan of science fiction book cover art (especially the 50s through the 80s) and I like to use ideas from them to make posters for my band. If you need examples: this should explain what I'm looking for. I'm wondering if there are existing resources for science fiction cover art or general science fiction art that mirrors this sort of style and substance? I especially need resources that are fair use, free to modify etc. etc. We use these posters to advertise our shows at places which usually have a cover charge -- so I will need content that I can modify to use "commercially". [more inside]
posted by mysticreferee on Oct 2, 2012 - 4 answers

Can you recommend a novel that features art theft, forgery or other fine art-related crimes? [more inside]
posted by Gin and Comics on Jul 11, 2012 - 41 answers

Help me find this piece of art done in pulp fiction cover style: a funny dramatization of what can go wrong if one ignores the age-old warning of "Don't swim for an hour after eating!" The art depicts a swimmer about to drown, and the words across the bottom read something like, He Only Waited 52 Minutes!! This might have been blogged about on Boing Boing, but I can't seem to find it in their archives. (And yes, it is an old wives' tale, swim away!)
posted by red_rabbit on Jan 3, 2012 - 3 answers

followup to this question: how does one create and develop a persona? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Aug 4, 2008 - 7 answers

So a common subplot in a lot of movies is that the protagonist has a dull life and suddenly a romantic partner sweeps in and changes EVERYTHING. It spans genres from The Mask to Stranger Than Fiction (and of course the romantic comedy / chick flick industry would go broke without it.) I guess Cinderalla is the archetypal story here. I'm sort of curious about what larger connections there are to this thematic convention—like has anyone written about it, maybe focused more on Cinderalla and gender studies or psychology etc. [more inside]
posted by Firas on Jul 13, 2007 - 8 answers

The Protagonist: What can you tell me? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jun 8, 2006 - 17 answers