No, Hollywood isn’t running out of ideas:
What is an idea? This is the word that we need to define before we can really say if Hollywood has run out of new ideas. An idea is defined as a formulated thought or opinion. We also know that thoughts and opinions are inspired by other things. With this definition in mind, I would like to bring a few arguments forward. First, although my opponent may argue that many of the highest-grossing movies over the last 12 years were sequels or remakes, I would like to point out that this only proves that these movies already have a substantial following that pushes their revenue forward. Second, I would like to point out that movies have always drawn inspiration from other sources. The Wizard of Oz was based on a book, as was Gone With the Wind. George Lucas was inspired by several previous Sci-Fi movies when he wrote Star Wars. The original West Side Story movie was based on a musical, which was based on a Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet. This goes to show that many of the movies we consider to be classics were not “new ideas” even at the time. This brings me to my third point: there is no such thing as a new idea. Every thought and opinion that we have is inspired by something that came before. An idea in a movie is always inspired by other things; that’s what an idea is. My opponent will most likely argue that plotlines and tropes may carry over from movie to movie, but this is reasonable to expect. Creators of all disciplines, not just moviemaking, build off what those before them have already done. This does not mean that they have run out of ideas; it merely means that they look for inspiration in various places. Early moviemakers in the 30s, 40s, and 50s looked to books, plays, and radio for inspiration. Moviemakers today do the same.
Jonathan Stiver
Contributing Writer
Yes, Hollywood is running out of ideas:
While some creators in Hollywood may come up with their own original ideas, they often get recycled with just a few tweaks. Take Lifetime Movie Network films, for example, many of them have titles including words like “obsession” or “deadly.” They are usually based around someone being stalked, kidnapped, murdered, or generally threatened by someone. The conflicts revolve around things like jealousy or love. Human existence and accompanying emotions go beyond those two things, and as unrealistic as Hollywood can be, I think we need to have variety where possible. The same can also be said for Hallmark movies. Sure, these films usually never end up in theaters, but why waste time and money on a product that might as well be done a hundred times over? To keep people consuming the media you’re creating, it needs to be new and fresh – something, unlike anything they’ve seen before. There needs to be something that makes them stand out, and I haven’t seen much of that happening recently. Another important part of this conversation is the exploitation of actors, cultures, and more. Some popular movies, like “Mulan,” contain bad representations of minority groups and participate in stereotyping and whitewashing. Since people in Hollywood want to rush to make a profit, they’re taking advantage of – and stealing – just about anything they can. And they’re taking from people who could probably provide a much better version of the creation.
Carly Webster
Reporter