pop culture

We tend to think of pop culture as a 20th century thing, but the term actually dates back to at least 1818. So with that in mind, I decided to start this thread about potential pop culture scenarios with a POD before 1900.

In 1998, Tim Burton's "Superman Lives!" was released into theaters worldwide. Starring Nicholas Cage as Superman, the film was Burton's attempt to explore the iconic character after having abandoned the Batman franchise six years earlier. The film had a rocky pre-production period and came close...

In 1983, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas released their second film collaboration - "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." Spielberg was always Lucas' first choice to direct the third Star Wars movie after "Empire" director Irvin Kershner walked away from the franchise. But it almost didn't happen -...

At the 64th Academy Awards, Beauty and the Beast became the first animated movie to be nominated for Best Picture. What if it claimed the Oscar?

In 1949 National Comics tried and failed to both have Fawcett cease publication of Captain Marvel comics and have Republic Pictures withhold release of the Captain Marvel serial via a cease and desistin June 1941.When the action went unheeded, Detective and Superman, Inc. filed suit against...

After having played Mozart in the Broadway production of "Amadeus," Mark Hamill was cast in Milos Forman's 1984 film adaptation. Audiences were struck by Hamill's performance, having previously known him for his turn as the heroic Luke Skywalker. But Hamill's casting almost didn't happen. The...

Osamu was responsible for the creation of anime and manga. His studio produced some of the very first Manga and proto Anime like Astro Boy Kimba the White Lion and Princess Knight. Lets say Osamu met's his end during one of the many bombing raids on Japan. How would his death affect pop culture?

Sega Prepares 32-Bit Game Machine from Electronic Gaming Monthly 052, November 1993 [1] For much of the last year, Sega has been steaming ahead in developing its new 32-Bit game console. Tom Kalinske, Sega president, has indicated that the new machine will be called ‘Saturn’. Saturn is said to...

In this thread, please discuss what you would've done to make the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy better. This can cover any aspect of the movies including the scripts, casting, and special effects.

Its been seventeen years since the Walt Disney Company announced they have bought the Japanese film company Daiei Film for $990 million, to some outrage in Japan from nationalists but pretty much next to no fanfare in America. It wouldn't be until fourteen years later with their reboot of Gamera...

After the release of his massive hit "Star Wars," George Lucas considered giving up directing. He hated the pressures of making "Star Wars," and making films only as a producer and writer seemed like an attractive option. But Lucas wanted to maintain creative control of his films, so he...

After having played James Bond for seven years, in 1980 Roger Moore decided to make 1981's "For Your Eyes Only" his final film as 007. The studio offered him more money to stay on, but Moore declined in order to pursue other projects. But what if Moore had decided otherwise, and he continued...

Certain bands or acts (Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Queen, Nirvana) seemed poised to have long, fruitful careers of many hits and to change the course of music, and they have. However, other bands or acts are so different, innovative, and great that they seem destined for eternal stardom and...

As the title says, how would the pop culture of the Confederated States look like if it survives until present day? Would the pop culture of the CSA become as widespread and mainstream as American culture in OTL?

In 1988, fresh of the success of Beetlejuice, Tim Burton cast Alec Baldwin as the star of "Batman." Baldwin was chosen over comedic actors like Bill Murray and Michael Keaton, as Burton wanted a more dramatic and serious tone for his take on the Caped Crusader. But what if Baldwin hadn't been...

Prologue - A Death in the Family Hiroshi Yamauchi sat down on the twelfth evening of December 1993 as he usually did, next to his wife Michiko, sharing some piping hot tea. Unfortunately, the sixty five year old Yamauchi would never get to enjoy his cup of tea. As his wife poured his tea, she...

May, 11, 1977 Arthur Krim was reviewing the returns from new movies coming in. 20th Century Fox was making bank over bank with that hit, he had turned down, Star Wars. He had felt like the executive at Decca Records who had told the Beatles, "we don't like your sound, and guitar groups are on...

People often said "The 90s ended in 2004", and you can kinda see why. Now some would say late 90s culture ended after 9/11 but others say it was still hanging in there 2002-2003. In 2004 broadband overtook dial-up, Friends ended, Cartoon Network got rid of their 90s lineup, Web 1.0 ended, etc...

In 2007, Tom Cruise was going through a rough period in his career. Paramount had ended their relationship with him the year before, his most recent movie Lions for Lambs bombed, and he'd endured numerous public controversies involving his personal life and political views. But in summer 2007...

During his time as Marvel's EIC, Jim Shooter banned depictions of LGBT characters. The story goes that a scene in a Hulk issue where Bruce Banner narrowly avoids getting raped by two gay men drew a lot of protests, so Shooter decided that any depiction of LGBT characters would be too...