• more about #franchises
    theshadowalker: Years ago, an elderly person that I knew got REALLY upset about the word 'kids' being used to describe children. Y'see, when this elderly person had ... more »
    gods-n-clods: "Drama product" is the now in my lexicon. And movies are too big to fail, right? Right? more »
    lukeoneil47: I agree. This word has always bothered me. The related concept of how we all follow box office numbers now is even worse to me though. Why do we kno... more »
    Eridani: You've sold me on throwing out 'franchise.' However, I am now going to adopt "drama product." That may be the best descriptor of Transformers I coul... more »
    deworde: Hang on. Isn't that Google news chart massively deceptive? I mean, I was very young back then, but I'm guessing there aren't as many websites mentioni... more »
    Seeräuberjenny: You're right, mate, but here's the thing. Transformers HAVE NO STORY. In fact, an unspeakably high percentage of those movies (etc) has no story, no c... more »
    JennaW: "I have a pig on my head." more »
    fungol: Seriously? This is like writing an article that complains about the use of Franchise because you have to mail your taxes to the local Franchise Tax B... more »
    PostMarque: Jesu, who cares about new and original and good materials... we need money. money is important. it tells us that we are something... more »
    Woodsie: Does anyone here know how franchises function for the franchisees -- the people who buy, say, a new Subway franchise for Fargo, ND -- in the business ... more »
    lucky_you: Just replace 'franchise" with "french fries"... it's close enough already more »
    Faustroll: "Story" sounds too much like something "creative" and "artistic", terms that give corporate money men the shivering fits. If it can't be commodified a... more »
    FergusonDeepak: Tangential and not important but why the research triangle love? Durham and Raleigh are not very far apart. more »
    cletar: I'm ok with the word "franchise." Sometimes words acquire new meanings. Languages grow and change, like all cultural phenomena. Do you also object to ... more »
    Srynerson: I'm going to take the contrarian view that "franchise" is swell. The alternative term "universe" really only makes sense to me when you're referring t... more »
    DeepFriar: Triple word score for the use of "Fungible" excellent hate, CJA. more »
    AustineNiobe: Well, Charlie, I'm guessing you didn't grow up watching the Lone Ranger on TV, playing with your Lone Ranger pistol and mask, and walking off to schoo... more »
    FannyCalliope: Great article! "Little Boxes" was written by Malvina Reynolds, btw. Seeger covered it. more »
    Grey_Area: I'm convinced, I'll avoid that word too. Another one that really grinds my gears; "story arc". When I was working in a comic book shop in the late 8... more »
    Bayou_Maharajah: Somebody finally said it. That word feels like a little bit of death creeping everytime I read it in relation to filmmaking, or fiction, or comics and... more »
  • #rant

    I Never Want To Hear The Word "Franchise" Again

    Recently, I read speculation about whether Sam Raimi would stick with the Spider-Man "franchise," and couldn't help picturing Raimi in a polyester fast-food uniform. Somewhere along the way, epic tales of the human spirit stopped being stories and became "franchises." More »
  • #rant

    Are Science Fiction Franchises As Popular As Religion?

    If you don't worship Star Trek, then you must worship the Force. But maybe you're a vampire adept, or a member of the Batman congregation? Fans' faith in their franchises gets as intense and bloody as zealots' faith in religion. More »
  • #poll

    Which Scifi Franchise Cries Out For A Re-Imagining?