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Greetings! I've discussed many punk genres on my blog, including steampunk, cyberpunk, dieselpunk, atompunk, and others. Some of these genres have a long history of publications while others are quite sketchy. What about stonepunk? It's a punk genre that takes place in the Stone Age, primarily focusing on early man and their social issues. Can a punk genre really exist during the Stone Age? I believe it can, so keep reading to find out more information.
Overall, it's better if you don't make the situation too complex. The actual Stone Age lasted for 3.4 million years and ended between 8700 BCE and 2000 BCE. We saw multiple evolutions of mankind through this time period, including the Neanderthals, Co-Magnon, and other predecessors. Technology was very limited with tools that were made out of stones, trees, bones, animal skins, etc. However, rocks can be surprisingly good resources. Early man used their tools to create clothes, weapons, fire, baskets, and more. A lot of modern people might not realize it, but their early ancestors were efficient hunters and artisans who lived in organized clans. So, there's a decent foundation for the stonepunk genre. This punk genre takes the lifestyles, technology, and conflicts of early man and adds something else to the mix, such as anachronisms, modern social issues, fantasy or sci-fi elements, and more. Naturally, it's easier to make the genre clear with some examples. Unfortunately, stonepunk is a relatively new genre that doesn't have a long list of notable work. With that said, my favorite example is probably a video game called Horizon Zero Dawn. The game actually takes place during a future Stone Age where mankind reverted to early technology after falling victim to an apocalyptic event. These retro futuristic humans live in tribes, use primitive weapons, and dress like “cave people" while they battle robot dinosaurs and mammals. Like many punk stories, a spirited young lady is the protagonist. I'm also fond of a book series called Earth's Children. Some of you might be familiar with the first book; The Clan of the Cave Bear. It's a really long series that follows the lifetime of a Cro-Magnon woman named Ayla. She was adopted by a Neanderthal clan, but she doesn't fit into their social structure very well. Their leader views her as a threat because she's naturally more advanced than the people in his race. The series covers many social issues, including cultural identity, rape, abortion, misogyny, religion, feminism, and more. Earth's Children doesn't have a lot of fantasy elements, but is covers many contemporary issues through the perspective of early man. 10,ooo BC is a fantasy-adventure film that fits the stonepunk profile. I don't think it's a great movie, but some people will probably enjoy it. This movie throws together multiple time periods with a bunch of anachronisms. It literally pits cave people against ancient Egyptians from Antiquity. In fact, this film appears to take place during a fictional time period that combines elements from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Antiquity. It uses technology from all of these time periods and even some modern elements. Apparently, all of this chaos is happening in 10,000 BC. I think the concept is loony enough to fit in the stonepunk genre. A game titled Far Cry Primal probably counts as well. Many of you are probably familiar with the Far Cry games. This one is a spinoff that takes place during the Stone Age. By the way, it also takes place during 10,000 BC. Essentially, a Cro-Magnon tribe undergoes major conflicts with a cannibalistic Neanderthal clan. It's incredibly violent and brash, like many punk works. Basically, this game shows the evolution of mankind through different tribes. Later, the protagonist encounters a more advanced tribe who are on the cusp of Bronze Age technology. It's worth mentioning that all of these examples feature a major rebellion. We'll probably see more stonepunk works in the near future. I'm sure it's bound to happen at some point. What do think about punk fiction that's set in the Stone Age? Do you find it cool or simply ridiculous? Leave your honest opinions in the comment section. I'm going to leave some links to references and resources. Thanks a lot for reading my latest research topic and we'll see each other again soon. Have a good week! References
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Welcome to my newest blog series called Binge Worthy! The streaming revolution is in full swing and I'll mention several shows that might be worth your valuable time. Finding good shows can be tricky because they get buried in a huge sea of content. Periodically, I'm going to choose a genre and give you a useful list of entertaining tv shows. We live in a hectic world and can it be relaxing to sit back with a snack, drink, and your favorite streaming options. Today, I'm covering a handful of crime shows and murder mysteries. Eventually, I'll probably write a second post for the mystery and crime genres, but this is a good start. Let's dive right in! 13 Reasons Why  This might be one of the most controversial crime shows on the web. 13 Reason Why is a Netflix original that focuses on a teenage girl who committed suicide as a consequence of multiple negative events that happened in her life. She isn't in the show very often, but her death sparks a chain reaction that affects the other characters. Central themes include bullying, suicide, mass shootings, drug abuse, sexual identity, depression, rape, and other difficult topics that affect contemporary teens. Truthfully, I think every parent of a teenager should watch this show because it raises significant awareness about the darkness in youth cultures. This show might be too grim for some people, but it's actually quite interesting and not boring at all. Body of Proof  I wasn't entirely sure where to place Body of Proof. It's basically a police procedural through the perspective of a medical examiner. It's a fun and entertaining show, although not very realistic. Each episode has a different case, suspects, and results. I would recommend this show for female audiences because it's kind of like Scandal or Grey's Anatomy with cops and dead bodies. The entire series is streaming on Hulu. Bones  You can find this popular crime show on Amazon Prime and Hulu. Originally, Bones aired on FOX for multiple seasons and I watched it regularly. This show is wackier, funnier, and more over the top compared to most police procedurals. It's about a detective and forensic anthropologist who solve crimes together. They have great chemistry in an endearing and awkward way. The show has fabulous characters and the cases are ridiculously entertaining. Keep in mind, this show has a lot of blood and gore. Most of it is pretty amusing, but I know some people can't handle that type of content. The Closer  The Closer is probably one of my favorite police procedurals. It originally aired on TNT, but now you can binge the entire show on Amazon Prime. It ran for quite a few years and led to a spinoff called Major Crimes. The show's protagonist is a sassy deputy chief police detective who runs a homicide unit in the LAPD. Again, women are probably the show's target audience. It's very funny and dramatic. I don't remember any boring moments at all. The Closer might not be partiuclarly original, but it's definitely entertaining. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation  Eventually, I stopped watching this show after the original cast left, but it's still better than a lot of crime shows. The original CSI show is basically a cop show with a big emphasis on the forensic angle. If you're looking for a different type of crime show, this might be a good option. CSI ran for fifteen seasons and I might have been a freshman in high school when it first aired on CBS. Now you can watch the entire series on Hulu. It takes place in Las Vegas, which means something bizarre is always happening. Some characters are better than others and it's probably not the most accurate representation of forensic science, but the show is fun and well written. CSI: NY  This New York spinoff was probably my favorite entry in the CSI franchise. I remember spinoffs in Miami and cyber crimes as well, but those shows weren't the best. CSI: NY has a less flamboyant selection of cases and suspects, but it's still entertaining and probably includes better storytelling than the Las Vegas entry. I also enjoy the characters better in this show. It ran for nine seasons and you can binge the entire series on Amazon Prime. Houdini & Doyle  Sadly, this show only lasted for one season on FOX. It's a fictional crime show about Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle. I find the show very interesting and it has a strong murder mystery element. Houdini & Doyle often includes cases that appear to have supernatural components, but scientific evidence and crime solving skills uiltimately uncover a more logical explantation. I would definitely recommend this show for steampunk fans and people who enjoy British murder mysteries. Good news! You can watch the complete series for free on Sony Crackle with limited ads. Justified  Justified is another one of my favorite cops shows. A rebellious police detective is sent back to Kentucky, his home state, after causing too much trouble in Florida. Timothy Olyphant plays a great leading character with rugged charm and an action hero vibe. This show has shades of Walker: Texas Ranger, except it's less cheesy. It's quite fun and the main storyline weaves around the individual epsiodes very well. The other characters aren't particularly memorable, but it's still a really good show. Justifed originally aired on FX, but I didn't watch the show until it was syndicated on Amazon Prime. Ripper Street  This BBC original is the only British show on today's list, primarily because many shows from the UK are leaving our mainstream streaming services. Ripper Street takes place six months after the Ripper murders took place in Whitechapel during the 19th-Century. The show mostly focuses on other cases, but it occasionally swings back to the Ripper lore. It's dark and gritty with an excellent ensemble cast. This show doesn't have any fantasy elements, but I would still recommend it for steampunk fans. You can stream the entire series on Netflix. Rizzoli & Isles  Rizzoli & Isles might not be the best show in this list, but it's quite funny, charming, and the characters are awesome. The plot focuses on a rebellious homicide detective and her best friend, who happens to be a fashionable medical examiner. It's tailored for women, but I'm sure some men would enjoy this show as well. Basically, this show is a great way to kill an hour. It's based on a book series and you can watch the entire show on Hulu.
That's all for now. What are your favorite crime shows and murder mysteries? Tell me in the comment section. I'm saving a few crime shows like Hannibal for a horror post at some point. Keep your eyes open for more entries in my new Binge Worthy series. I haven't decided a topic for next week's post yet, but something will come to me soon. Thanks a lot for visiting have fun with your next binging experience. |
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May 2019
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