Darby

Do you place the word "the" (or other articles) in front of the title of bands whose name is a noun, but otherwise contains no articles? Like saying the Pixies or the Descendents rather than Pixies or Descendents.

I do it all the time, even though I realize it annoys some people as that's technically not the band's name. I try to differentiate by capitalizing "the" when it actually is part of the title, but I just feel weird referring to bands whose names are nouns without an article. It's really only problematic for me if it's a plural noun with no adjective or adverb, because the Ceremony or the Black Flag would just sound weird.

BQ: Do you refer to bands in plural or singular form? For instance, would you say "No Doubt are a band." or "No Doubt is a band." For me, it depends on whether the band's name itself is plural or singular. So "No Doubt is a band." but "Bad Brains are a band."

I understand the benefits of sorting bands into certain genres, because it provides a reference for discussion, recommendations, etc. But, do you sometimes feel that people, musicians and listeners alike, get too caught up in the concept of genre?

I mean, say a band starts in a certain genre (or sub-genre), like punk rock, then goes on to play pop-punk music. Some of the band's listeners would say that, since the band started playing pop-punk, they sold out. Then other bands who play punk rock would see this reaction and be wary to stray from strictly punk music, lest they too be accused of selling out. So essentially they're limiting themselves from change because their fans are too concerned with the genre of the music played as opposed to its quality. I guess this isn't the best example, because the fans could simply dislike the fact that the band become popular.

A broader example would be bands refusing to evolve because they want to play strictly hardcore punk, because they're a hardcore punk band and anything else would just be ridiculous. Or, a fan that refuses to listen to anything other than classical music, because classical music is the only real music.

I guess this is more of a poll, to see if this is a popular opinion or if I'm just talking out of my ***.

BQ: Are you guilty of being too obsessed with the proper application of genres? I saw Say4Nything mention this in an answer, and I know that I'm definitely guilty of this. If I see someone apply the term "hardcore" to a band like Bring Me the Horizon, I have the tendency to really lay into them.

BQ2: Just to see if it has any relation to the main answer, what's your favorite genre?

First of all, I'll note that I've asked this question in Books and Authors, given that it's a book request, but I haven't gotten any answers yet. I figured that Religion and Spirituality was the next best thing, considering at least some of the users would be familiar with the sympathy for the devil trope, even though I'm probably opening up this question to a slew of unhelpful trolling answers.

I'm looking for books where the devil plays a sympathetic character, such as The Master and Margarita and I, Lucifer. It's okay if the devil isn't the main character, and if the character is representational of Satan rather than actually being Satan. I'd rather not read a series, like His Dark Materials or the Prince Roger books. I've already read:

The Master and Margarita

I, Lucifer

To Reign in Hell

Paradise Lost

Fifth Business

The Screwtape Letters

And I've already read the Bible, in case anyone thinks that's a witty response.

I'm looking for books where the devil plays a sympathetic character, such as The Master and Margarita and I, Lucifer. It's okay if the devil isn't the main character, and if the character is representational of Satan rather than actually being Satan. I'd rather not read a series, like His Dark Materials or the Prince Roger books. I've already read:

The Master and Margarita

I, Lucifer

To Reign in Hell

Paradise Lost

Fifth Business

The Screwtape Letters

I'm looking for films, preferably within the past twenty years, where the protagonist goes on a quest. I specifically want low-fantasy films rather than epics like the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Although I prefer dark fantasy, I'm fine with light fantasy as well. Also, although I do like animated films, I'd rather them be live-action. The most important elements are low-fantasy and travel/quest. Some examples include:

The Fall

MirrorMask

Stardust

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

The Princess Bride

Pan's Labyrinth

Big Fish

Alice in Wonderland

Alice (Syfy)

Malice in Wonderland (really most adaptations of Alice in Wonderland)

Wristcutters

Midnight in Paris

Hugo

Also, if you know any films that aren't fantasy, but still involve a quest and are somewhat off-beat, please suggest them as well. This includes films like:

Everything is Illuminated

The Darjeeling Limited

The Life Aquatic

Little Miss Sunshine

And, if you know any good films that involve a circus or carnival, please let me know. These don't have to be adventure or fantasy, but if you do happen to know any good dark low-fantasy circus-related adventure films, then you would be my hero.

I'm looking for films with a sympathy for the devil or Satan is good trope, where the villain is better developed than simply the face of evil. Something as simple as Jennifer's Body would work, where the villain is sympathized with because of the acts that turned her into the beast she is. It doesn't have to be the main character, obviously, but I also do enjoy films with a villain protagonist, like The Last Exorcism Part II, Hannibal Rising, Perfume, etc. I'd prefer if they were horror films, but thriller/suspense is fine too. The quality of the film doesn't really matter either, as I'm a b-horror fiend.

If anyone's ever read The Master and Margarita, I'm looking for pretty much the same personification of the devil, only in a film. And I've seen the adapted mini-series, by the way.