Pitching
- What’s the trouble? An explanation of the problem, issue, conflict, dilemma, or question that you think is at the heart of the story, the thing that makes it interesting to you.
So I was out to coffee with an individual that claimed a hatred for cats, a view that I thought was somewhat over the top (the individual did not know I own cats... They still do not know I own cats...) . My thought on the whole thing is that it is an entire species how can one know that they hate an entire species, every member. It seemed a little overly simplified, but it got me thinking about the whole cat people and dog people thing. What makes a person a cat person or a dog person? Are there common trends among either group? Are there arguments made for why anyone falls on either side? Is cat pee really brainwashing cat owners? Is there a way to predict propensity to cat or dog preference? Are bird people a thing? And importantly why some people claim a steadfast hatred for animals on either side?
- Characters or interview subjects. Who are the characters in the story? If you’re not sure, what kinds of people might you talk to?
If I chose to do this project I would like to interview pet owners on either side of the equation along with people who are not pet owners to get a good sample. I would hope to seek out those who claim to not fall on a side and also those that have a hatred for either animal.
- Point
of view. What’s your stake in
the story? Why does it interest
you? What do you want to find out?
Hi Lillian,
ReplyDeleteNext week, we’ll listen to a documentary piece on this very subject, but I don’t want that to discourage you. The whole dog and cat people debate is endlessly fascinating for so many reasons. For one thing, as you suggest, people can be incredibly dogmatic about this, which is really strange. Does it really matter? This dogmatism hints more at the nature of the people that own dogs and cats, then it does the differences between dogs and cats themselves. It would be interesting to dig into this. For example, while I generally like cats, I find their apparent indifference to me irritating. They often have a “screw you” attitude. That I take this personally is pretty ridiculous, but I do. Why? I’d encourage you to look, too, at some of the research related to this debate. Recently, for example, there was a series of articles about which is smarter, cats or dogs. There might even be some research on the psychology of pet ownership.
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ReplyDeleteLillian,
ReplyDeleteI think this is an interesting subject, because it touches upon the traits that people use to define who they are. Not just as either dog or cat people, but with many other things. There has been a tendency these days for groups of people to polarize to the extreme and shut out others who they feel oppose their view point. Not just politically either: PS4 vs Xbox One, Vegan or Non-Vegan, and IPhone vs Android, are just a few of the traits that people use to identify themselves and the people they wish to view as "enemies".
No idea if I'm completely off track with what you are going for with this piece. But it sounds like it could be very interesting to hear!
Good luck,
Bryan
Bryan,
DeleteI feel your on track with the other examples you gave here. The need so many people have to be on one side of a binary on small and ultimately meaningless things is absolutely fascinating. Thank you for your comment.
-Lilly
I think this topic is really creative! I think that it's a very universal, yet controversial. It would be fun to add the sound effects, too!
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a fun piece. I think the question is a common one, but it has never been truly settled. I find I am especially curious about the "against" vote. Like, I get preferring one animal to another. But there are people who get hung up on the Vs., who actively dislike one or the other...that's weird to me. But I'd probably fall into that other category, the general "animal lover" category, even though I guess that has its opposite as well.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is interesting, and even though there is a lot of existing writing etc. on it I think a radio documentary with individual interviews would definitely feel fresh enough. I think there are bird people, and I am personally concerned for their mental states. I guess I'm not much of an animal person. It is interesting that everyone seems to have very entrenched beliefs on these issues, and it would be fascinating to here why!
ReplyDelete