Theory of Pro Wrestling Jordan Cooper
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- Sports
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Exploring modern pro wrestling through the lens of narrative, rhetorical & cinematic devices used in literature & film. Drawing from past and present examples on WWE and AEW television, we debate the effectiveness of storytelling elements from the audience’s perspective.
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Theory of Pro Wrestling #6 - Purpose of Matches
Jordan Cooper & Jon Alba discuss character motivations to compete in matches, how it provides the audience a hierarchy of emotional investment, whether or not individual wins and losses even matter, the fallacies of "protecting" talent, and how antiquated match booking philosophies often get in the way of more compelling or serendipitous stories.
Jon Alba's Patreon & Discord: https://www.patreon.com/WrestlingAccordingToAlba
Jon Alba on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonalba
Jordan Cooper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/blenderhd
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheoryofProWrestling
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theory-of-pro-wrestling/id1692460190
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoryofprowrestling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoryofprowrestling -
Theory of Pro Wrestling #5 - The Cash-In
Jordan Cooper & Jon Alba discuss the title shot "cash-in" stipulation popularized with the WWE Money In The Bank ladder match, how the winner is framed in the narrative, the ways tension can be built by the contract holder, the storytelling dynamic differences between cash-ins by babyfaces versus heels, and how it can be utilized as a vehicle for character turns.
Jon Alba's Patreon & Discord: https://www.patreon.com/WrestlingAccordingToAlba
Jon Alba on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonalba
Jordan Cooper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/blenderhd
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheoryofProWrestling
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theory-of-pro-wrestling/id1692460190
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoryofprowrestling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoryofprowrestling -
Theory of Pro Wrestling #4 - Tweeners & Turns
Jordan Cooper & Jon Alba discuss the "tweener" character dynamic, how their role is framed heavily based on opponent, whether modern audiences accept pure babyfaces or heels anymore, the foreshadowing of character turns compared to illogical "swerves", and how successful turns are dictated more so by audience reaction rather than storylines.
Jon Alba's Patreon & Discord: https://www.patreon.com/WrestlingAccordingToAlba
Jon Alba on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonalba
Jordan Cooper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/blenderhd
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheoryofProWrestling
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theory-of-pro-wrestling/id1692460190
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoryofprowrestling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoryofprowrestling -
Theory of Pro Wrestling #3 - Babyfaces & Heels
Jordan Cooper & Jon Alba discuss the importance of protagonists & antagonists in pro wrestling storytelling, why virtue may be an antiquated descriptor when identifying "good guys" and "bad guys", how the audience dictates the alignment of characters more than anything else, and the difference between presenting a single main character versus an ensemble cast.
Jon Alba's Patreon & Discord: https://www.patreon.com/WrestlingAccordingToAlba
Jon Alba on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonalba
Jordan Cooper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/blenderhd
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheoryofProWrestling
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theory-of-pro-wrestling/id1692460190
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoryofprowrestling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoryofprowrestling -
Theory of Pro Wrestling #2 - Purpose of Rules
Jordan Cooper & Jon Alba discuss how rules within the fictional universe of pro wrestling are used (and often abused) for storytelling purposes including time limits, count outs, disqualifications, title stipulations, legal tags, multiway matches, usage of foreign objects, ringside managers, referee bumps, steel cages, and more. Are some outdated and not as effective as narrative devices anymore?
Join Jon's Patreon & Discord community: https://www.patreon.com/WrestlingAccordingToAlba
Follow Jordan Cooper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/blenderhd
Follow Jon Alba on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonalba
Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheoryofProWrestling
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theory-of-pro-wrestling/id1692460190
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoryofprowrestling
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoryofprowrestling -
Theory of Pro Wrestling #1 - Chekhov’s Gun
Jordan Cooper & Jon Alba discuss how Chekhov's gun can be a useful tool to judge storytelling narratives presented in pro wrestling, both from a storyline perspective as well as the in-ring matches themselves. Also, we debate the thesis of what is "modern" pro wrestling and how the expectations of the current audience may differ from previous eras.
Join Jon's Patreon & Discord community: https://www.patreon.com/WrestlingAccordingToAlba
Follow Jordan Cooper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/blenderhd
Follow Jon Alba on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonalba
Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheoryofProWrestling
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theory-of-pro-wrestling/id1692460190
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoryofprowrestling
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoryofprowrestling