more about tops & flops categories, subjects, and themes

A single list might deal with a category, subject, or theme composed of a combination of things. For example:

• A particular movie-maker and his movies (movie makers, movies)
• Background music in Film Noir (music, movies)
• Opera divas who crossover and also sing popular music
• Painters who worked in a specific period
• Singers who recorded V-Discs during WWII

A single list might deal with a single category, subject, or theme that is broad; or it might deal with a single category, subject, or theme that is narrow. For example, a list might address:

• Film genres (broad)
• A film genre such as Film Noir (narrower)
• Modern artists (broad)
• Obscure modern artists (narrower)

...You get the idea.

Here are some examples of how lists are assembled. If the category or subject of a specific Tops & Flops list were:

• The eight best English novels—eight items would be on this list and each item would be one of the best English novels. Each item would be identified by title and author.
• The ten best American short stories—ten items would be on this list and each item would be one of the ten best American short stories. Each story would be identified by title and author.
• The five worst recordings of a particular Broadway hit—five items would be on the list and each item would be one of the five worst such recordings. Each recording would be identified by title and record label.
• The best tap dancers of all time—each item on the list would be the name of one of the best tap dancers of all time. The number of items on the list would depend on how many tap dancers were great enough to be listed.
• The six greatest poems of the Romantic era—six items would be on this list and each item would be one of the greatest poems of the Romantic era. Each item would be identified by title and author.
• Some unfunny film comedies—each item on the list would be the title of a movie that is intended to be funny and entertaining but isn't.
• Dreariest new stage plays of 2008—each item on the list would be the title of a stage play that premiered in 2008 that just drags on and on and on.
• The three most mediocre romantic novels published in time for this year's beach reading season—items on the lost would be the titles of three boring and dull romantic novels published in time for the summer sales market.
• Three of the best jazz violinists—three items would be on the list and each item would be the name of a hot jazz violinist.