List of arts and media puzzle topics

This is a list of art- and popular media-related topics that have been used in puzzles in puzzle hunts.

Since art and media have a lot of overlap, and claiming one thing to be 'media but not art' would often be contentious, there will be no attempt to separate them into separate categories.

Literature
For the sake of categorization, literature includes all fiction, regardless of prominence or artistic merit.

Specific authors, books and series

 * - An alphabet book written by Edward Gorey, depicting the fates of 26 alphabetically-named children in rhyming couplets. Often used as an alphabetical replacement in puzzles.
 * - The author of the Kinsey Millhone detective series, which is notable for its title format (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, etc.). Because of this, it's often used as an alphabetical replacement in puzzles, despite X not having a full title, and Z never having been written.
 * - An alphabet book written by Edward Gorey, depicting the fates of 26 alphabetically-named children in rhyming couplets. Often used as an alphabetical replacement in puzzles.
 * - The author of the Kinsey Millhone detective series, which is notable for its title format (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, etc.). Because of this, it's often used as an alphabetical replacement in puzzles, despite X not having a full title, and Z never having been written.
 * - An alphabet book written by Edward Gorey, depicting the fates of 26 alphabetically-named children in rhyming couplets. Often used as an alphabetical replacement in puzzles.
 * - The author of the Kinsey Millhone detective series, which is notable for its title format (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, etc.). Because of this, it's often used as an alphabetical replacement in puzzles, despite X not having a full title, and Z never having been written.
 * - The author of the Kinsey Millhone detective series, which is notable for its title format (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, etc.). Because of this, it's often used as an alphabetical replacement in puzzles, despite X not having a full title, and Z never having been written.
 * - The author of the Kinsey Millhone detective series, which is notable for its title format (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, etc.). Because of this, it's often used as an alphabetical replacement in puzzles, despite X not having a full title, and Z never having been written.

General literature topics

 * - Books often used to teach children about the alphabet by assigning particular words to the letters. Some books (like the above-mentioned Gashlycrumb Tinies) are not meant for children, but follow the alphabet format regardless.
 * Awards
 * - Lists of all of the words found in a particular literary work, often either with numbers indicating the number of appearances, or accompanying lists of the words' different contexts within the work.
 * - Commonly just called 'Choose Your Own Adventures', these refer to any type of book that gives the reader control over the order that pages are read, and the ultimate story that is created.
 * - A specific series of gamebooks that popularized the genre.
 * - Literary works that omit the use of a particular letter, often written as part of constrained writing challenges. They often omit common letters in the alphabet, meaning English lipograms are usually about the letters A, E, or T. Other languages may vary, such as one prominent Japanese lipogram avoiding the syllable あ.
 * - Commonly just called 'Choose Your Own Adventures', these refer to any type of book that gives the reader control over the order that pages are read, and the ultimate story that is created.
 * - A specific series of gamebooks that popularized the genre.
 * - Literary works that omit the use of a particular letter, often written as part of constrained writing challenges. They often omit common letters in the alphabet, meaning English lipograms are usually about the letters A, E, or T. Other languages may vary, such as one prominent Japanese lipogram avoiding the syllable あ.
 * - A specific series of gamebooks that popularized the genre.
 * - Literary works that omit the use of a particular letter, often written as part of constrained writing challenges. They often omit common letters in the alphabet, meaning English lipograms are usually about the letters A, E, or T. Other languages may vary, such as one prominent Japanese lipogram avoiding the syllable あ.

General music topics

 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that mention multiple things in a set, either creating a list specifically for the song (such as 'Hardware Store' by "Weird Al" Yankovic), or reciting a well-known list (such as Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements').
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.
 * - Songs that make use of nonsensical syllables or phrases, either as part of the song itself or simply in the title.

Musical theatre

 * - Musicals that make use of popular music that has already been recorded, often theming themselves after a particular artist/discography, if not actively being biographical.
 * - Musicals that make use of popular music that has already been recorded, often theming themselves after a particular artist/discography, if not actively being biographical.

Film

 * - A game in which, through connections made by people acting in movies together, people see how quickly they can get from one actor to actor Kevin Bacon. While not the most prolific actor, Bacon has been in many movies with other prolific actors, meaning that there are many clear routes to get to him this way.
 * - A game in which, through connections made by people acting in movies together, people see how quickly they can get from one actor to actor Kevin Bacon. While not the most prolific actor, Bacon has been in many movies with other prolific actors, meaning that there are many clear routes to get to him this way.
 * - A game in which, through connections made by people acting in movies together, people see how quickly they can get from one actor to actor Kevin Bacon. While not the most prolific actor, Bacon has been in many movies with other prolific actors, meaning that there are many clear routes to get to him this way.
 * - A game in which, through connections made by people acting in movies together, people see how quickly they can get from one actor to actor Kevin Bacon. While not the most prolific actor, Bacon has been in many movies with other prolific actors, meaning that there are many clear routes to get to him this way.
 * - A game in which, through connections made by people acting in movies together, people see how quickly they can get from one actor to actor Kevin Bacon. While not the most prolific actor, Bacon has been in many movies with other prolific actors, meaning that there are many clear routes to get to him this way.
 * - A game in which, through connections made by people acting in movies together, people see how quickly they can get from one actor to actor Kevin Bacon. While not the most prolific actor, Bacon has been in many movies with other prolific actors, meaning that there are many clear routes to get to him this way.

Internet culture

 * - A web series created by brothers Justin and Griffin McElroy for the gaming website Polygon. The premise involves the two entering the character-creation menu for a video game, and making a 'monster', often by maximizing particular slider values or badly recreating characters from pop culture.
 * - A webcomic site created by Andrew Hussie, which has been host to popular webcomics such as Problem Sleuth and Homestuck.
 * - A web series created by brothers Justin and Griffin McElroy for the gaming website Polygon. The premise involves the two entering the character-creation menu for a video game, and making a 'monster', often by maximizing particular slider values or badly recreating characters from pop culture.
 * - A webcomic site created by Andrew Hussie, which has been host to popular webcomics such as Problem Sleuth and Homestuck.

Specific shows

 * - A reality show hostel by Phil Koeghan in which teams of two (or in one season, families of four) travel around the world while completing challenges, with the goal of being the first one to a 'pit stop' at the end of each 'leg' of the race. In most cases, the last team that arrives there gets eliminated. The show uses a lot of vehicle-based phrases for its terminology, such as Roadblocks (challenges only one team member may complete), Detours (challenges with two different ways to complete them), and Yields (places where teams can force a team to stop and wait for an amount of time). Puzzles about the show often involve the pit stops themselves, and the people who got eliminated at each one.
 * - An animated show about three anthromorphic pieces of fast food, airing on Adult Swim. Intended as a spin-off of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, it featured a similar sense of humor and animation style, as well as some unique advertising campaigns. One of the most notable is its 2007 guerrilla marketing campaign in which the showrunners created several LED displays depicting a Mooninite character from the show. They displayed them in 11 different US cities, including Boston where authorities discovered them weeks after they had been placed and deemed them suspicious, shutting down multiple waterways and roads in response.
 * - The first-ever live-action adaptation of the Batman comic strips, starring Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin, respectively. Known for its use of visually-depicted sound effects, a wide array of villains, and the copious use of version of 'Holy X Batman' by Robin, it has been used in several different ways in modern hunt puzzles despite the various other Batman series that have come out since.
 * - A sitcom about a group of four 'nerdy' roommates and their day-to-day interactions with each other and their less-nerdy neighbor across the hall. Widely panned for its excessive use of a laugh track and lack of actual jokes, it has found use in puzzle hunts for its unique episode-naming system. Every episode is made up of a pair of words/phrases, with one being a topic touched on in the episode, and the other being a scientific-sounding word, allowing for titles like 'The Dumpling Paradox' and 'The Friendship Algorithm'.
 * - An adventure show about a teenage vampire-and-other-monster slayer that popularized the 'monster of the week' format used on other sci-fi and fantasy adventure shows of the 1990s and early 2000s. Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular Buffy, each episode focused on a new, immediate threat to the town of Sunnydale, usually in the form of a new monster or evil presence. The show has also had one major spin-off, Angel, which focused on Angel, David Boreanaz's character.
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).
 * - A reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, in which a group of people are taken to a remote location, divided into two or more 'tribes', and dropped off with minimal supplies to survive for 39 days (although with some variation for early season weirdness and COVID-19 protocols). During this time, the castaways have to compete in regular challenges, and gradually vote each other off of the show, until only one remains as the 'sole survivor'. A notable aspect of the show is that each tribe is named uniquely across all seasons, and tribes are differentiated by their members wearing a particular color of 'buff' (a piece of fabric meant to be worn as clothing or accessory).

General TV topics

 * - A system by which a particular TV series names its episodes consistently. A notable example would be how the TV show Friends names almost all its episodes in the form 'The One...' followed by an event in the episode. While present in some cases outside of TV, they're most common in television.
 * - A system by which a particular TV series names its episodes consistently. A notable example would be how the TV show Friends names almost all its episodes in the form 'The One...' followed by an event in the episode. While present in some cases outside of TV, they're most common in television.
 * - A system by which a particular TV series names its episodes consistently. A notable example would be how the TV show Friends names almost all its episodes in the form 'The One...' followed by an event in the episode. While present in some cases outside of TV, they're most common in television.

General arts and media topics

 * - Items, places, and people that are only found in fictional worlds. Many different categories of these things exist, but the following are ones that have been used in puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.
 * - A way of depicting the progression of a piece of media's plot through interactions between characters over time. Popularized by the webcomic xkcd, it has been used in multiple forms in hunt puzzles.