Blog 19 - Article

This is the article I read for this blog: http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=can_buffys_brilliance_last
The article agrees that Buffy is much different than other classic high school setting shows. It considers it a good successor to Catcher in the Rye. Saying that is saying a lot. I really hope that doesn't offend JD Salinger. Anyways, it's saying that this show really does have a deeper meaning than the seemingly superficial monster killing and typical high school drama. It also talks about the portrayal of Buffy. She is seemingly a typical cheerleader with a funny name, but, as the article says, she has all the traits every girl wants. Teenage girls want to feel needed, like they have a purpose, a talent that is useful in the world. Then they feel that they are significant, and so feel important, and more confident. The article also argues that Buffy the Vampire tries to play down sex. By showing that kisses in the show are usually kisses of death, it makes kissing look bad. Then, Buffy carrying the motto, don't do it if it doesn't feel good promotes the prevention of teens experimenting before they really want to do anything. It also talked about the fact that it showed that, since there were many male vampires, like in the episode called reptile boy, if a girl lets her guard down for a little while, she could end up dying via vampire bite, which is metaphorical to bad decisions on the part of teenagers. The article also talked for a little bit about where the show goes towards the final seasons, which I haven't watched any of yet, and it seems to be going downhill. The author worries that it will have a fate like many other series which end up failing towards the end.

Blog 18 - Article

The article I used: http://articles.latimes.com/2003/may/20/entertainment/et-rosen20
This article really helped me, it supported my thesis a lot. It supported the fact that its a large metaphor of the lives of teenagers. I was talking about the perils of teenagers that are represented in this show, their insecurity caused by those around them, like when cordelia down-talked Buffy in the bathroom. Or even when Willow is shadowed fairly often by Buffy. Or the parental issues that teenagers run into because of helicopter parents, or the inability to relate to them; the rift between teenagers and their parents. It spoke of the view that  her battling of "the demons" was much like a teenagers daily battles with classic teen issues such as drugs, sex, and others. The article also talked about how Buffy filled the void of female hero's. Most super heroes are male: Spiderman, Batman, man, man, man. Buffy, for a change, is a girl, a blonde cheerleader who sacrifices her social life to save the world daily. This is much of a change from a man that lets spiderwebs out of his wrist. It also spoke about the wide variety of age groups who watch the show. People ranging from teenagers, to age thirty, even to age sixty truly enjoy watching the show. It attracts a wide variety of viewers. It talked about how popular the show became among teens, enough for a frat's drinking game to be based off of visible bra straps, which was something Buffy was often spotted with. He made the show sad, but very funny at the same time.

Buffy Article 1 - A religious approach

Article I read: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/septemberweb-only/9-16-31.0.html
This article took a Christian view on the show, and it was torn. An "evangelical church father" wanted to watch it, he actually liked the show and promoted it. He does, of course watch it secretly though. What evangelical father wants people to know that they watch a show about a pretty teenage vampire slayer? Right, but he does have a guilty liking for the show. Though, as they say, it isn't as popular as many very mainstream shows, it is fairly popular. People bought stuff that was affiliated with the show. What was interesting about this article is when they talked about the number of teens and twenty year olds that enjoy watching the show. They talk about the popularity of the show among that age group. It makes a lot of sense though. The show is very relatable to teens since Buffy has the angst with her parents, or atleast seemingly since most of it is because of her slaying occupation, but other than that she does deal with many classic teenage issues. She is self conscious because of comments from people like cordelia, and she wants to have fun and have a normal social life. Of course, as we can all see from the Twilight and Vampire Diaries hype, the idea of vampires and mythical creatures is very eye catching to teens. Of course, the general christian view of the show is very low, they strongly dissaprove of the watching of the show which poses questions. Though the show may be about unreal, terrible creatures, it always has good overall messages in the shows. Like knowing who your real friends are, and helping one another.

I decided to do my paper on the Halloween episode of Buffy the Vampire, and I have a couple ideas about what I want to do my focus on. I considered Buffy and Angel, and make a thesis about them. They have a lot of tension between them and they finally want to start dating and its just dangerous. There are so many problems that come with complicated relationships like this. Their lives are in danger when they are dating, but I guess its good because he cares more than enough about her and she is very attracted to him too. The next best option would be Xander but she is very into Angel. Their relationship is kind of a necessary but risky relationship. I guess the paper could also be on like, the perils and trials of love. They seem to be perfect for one another, theres the quirky exciting girl and the very laid back calm guy. Of course, since things seem great, their ability to actually become a couple has to be thwarted and ruined all the time, they can't just be a happy couple. Other than that I could write about the common theme of how things aren't always what they seem. Every episode they are duped by a person, or in this one, costumes. They never really stop getting confused by other people that they don't know. Lastly, I could also write about Giles. He goes with the lesson that sometimes the people you cannot stand the most are the ones that end up saving you and know whats best for you. He knows what she's missing out on in her teen years but he knows how to save her life and make sure she does what she's meant to do for the world.

Buffy, Halloween !

At last, Buffy and Angel are dating! They finally agree to date after overcoming their tension about how dangerous a relationship could be, they finally agree with their impulse feelings. But of course, this is much to good to be true. How could everything just work out? Buffy gets held up at the pumpkin patch by a vampire, and Cordelia gets to Angel! Things can just never be perfect, like, everything cannot just be going well. So she continues to hit on Angel and tell off Buffy, little does she know Buffy and Angel's history. Cordelia once again makes a fool of herself, she does this a lot. Like the last episode, she gets them into a vampire/creature frat, and then believes that laughing loudly and obnoxiously will get her boys. Buffy is bothered by the crappy first date with Angel, and wants to find a way to surely win him over. She finds a very cute costume, as an 18th century noble woman hoping that will get him and then they find that the costumes are enchanted! They become the costumes that they are wearing. The relationship between her and Angel is very stressed, every force of nature continuously goes against them being together, but they find Ethan and the spell is reversed. They finally kiss at the end and so we know that they have finally made it. Angel reassures Buffy that women in the past were dull and boring and he really is looking for something fun and thrilling/exciting, and they kiss and we finally see their beginning together.

Buffy and Reptile Boy?

They start off with watching a hindi movie, everyones pretty content, Buffy the most, since there's nothing to be killed and they can just have a lazy evening. And then it cuts to a girl outrunning many hooded guys; Buffy spoke too soon. The TV was showing a lady in love singing into her phone, I wonder if that has anything to do with the episode? I'm starting to really see how bitter Buffy could be if she wanted to. She is gorgeous and smart and funny and could have an amazing time in high school with her friends, and of course she cant because she has slaying to do. It really showed when she met the fraternity boy who was smart and genuinely interested in her, and of course she had to practice self defense and had to leave her conversation with him, and not go to the party she was invited to by him. She really is missing out a lot  with her high school social life. It is shown that Buffy is missing out on her social life with that encounter, but then we find out that the fraternity is very dark, because it shows a brother that is joining and it isn't very sunny or bright. They prey on high school girls, since they're usually oblivious and want to date college boys. There is a lot of tension between Buffy and Angel, and she really likes him, but he's extremely old and it kind of reminds me of a Twilight type thing. Xander really cares about Buffy and shows up to look after her, but i think the frat boy has it covered, until you see that he is under someone bigger, the leader of their frat? They serve a bigger person. She really does need Xander, because the frat boys leave them to doom. It teaches a lesson about true friends and dangerous strangers. Also Angel really does have strong feelings for Buffy's safety, he is very upset as soon as he knows Buffy is in danger. Of course, Buffy ends up at the party where the problem is. It's another lesson, lying always backfires. Angel seems to be coming around, a romance seems to be starting between them !

Buffy, Inca Girl Mummy.

It starts out with Buffy telling herself she doesn't always use violence, haha, yes she does. The boy doing something wrong bothers Buffy and her friends, and Buffy goes to use violence and then Willow tries a talking approach. They then see a sacrificed princess who was turned into mummy, with a curse. As soon as they show her they play dramatic music, and of course she's the creature of the episode. Buffy has her little upset about not being able to do normal things, and then the episode goes on. A boy trying to steal a plate gets choked by the cursed mummy and that solidifies that the creature is the wrapped up princess, but what is she going to do, and what does she want? She causes the boy to become wrapped up and turn into a mummy, and now Buffy and friends have to track down the mummifying killer. Even though the show usually centers around vampires and creatures that need to be taken care of, the makers like to throw in the occasional high school student's  dilemma or issue. The mummy princess becomes a person and ends up living with Buffy, of all people. She's under her nose. Now the mummy's killed the bodyguard, so she doesn't have to go back at all. She figures it out and they drive, while this is happening a boy in the band at the dance notices Willow! This is a classic moral of the story type moment, she's nice and doesn't freak out with the guy she likes is with someone else, and now a boy wants her! Anyways, she's kissed Xander, of course it was bound to happen. Somehow he always gets caught in the danger, like he did with the Mantis substitute teacher. But they get out, the mummy becomes mummified and breaks, and we are shown that Xander does love Willow, as a friend and will put her before girls.