I liked this essay a lot. I think you did a fair job of touching on the strengths and weaknesses of Season 8. Thank you. I tried my darnedest to be objective, and I think (hope) I succeeded. Responses so far are good, at least.
I think the thing you touched on that I was the most interested in was the idea of the 'comics are for boys' cliche and how it related to this new incarnation of Buffy. I am someone who has also spent a bit of time in the comic store, and it was interesting to see your interpretation of this idea. Oh I'm glad you picked that out, since I felt a little out of my depth on that topic - like I say, I love comics, but not the standard super hero stuff...
I was always kind of disappointed that Joss didn't try and take common comic tropes and turn them on their ear. After all he was writing for a 'independent' (which is to say in US comic speak, not DC or Marvel) comic line which gave him more leeway than he would have had with 'mainstream' comics. Also one would expect someone who was as culturally aware as Joss to have had some exposure to manga and how those artists and writers revel in taking tropes and making fun of them. It strikes me that he mostly wrote for himself, if that makes sense? As in, rather than deconstruct the genre he indulged in all the stuff he liked the most?
To see someone like Joss not only back away from poking at these tropes, but also embrace them is disappointing. I don't want to see my favorite heroine relegated to the subject of the male gaze. I don't want the Slayers brushed aside as generic female heroes with their scant attire and limited initiative. It doesn't speak well of someone who once gave a speech on 'Why do you write strong female characters?' Yeah, it's all a bit of a missed opportunity - esp considering the audience. On reflection, I think a female artist would have helped. Maybe.
That is all kind of disjointed, but I am having trouble organizing my ideas in any more of a cohesive way. You should have seen the first draft of this...
So I shall close by saying, bravo on the essay. Thanks for sharing it with us. Thank *you* for sharing your thoughts. :)
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Thank you. I tried my darnedest to be objective, and I think (hope) I succeeded. Responses so far are good, at least.
I think the thing you touched on that I was the most interested in was the idea of the 'comics are for boys' cliche and how it related to this new incarnation of Buffy. I am someone who has also spent a bit of time in the comic store, and it was interesting to see your interpretation of this idea.
Oh I'm glad you picked that out, since I felt a little out of my depth on that topic - like I say, I love comics, but not the standard super hero stuff...
I was always kind of disappointed that Joss didn't try and take common comic tropes and turn them on their ear. After all he was writing for a 'independent' (which is to say in US comic speak, not DC or Marvel) comic line which gave him more leeway than he would have had with 'mainstream' comics. Also one would expect someone who was as culturally aware as Joss to have had some exposure to manga and how those artists and writers revel in taking tropes and making fun of them.
It strikes me that he mostly wrote for himself, if that makes sense? As in, rather than deconstruct the genre he indulged in all the stuff he liked the most?
To see someone like Joss not only back away from poking at these tropes, but also embrace them is disappointing. I don't want to see my favorite heroine relegated to the subject of the male gaze. I don't want the Slayers brushed aside as generic female heroes with their scant attire and limited initiative. It doesn't speak well of someone who once gave a speech on 'Why do you write strong female characters?'
Yeah, it's all a bit of a missed opportunity - esp considering the audience. On reflection, I think a female artist would have helped. Maybe.
That is all kind of disjointed, but I am having trouble organizing my ideas in any more of a cohesive way.
You should have seen the first draft of this...
So I shall close by saying, bravo on the essay. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank *you* for sharing your thoughts. :)