Screen-wipe, new scene
Okay, I have a thing for the unheard underdog (that explains why I like Spike). That's why I posted about the cultural context for the people who are having issues with the comics; I saw them being whapped down outside of LJ, and I wanted to give them some validation. On LJ, though, the inverse seems to be the case. So here's an open post for those
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Buffy is a woman who takes her responsibilities as a leader seriously, and she's respected for that. Her enemies are afraid of her, her subordinates follow her willingly, her friends look up to her. In part, that's the same message as the TV show, of course - Xander is her loyal lieutenant and emotional support in S8 just as he was in previous seasons; but Buffy isn't just acting on a local scale now. She's head of a multinational organisation of over 500 people, and she's still only 24 or so. She's attracted hundreds of passionate, committed, competent women to follow her because they believe they can make the world a better place:
XANDER: Buffy. Turn around. I live with a bunch of Slayers. Dozens of girls who are so filled up with purpose, with confidence they didn't have before, the walls are vibrating with it. I can't sleep, the place is so charged.
BUFFY: You really need to ask Renee out already.
XANDER: Stop changing the subject to true things. Maybe now we're only cleaning up messes, but we're just getting started. What you created here is a lot more than just monster fighters.
Even so, she fails sometimes. She makes mistakes, her moral judgement becomes compromised because she's too focussed on her mission, she's hit by heavy blows to her morale. Like I said in my own post, I don't believe that a good role model is someone who's flawless, because we can't identify with saints. Buffy stumbles, but she picks herself up again and keeps on going, and that's why she's admirable.
(At the moment, in the current arc, I think she's stumbled badly. I retain faith that she'll pick herself up again in the season climax. It's what she does.)
Speaking of Xander, it amuses me that in this season, he's playing the traditional role of the female lead in a traditional action show. He's spunky and competent, but sometimes the hero needs to rescue him, and his main role in the story is to give the hero emotional support and validation. The twists and turns of his love life is the main way he personally is involved in the plot, and there's romantic tension between him and the hero which is never actually resolved. I think it's a feminist message because it shows that the 'supportive' role can be taken by a man just as Buffy shows that a woman can be the leader and the fighter. (And yes, it's not so much different than the TV show, but I think Xander has more of a central role this time so the nature of his characterisation is more obvious.)
I like the exploration of what it means for Buffy to create an army of superpowered women. It's not an unalloyed positive message, because there are problems both internal and external. She makes mistakes in leadership, as I mentioned; and many people on the outside grow to fear and hate her for what she's done. But like I said in terms of role models, I think it's more valuable to acknowledge that women in power will make mistakes and attract hostility than to pretend everything will be perfect. It's how they deal with adversity that matters.
(Currently, the jury is still out on how the season will be resolved. If it turns around and says Buffy was wrong to empower those women, I'll be angry. If it turns out to say she should have empowered all women instead of creating a self-selected elite, I'll be more happy. :-)
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I know! It seemed so silly at first. I mean, spending money on a few (hundred) more icon spaces. But I think it's turning out to be a win-win for everyone. ;)
If it turns out to say she should have empowered all women instead of creating a self-selected elite, I'll be more happy.
"Self-selected elite"? Slayers have the ability to choose to get powers? Or are you referring to Slayers having the option to join up with Buffy's army? (The phrasing just caught me)
I am interested to hear how things turn out. Call me naive, but I still tend to have some faith in Joss to subvert the hell out of things. I think the depiction of the Twuffel sex was a misstep (not unlike how I think the AR was a misstep), but I'm waiting for him to make up for it later. Just from summaries I've read, he has the framework he needs to make it work.
But I'm a damned annoying optimist sometimes. :)
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You know, when I wrote "self-selected elite" I was thinking more in terms of buzzwords than reality. I think it's how public opinion regards them after the whole "Vampires are just misunderstood, really" plotline develops. But yes, the Slayers in Buffy's army are there because they chose to join it.
I still tend to have some faith in Joss to subvert the hell out of things. I think the depiction of the Twuffel sex was a misstep
I agree with both of those. Whatever my other views on the sex issue, I can't deny it was a huge misstep for alienating so many people. I do think he had creditable motives - basically, that if they're going to have their protagonist have sex as a plot point, they should have the courage to show it instead of pussyfooting around with hints and teasing - but it seems to have backfired on him.
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I haven't created any, myself, but it seems I've collected quite a few from other people. :)
Now LJ just needs to figure out how to let me upload multiple icons at once, and I'll be a happy user.
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Although, if you turn it back around, how often does the leading man not get the girl if he wants her? How often does the female lead end up with his younger brother instead, while the leading man's left all jealous? lol
I don't actually know what that says from a feminist perspective. I'd rather see Xander with Dawn anyway, so I'm not saying Buffy should get Xander. It just struck me as an oddity in the gender reversal.
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It is a comon trope in today's comedy shows. (And the trope says: "Men can be geeks, immature boys, really, they still get the supergirl - whom women better are if they want a chance with the hero anyways...")
And yes, in a typical male hero story the hero would not get rejected.
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So it's interesting to know that Joss initially intended for Buffy and Xander to end up together, but it just never worked out during the series. Perhaps he did fall victim to that bit of ego-stroking, and wanted the "average Joe" character (who is a lot like him) to get the hottie. I do appreciate that he ultimately didn't go there, but Buffy suddenly having feelings for Xander when she's powerless feels a little like wanting to have his cake and eat it, too.
But Xander has already settled for "human!Buffy", namely Dawn.
Ohhhh, I don't like that. I don't like the idea that Xander "settled" for Dawn because he couldn't have Buffy. I think that's a horrible slight to Dawn, who is also a strong, cool woman, and deserves to be loved in her own right, not as a substitute for her sister.
To be fair, I can't say that I see much sign of Xander's crush on Buffy in the later seasons, so I do think he's over her - and season 7 starts to lay the groundwork for a Dawn/Xander relationship.
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It is more the writers settled for that and played it for laughs when Buffy makes her move on Xander. I'm coming from the angle where Dawn is human!Buffy - and not supergirl. So, speaking in meta - geek!Xander is allowed to have a romance with not-supergirl!Buffy. And yes, that's a male-centered view, which i think is (often) shown in BtVS season 8.
And, to get totally fannish, i like Dawn, too. But really, what have we seen in season 8 so far of her? The writers got her "deflowered" (what an awful term) by the jerk boyfriend to get her ready for the Xander romance to get the incest reproach out of the way.
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And we also saw Dawn - twice - taking control of her sexuality and choosing how she expresses it, first with Nicky and then with Xander. Yes, she regretted the first time afterwards, and felt guilty. That's the breaks; it was still her decision. The second time with Xander... she was the one encouraging him to "point to the safe" and take a chance on what he wants. She made up her mind she wanted a relationship with him, and knew he felt the same, and she persuaded him to go for it. That was empowered of her.
And in between all that, she was defeating Amy and rallying the Slayer Army and saving Xander's life and making new friends with the woodland folk and training the Slayers on how to use modern weapons, and generally being an independent young woman making a life for herself.
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Yeah. While I really didn't like the way the Dawn/Kenny relationship played out, I'd like to think she learned the value of honesty and openness in relationships, and that she's trying to be upfront about her feelings for Xander, instead of pussyfooting around the issue or sending mixed signals.
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