Meta Master List
Last updated: 1/9/2012
Like most fandom journals, this one has quite a bit of meta in it. Some of it consists of me babbling about various topics. Sometimes an interesting discussion happens in the comments without my expecting it. It can be difficult to wade through all the other entries full of...other stuff (*coughrandomcrapcough*), so here's a list of links to the meta in this LJ for your convenience.
These are just highlights. I write an awful lot on BtVS. Feel free to browse the tags, too, for other meta and polls.
All my meta is also archived on delicious: Gabs' Buffy Meta. Same links as here, just in delicious format if that's your thing.
My stance on the S8 comics is outlined here.
As I've been writing for a few years, it's inevitable that my opinion has shifted on some topics. Please just keep the date on the entries in mind and know that I may have changed my mind at some point. Newer entries are always going to be at the bottom of their respective sections. For posts that I've pretty much completely changed my mind on, I've marked them with 'Outdated opinion'.
(Some meta is listed in more than one category)
Feminism
Spike/Spuffy
Queerness
Fic-writing
General Meta
Fandom Ponderings/Commentary
Polls
Buffy Rewatches
Transcripts
It Got Metafandomed
Non-Buffy
Feminism:
Buffy's Bad Sex Life - Taking a look at the feminist text of the series in relation to...well...Buffy's sex life.
Seeing Red: The Dreaded Topic - If you don't normally read comments, make an exception for this entry. 200+ insightful and well-stated comments making up some great discussion. Also, it stays completely civil in tone, which is amazing considering the subject matter. Outdated opinion
On Joss and Feminism - 2009 April Fools' Day joke where I let out my inner radical feminist and accuse Joss of being a misogynist. Quite entertaining, I thought. Here's the "gotcha" post.
On Joss and Feminism...for real this time - My real opinion on Joss and feminism.
A bit of a ramble on that damned Seeing Red scene... - Friends-locked due to subject matter. My reaction to some of the defenses of Spike in the Seeing Red. Might not make sense taken out of context of the larger discussion, but it explains why I do view what happened as an attempted rape.
Putting Feminist Characters to the Test - A poll w/ discussion on whether the different characters on the show are feminist and why.
Conclusion: The Buffyverse exists in a fantasy world. - Pretty much a summary of my current views of the AR scene.
Just a Girl - This is my absolute favorite entry I've ever done. It's my dedication to Buffy, the character. Even better, it's in her own words.
In the Buffyverse, the Slayer reviews *you* - Checkpoint is a fantastically feminist episode. So have a fun rewrite of it.
That Joss guy... - A poll on Joss' feminist cred. Yep.
Allow me a brief bout of hysteria - Whooo boy. Okay, there was some stuff going on in fandom, and it kinda provoked this rant of righteous rage. All about how shippers get dismissed by wider fandom, the inherent sexism, and how it annoys the fuck out of me.
It seems my womb is still missing - My rage couldn't be contained in one post.
Our Bodies as Wonderlands (for men) - I don't read the S8 comics and I rarely post on them (Because...why?). However, I was dismayed to see some women's concerns about the controversial Issue 34 being dismissed. So this post was an attempt to contextualize those concerns without actually addressing the comic.
Them Fucking (Not Safe For Work) - And this is a follow-up to the previous post. Apparently, there was dispute as to whether Issue 34 represented a change in how sex was depicted on the show. I illustrate my point.
Screen-wipe, new scene - And then I wanted to give a voice to the women who didn't have feminist objections to the comics, so this was a comics-positive only discussion post.
The negative space *around* Marti Noxon - A post in response to the large amount of Marti-bashing in fandom.
Bad Boys can bite me - I get tired of people taking Spike's popularity with female fans as "proof" that chicks dig jerks.
Wherein I go to bat for my girl, Buffy, again... - About Man Pain and how fandom's reaction to it contrasts with its reaction to Buffy's angst. Plus, Spuffy.
Angel the Feminist Icon? - I saw someone claim that Angel is a feminist icon. This post hosts a huge ol' discussion about it.
Go Fish Rape - About a particular scene in Go Fish.
You must be this tall to ride the feminist ride - A lot of people tend to disavow Joss' labeling himself as a feminist. I disagree, and this post explains why.
Women, Connecting and Women, Connected Again - A graphical representation of the strong relationship ties between the female characters of BtVS as compared with other shows.
The Rape Narrative - About the AR, fans' reactions to it, the tendency to excuse Spike, and how that plays into rape culture.
Buffy/Spike, Consent, and S6 - I apply a feminist perspective to the instances of questionable consent between Buffy and Spike in S6.
Buffy and Carpet Cleaning - About Buffy's destiny as women's unpaid labor.
Too Strong - Addressing complaints about Buffy's characterization in the AR scene and how it connects to rape culture.
The Feminist Filter - An ongoing meta series wherein outlines of the feminist text of each episode are posted to prompt discussion.
Spike/Spuffy:
Spike: The Big Softy! - A response to criticisms of Spike's character "going soft" later in the series.
Spike/Buffy in S6: Loving the Canon - And a defense of S6 Spike/Buffy from a Spuffy shipper.
S6 Buffy/Spike: Masters of the Universe - On the power dynamics of their relationship in S6.
Seeing Red: The Dreaded Topic - If you don't normally read comments, make an exception for this entry. 200+ insightful and well-stated comments making up some great discussion. Also, it stays completely civil in tone, which is amazing considering the subject matter. Outdated opinion
Facets of Spike - Poll Results - After going over the results of a previous poll, I asked another question: Did Spike need his soul to be redeemed? Fascinating answers in the comments.
Did the World Shake When You Were Redeemed? - And my answer to the question of Spike's soulless redemption with, of course, some interesting discussion in the comments.
In the Soddin' Engine: A Look at the Beneath You Church Scene - It's my favorite scene in the Buffyverse and I try to do it justice with this bit of meta.
Buffy/Spike: When She Fell - When did Buffy fall in love with Spike? I present two different, yet canon-compliant, theories.
Spike Speak in S4 - My geeky self tracking the number of times Spike refers to people by various nicknames/names. People were actually interested in this.
Would Spike be convicted in the court of popular opinion? - Friends-locked due to subject matter. A poll. Do you consider what Spike did in Seeing Red to be attempted rape or not? Good discussion in the comments.
A bit of a ramble on that damned Seeing Red scene... - Friends-locked due to subject matter. My reaction to some of the defenses of Spike in the Seeing Red. Might not make sense taken out of context of the larger discussion, but it explains why I do view what happened as an attempted rape.
So...did William die a virgin? - A poll about common fanon in regards to William's background and Spike's time as an evil vampire. Interesting discussion ensued.
Reversing the Genders...not the typical rape question - A poll and discussion about the male victims of rape and sexual assault in the Buffyverse.
Beating a Dead Spike - My initial thoughts on Spike's role in AtS S5. Sparked a pretty damn big discussion.
Yep, a poll on Spike's role in AtS S5 - Prompted by the previous entry.
Spike's Life After Death - There was a round of fannish entries about Spike's existence after Buffy dies, with popular Spuffy fanon being he'll walk into the sunlight or something. My take.
The Spike Problem or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Canon - Just what it says on the tin. Spike's a very controversial character. A lot of Spike fans were not happy with how canon played out. I am, though.
My Spuffy Love - A Spuffy fangirl speaks from the heart.
Word from on high about Spuffy shippers - Ah, notable mainly because it spawned the all-penguin AU trend in the comments. Yeah, you read that right.
I was there with you. - A bit of a ramble on Spuffy plus some eye!porn. I'm always at a loss to explain why I enjoy this ship. I usually resort to flailing.
Bad Boys can bite me - I get tired of people taking Spike's popularity with female fans as "proof" that chicks dig jerks.
Wherein I go to bat for my girl, Buffy, again... - About Man Pain and how fandom's reaction to it contrasts with its reaction to Buffy's angst. Plus, Spuffy.
Happiness is... - So if Spike had Angel's curse, what would qualify as a perfect moment of happiness for him? Poll.
The Spike in Team (Non-Buffy Edition) - About Spike's desire for a social group of some sort and how it influences his development.
When he needs help I help him - About S7 Spuffy, how Buffy communicates her feelings, and cultural standards.
Love of All Types - S7 Spuffy picspam.
Buffy's Choice - I talk about the one time Buffy had a choice between Spike and Angel...and she chose Spike.
Buffy/Spike, Consent, and S6 - I apply a feminist perspective to the instances of questionable consent between Buffy and Spike in S6.
Of Souls and Spuffy - I've been sitting on! Recent discussions have me curious about the general shape of Spuffy fandom right now as it pertains to Spike's soul status. So let's poll this bad boy. I've included a separate question for non-Spuffy fans, just for inclusiveness and comparison's sake.
Queerness:
The Dead/Evil Lesbian Cliche - More a rant than a meta in regards to the uproar over Tara's death.
Willow's Gay Now! - Meta in regards to Willow's sexuality in the show with some discussion on fluid sexuality and the like in the comments.
Straight Faith - Hmmmm...I suppose this can go under the "queerness" heading. There's a common belief in fandom that Faith is bisexual. This irks me.
Fic-writing:
My Thoughts on AU Fics...Let Me Show You Them... - Fanfic meta, obviously, with some interesting discussion in the comments as to what constitutes an "AU".
Drabble Babble - Wherein I confess to my disinterest in drabbles. Interesting discussion in the comments.
*gets soapbox* About those fic warnings... - A defense of warnings in fanfics. I think they're necessary for some subjects.
Warn for character death. There. I said it. - In response to the warnings debate of 2009.
Your LJ is not your living room. Really. - Also in response to the warnings debate. About your LJ as a public space and what that means.
So they say to write what I know, and I apparently know lots of disturbing stuff... - About writing, exposing oneself, writing stuff you wouldn't want to read, etc.
Character Inventory for Fic Writers - Pretty much what it says on the tin. A thing for the new year so writers can ticky which characters they've used in fanfics. It's fun.
General Meta:
Wherein Introductions and Explanations are Made - friends-locked - First post on the LJ and my personal intro where I talk way too much about my love affair with BtVS.
Recipe of a Vampire - An attempt at making some sense of the vampire mythology of the show.
BtVS Episode Review: Restless - I don't normally count the episode reviews as meta, but this one spans five journal entries and deserves a spot on the list for all the time I spent on it. :)
I Don't Like Ice Cream - The final word on why I don't like certain characters/pairings in the show.
Tough Decisions Poll - A series of posts with polls about the decisions the characters have made. Interesting discussion in the comments.
A Defense of S6: The Heroes as Villains - Just what the title says. My defense of the quality of S6. The point is that the season showed us the uglier sides of our characters, and we're better for it.
The Link Between the Trio and Buffy's Depression - What an uncreative title. Sheesh. A theory of mine regarding the Trio as a symbolic external manifestation of Buffy's depression during the season. Got some good reception.
Reversing the Genders...not the typical rape question - A poll and discussion about the male victims of rape and sexual assault in the Buffyverse.
Thoughts on Canon and Meta - About OOC, canon, different fan interpretations thereof, and the One True View of the series.
Vampire Fanon - A poll all about vamps in BtVS mythology.
Don't Forget Your Keys - A bit of meta about Dawn's Keyness and its effect on her character (or how I wish it had affected her character).
Buffy's Angel Issues - Where I go on a ramble about one aspect of Buffy's character.
Buffy's Angel Issues Part Deux - To clear up some misunderstandings people had with my first post. :)
A Tribute to Willow's Hats - Because she has some crazy hats.
Bullets flew. Tara died. The end. - In response to an essay by someone unhappy with how Tara's death was executed, I do a bit of meta about her death and the Dark Willow arc.
Loyalists and Jumpers...not very fond of those terms - About one particular split in fandom
Subversion - A poll to see fannish opinion on whether Buffy/Angel is subversive as a romantic ship.
Subversion: Buffy/Spike Edition - And pretty self-explanatory.
Missing the trees for the forest... - About canon enjoyment, fandom, taking a step back and remembering why we joined.
Nobody died when Xander lied...wait, scratch that... - All about Xander's Big Lie in Becoming.
All My Faith - A look at Faith's character, which finally clicked for me.
Buffy Came Back Wrong - A series of posts detailing Buffy's depression in S6.
Dudely Posturing: Riley-Spike - Yep. A meta post about the rather interesting dynamics between Riley and Spike in S4 and S5.
Awesome You Were - My tribute to the bestest episode of S6, As You Were.
B/A Revisited - I think back on the question of Bangel being subversive.
Not Chosen - One of my key issues with the S7 feminist metaphor.
A Call to Fannish Arms - Some people have clearly Wrong Thoughts about the show. This cannot be allowed.
There were never such devoted sisters... - I never caught on to the Buffy/Faith subtext. Instead, I see them as have a sister-type relationship. This post kinda sums up my view.
Fandom Eyewear - I often like to pontificate about how fandom works. I'm a sociology major. It's a thing.
Episode Polls - Early in 2010, I started doing weekly episode polls (Every Tuesday, of course). This tag has them all gathered for ya.
B/A as Subversive. Yeah, I said it. - After much pondering and rewatching, I've come around to the idea of B/A as being incredibly subversive. Wanna know what I mean? Read it!
Being Willow - I don't write about Willow a lot. Honestly? I think I relate to her a bit too much. However, I was inspired to do a Grand Old Meta all about how Willow ticks.
Subversive Bangel: S3-S7 Edition - A follow-up to my previous Subversive B/A post. I, apparently, neglected some important points.
15 Reasons Why Buffy's My Homegirl - Some Buffy-love. *huggles Buffy*
Angel's Case of Humanitis (That Wasn't) - This interested people. Angel was originally supposed to become human at the end of Prophecy Girl.
A defense of my girl, the Buffster - A bit of a rant countering some common Buffy-bashing I see in fandom.
Whose Show is it Anyway? - Originally, this started as an attempt to test the claim that "Spike took over the show". It involves comprehensive line and scene counts for the characters. Of course, it quickly expanded past it's original premise and became more generalized to look for different trends that emerged. The link takes you to the tag for it.
Extra-Fandom Roll Call - A post to combat the prevailing view that LJ is an insular entity and that anything posted on it won't reach a larger audience.
What Happens vs How It's Done - Some thoughts about the different ways fans view canon.
Where do your sympathies lie? - A poll and discussion on which characters fans sympathize, when they lose that sympathy, etc.
Angel & Buffy 4 Ever! - "Forever" is an important word in the B/A ship. I detail the canon occurrences and significant of it in this post.
Run, Buffy, Run! - All about Into the Woods and Buffy/Riley.
Douche Moves - I finally put into words my frustration with Into the Woods, how Xander and Riley (and fans) reframe the problems so as to gloss over the fact that Riley visited vamp whores to, instead, focus on Buffy's supposed inadequacies.
My Top Six Willow Moments - Just some Willow-love. :)
Buffy as Selfish/less - It's a criticism often launched at Buffy. I take it on and get meta.
Fool for Love: Cliff Notes Edition - A bit of funny picspam about FFL.
Angel on top? - Poll and discussion on whether Buffy is over Angel by the series' end.
The Unpopular Opinions Sanctuary Post 2010 and 2011 Edition - This post is massive (1,500+ comments) but fairly self-explanatory.
I often like to reevaluate my thoughts on the show... - About Riley's arc in S5.
Death is her gift...and it sucks - A big picture meta about the theme of S5 and how S6 and S7 were necessary to complete the arc.
A Culpable Poll - When characters are under supernatural influence, how culpable are they for their actions?
Final Days Outline - Okay, the timeline of the last six episodes of S7 always leaves me a bit confused, so I decided to trace things out. I figured some other people may enjoy it, too.
Expectations, Fears, and Perceptions: Buffy and Riley in S5 - So, you know how people always point out a few scenes as examples of Buffy pulling away from Riley in S5? I wanted to sit down and examine those scenes and show how Riley's perception (Buffy pulling away) didn't quite match what was actually going on. In doing so, I think I actually managed to key into some interesting parts of Riley's arc.
Fandom Pondering/Commentary:
Spike: The Big Softy! - A response to criticisms of Spike's character "going soft" later in the series.
Missing the trees for the forest... - About canon enjoyment, fandom, taking a step back and remembering why we joined.
A bit of a ramble on that damned Seeing Red scene... - Friends-locked due to subject matter. My reaction to some of the defenses of Spike in the Seeing Red. Might not make sense taken out of context of the larger discussion, but it explains why I do view what happened as an attempted rape.
Straight Faith - Hmmmm...I suppose this can go under the "queerness" heading. There's a common belief in fandom that Faith is bisexual. This irks me.
Fandom Eyewear - I often like to pontificate about how fandom works. I'm a sociology major. It's a thing.
A Call to Fannish Arms - Some people have clearly Wrong Thoughts about the show. This cannot be allowed.
Extra-Fandom Roll Call - A post to combat the prevailing view that LJ is an insular entity and that anything posted on it won't reach a larger audience.
Allow me a brief bout of hysteria - Whooo boy. Okay, there was some stuff going on in fandom, and it kinda provoked this rant of righteous rage. All about how shippers get dismissed by wider fandom, the inherent sexism, and how it annoys the fuck out of me.
It seems my womb is still missing - My rage couldn't be contained in one post.
Taboo - In response to claims that Spike/Spuffy fans are "taking over fandom".
The negative space *around* Marti Noxon - A post in response to the large amount of Marti-bashing in fandom.
Wherein I go to bat for my girl, Buffy, again... - About Man Pain and how fandom's reaction to it contrasts with its reaction to Buffy's angst. Plus, Spuffy.
Fandom Truth - About fannish perceptions.
The Rape Narrative - About the AR, fans' reactions to it, the tendency to excuse Spike, and how that plays into rape culture.
Too Strong - Addressing complaints about Buffy's characterization in the AR scene and how it connects to rape culture.
Eggs and Chickens - About how people form opinions on characters.
Polls:
Putting Feminist Characters to the Test
That Joss guy...
Facets of Spike - Poll Results
So...did William die a virgin?
Reversing the Genders...not the typical rape question
Yep, a poll on Spike's role in AtS S5
Tough Decisions Poll
Subversion
Subversion: Buffy/Spike Edition
Episode Polls - Will take you to the tag for the weekly episode polls.
BtVS Writers' Poll
I found another OTP (One True Poll)!
Happiness is...
Where do your sympathies lie?
Run, Buffy, Run!
Angel on top?
A Culpable Poll
Of Souls and Spuffy
The "Dude! Not Cool!" Poll
Buffy Rewatches:
Miscellaneous fangirl/thinky-thoughts/reaction posts under the following tags:
S1 is so cute
why does S2 rock/suck so much?
S3 has vamp!willow
my happy season is S4
S5 pwnz you
i love S6
S7 is my spuffy season
Transcripts:
Commentary Transcript: Wild at Heart - For those outside the US who didn't get it with their DVDs.
It Got Metafandomed:
Anybody else actually *prefer* to watch women over men? Anybody? - Just what it says on the title. Much fan-love for female characters in the comments.
Why I Bitch About Female Characters All the Time - Well, the subject matter should be self-evident based on the title. :)
Newsflash: Women Are Interesting - A bit of a primer on the Bechdel test and what it indicates for shows/movies that pass it.
My Fandom is All Genres - metafandom had a slash appropriation thing for a while. This post is in reaction to some of that.
On Lurkers - I'm a fan of lurkers. This post tells you why.
I found another OTP (One True Poll)!
Non-Buffy:
Written for National Mental Health Month...posted early - Personal post about my past struggle with depression. Triggery stuff for SI and suicide.
Reality: Believing the victim - Kinda summing up all my feminist thoughts on rape. Use it as a reference as needed.
Like most fandom journals, this one has quite a bit of meta in it. Some of it consists of me babbling about various topics. Sometimes an interesting discussion happens in the comments without my expecting it. It can be difficult to wade through all the other entries full of...other stuff (*coughrandomcrapcough*), so here's a list of links to the meta in this LJ for your convenience.
These are just highlights. I write an awful lot on BtVS. Feel free to browse the tags, too, for other meta and polls.
All my meta is also archived on delicious: Gabs' Buffy Meta. Same links as here, just in delicious format if that's your thing.
My stance on the S8 comics is outlined here.
As I've been writing for a few years, it's inevitable that my opinion has shifted on some topics. Please just keep the date on the entries in mind and know that I may have changed my mind at some point. Newer entries are always going to be at the bottom of their respective sections. For posts that I've pretty much completely changed my mind on, I've marked them with 'Outdated opinion'.
(Some meta is listed in more than one category)
Feminism
Spike/Spuffy
Queerness
Fic-writing
General Meta
Fandom Ponderings/Commentary
Polls
Buffy Rewatches
Transcripts
It Got Metafandomed
Non-Buffy
Feminism:
Buffy's Bad Sex Life - Taking a look at the feminist text of the series in relation to...well...Buffy's sex life.
Seeing Red: The Dreaded Topic - If you don't normally read comments, make an exception for this entry. 200+ insightful and well-stated comments making up some great discussion. Also, it stays completely civil in tone, which is amazing considering the subject matter. Outdated opinion
On Joss and Feminism - 2009 April Fools' Day joke where I let out my inner radical feminist and accuse Joss of being a misogynist. Quite entertaining, I thought. Here's the "gotcha" post.
On Joss and Feminism...for real this time - My real opinion on Joss and feminism.
A bit of a ramble on that damned Seeing Red scene... - Friends-locked due to subject matter. My reaction to some of the defenses of Spike in the Seeing Red. Might not make sense taken out of context of the larger discussion, but it explains why I do view what happened as an attempted rape.
Putting Feminist Characters to the Test - A poll w/ discussion on whether the different characters on the show are feminist and why.
Conclusion: The Buffyverse exists in a fantasy world. - Pretty much a summary of my current views of the AR scene.
Just a Girl - This is my absolute favorite entry I've ever done. It's my dedication to Buffy, the character. Even better, it's in her own words.
In the Buffyverse, the Slayer reviews *you* - Checkpoint is a fantastically feminist episode. So have a fun rewrite of it.
That Joss guy... - A poll on Joss' feminist cred. Yep.
Allow me a brief bout of hysteria - Whooo boy. Okay, there was some stuff going on in fandom, and it kinda provoked this rant of righteous rage. All about how shippers get dismissed by wider fandom, the inherent sexism, and how it annoys the fuck out of me.
It seems my womb is still missing - My rage couldn't be contained in one post.
Our Bodies as Wonderlands (for men) - I don't read the S8 comics and I rarely post on them (Because...why?). However, I was dismayed to see some women's concerns about the controversial Issue 34 being dismissed. So this post was an attempt to contextualize those concerns without actually addressing the comic.
Them Fucking (Not Safe For Work) - And this is a follow-up to the previous post. Apparently, there was dispute as to whether Issue 34 represented a change in how sex was depicted on the show. I illustrate my point.
Screen-wipe, new scene - And then I wanted to give a voice to the women who didn't have feminist objections to the comics, so this was a comics-positive only discussion post.
The negative space *around* Marti Noxon - A post in response to the large amount of Marti-bashing in fandom.
Bad Boys can bite me - I get tired of people taking Spike's popularity with female fans as "proof" that chicks dig jerks.
Wherein I go to bat for my girl, Buffy, again... - About Man Pain and how fandom's reaction to it contrasts with its reaction to Buffy's angst. Plus, Spuffy.
Angel the Feminist Icon? - I saw someone claim that Angel is a feminist icon. This post hosts a huge ol' discussion about it.
Go Fish Rape - About a particular scene in Go Fish.
You must be this tall to ride the feminist ride - A lot of people tend to disavow Joss' labeling himself as a feminist. I disagree, and this post explains why.
Women, Connecting and Women, Connected Again - A graphical representation of the strong relationship ties between the female characters of BtVS as compared with other shows.
The Rape Narrative - About the AR, fans' reactions to it, the tendency to excuse Spike, and how that plays into rape culture.
Buffy/Spike, Consent, and S6 - I apply a feminist perspective to the instances of questionable consent between Buffy and Spike in S6.
Buffy and Carpet Cleaning - About Buffy's destiny as women's unpaid labor.
Too Strong - Addressing complaints about Buffy's characterization in the AR scene and how it connects to rape culture.
The Feminist Filter - An ongoing meta series wherein outlines of the feminist text of each episode are posted to prompt discussion.
Spike/Spuffy:
Spike: The Big Softy! - A response to criticisms of Spike's character "going soft" later in the series.
Spike/Buffy in S6: Loving the Canon - And a defense of S6 Spike/Buffy from a Spuffy shipper.
S6 Buffy/Spike: Masters of the Universe - On the power dynamics of their relationship in S6.
Seeing Red: The Dreaded Topic - If you don't normally read comments, make an exception for this entry. 200+ insightful and well-stated comments making up some great discussion. Also, it stays completely civil in tone, which is amazing considering the subject matter. Outdated opinion
Facets of Spike - Poll Results - After going over the results of a previous poll, I asked another question: Did Spike need his soul to be redeemed? Fascinating answers in the comments.
Did the World Shake When You Were Redeemed? - And my answer to the question of Spike's soulless redemption with, of course, some interesting discussion in the comments.
In the Soddin' Engine: A Look at the Beneath You Church Scene - It's my favorite scene in the Buffyverse and I try to do it justice with this bit of meta.
Buffy/Spike: When She Fell - When did Buffy fall in love with Spike? I present two different, yet canon-compliant, theories.
Spike Speak in S4 - My geeky self tracking the number of times Spike refers to people by various nicknames/names. People were actually interested in this.
Would Spike be convicted in the court of popular opinion? - Friends-locked due to subject matter. A poll. Do you consider what Spike did in Seeing Red to be attempted rape or not? Good discussion in the comments.
A bit of a ramble on that damned Seeing Red scene... - Friends-locked due to subject matter. My reaction to some of the defenses of Spike in the Seeing Red. Might not make sense taken out of context of the larger discussion, but it explains why I do view what happened as an attempted rape.
So...did William die a virgin? - A poll about common fanon in regards to William's background and Spike's time as an evil vampire. Interesting discussion ensued.
Reversing the Genders...not the typical rape question - A poll and discussion about the male victims of rape and sexual assault in the Buffyverse.
Beating a Dead Spike - My initial thoughts on Spike's role in AtS S5. Sparked a pretty damn big discussion.
Yep, a poll on Spike's role in AtS S5 - Prompted by the previous entry.
Spike's Life After Death - There was a round of fannish entries about Spike's existence after Buffy dies, with popular Spuffy fanon being he'll walk into the sunlight or something. My take.
The Spike Problem or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Canon - Just what it says on the tin. Spike's a very controversial character. A lot of Spike fans were not happy with how canon played out. I am, though.
My Spuffy Love - A Spuffy fangirl speaks from the heart.
Word from on high about Spuffy shippers - Ah, notable mainly because it spawned the all-penguin AU trend in the comments. Yeah, you read that right.
I was there with you. - A bit of a ramble on Spuffy plus some eye!porn. I'm always at a loss to explain why I enjoy this ship. I usually resort to flailing.
Bad Boys can bite me - I get tired of people taking Spike's popularity with female fans as "proof" that chicks dig jerks.
Wherein I go to bat for my girl, Buffy, again... - About Man Pain and how fandom's reaction to it contrasts with its reaction to Buffy's angst. Plus, Spuffy.
Happiness is... - So if Spike had Angel's curse, what would qualify as a perfect moment of happiness for him? Poll.
The Spike in Team (Non-Buffy Edition) - About Spike's desire for a social group of some sort and how it influences his development.
When he needs help I help him - About S7 Spuffy, how Buffy communicates her feelings, and cultural standards.
Love of All Types - S7 Spuffy picspam.
Buffy's Choice - I talk about the one time Buffy had a choice between Spike and Angel...and she chose Spike.
Buffy/Spike, Consent, and S6 - I apply a feminist perspective to the instances of questionable consent between Buffy and Spike in S6.
Of Souls and Spuffy - I've been sitting on! Recent discussions have me curious about the general shape of Spuffy fandom right now as it pertains to Spike's soul status. So let's poll this bad boy. I've included a separate question for non-Spuffy fans, just for inclusiveness and comparison's sake.
Queerness:
The Dead/Evil Lesbian Cliche - More a rant than a meta in regards to the uproar over Tara's death.
Willow's Gay Now! - Meta in regards to Willow's sexuality in the show with some discussion on fluid sexuality and the like in the comments.
Straight Faith - Hmmmm...I suppose this can go under the "queerness" heading. There's a common belief in fandom that Faith is bisexual. This irks me.
Fic-writing:
My Thoughts on AU Fics...Let Me Show You Them... - Fanfic meta, obviously, with some interesting discussion in the comments as to what constitutes an "AU".
Drabble Babble - Wherein I confess to my disinterest in drabbles. Interesting discussion in the comments.
*gets soapbox* About those fic warnings... - A defense of warnings in fanfics. I think they're necessary for some subjects.
Warn for character death. There. I said it. - In response to the warnings debate of 2009.
Your LJ is not your living room. Really. - Also in response to the warnings debate. About your LJ as a public space and what that means.
So they say to write what I know, and I apparently know lots of disturbing stuff... - About writing, exposing oneself, writing stuff you wouldn't want to read, etc.
Character Inventory for Fic Writers - Pretty much what it says on the tin. A thing for the new year so writers can ticky which characters they've used in fanfics. It's fun.
General Meta:
Wherein Introductions and Explanations are Made - friends-locked - First post on the LJ and my personal intro where I talk way too much about my love affair with BtVS.
Recipe of a Vampire - An attempt at making some sense of the vampire mythology of the show.
BtVS Episode Review: Restless - I don't normally count the episode reviews as meta, but this one spans five journal entries and deserves a spot on the list for all the time I spent on it. :)
I Don't Like Ice Cream - The final word on why I don't like certain characters/pairings in the show.
Tough Decisions Poll - A series of posts with polls about the decisions the characters have made. Interesting discussion in the comments.
A Defense of S6: The Heroes as Villains - Just what the title says. My defense of the quality of S6. The point is that the season showed us the uglier sides of our characters, and we're better for it.
The Link Between the Trio and Buffy's Depression - What an uncreative title. Sheesh. A theory of mine regarding the Trio as a symbolic external manifestation of Buffy's depression during the season. Got some good reception.
Reversing the Genders...not the typical rape question - A poll and discussion about the male victims of rape and sexual assault in the Buffyverse.
Thoughts on Canon and Meta - About OOC, canon, different fan interpretations thereof, and the One True View of the series.
Vampire Fanon - A poll all about vamps in BtVS mythology.
Don't Forget Your Keys - A bit of meta about Dawn's Keyness and its effect on her character (or how I wish it had affected her character).
Buffy's Angel Issues - Where I go on a ramble about one aspect of Buffy's character.
Buffy's Angel Issues Part Deux - To clear up some misunderstandings people had with my first post. :)
A Tribute to Willow's Hats - Because she has some crazy hats.
Bullets flew. Tara died. The end. - In response to an essay by someone unhappy with how Tara's death was executed, I do a bit of meta about her death and the Dark Willow arc.
Loyalists and Jumpers...not very fond of those terms - About one particular split in fandom
Subversion - A poll to see fannish opinion on whether Buffy/Angel is subversive as a romantic ship.
Subversion: Buffy/Spike Edition - And pretty self-explanatory.
Missing the trees for the forest... - About canon enjoyment, fandom, taking a step back and remembering why we joined.
Nobody died when Xander lied...wait, scratch that... - All about Xander's Big Lie in Becoming.
All My Faith - A look at Faith's character, which finally clicked for me.
Buffy Came Back Wrong - A series of posts detailing Buffy's depression in S6.
Dudely Posturing: Riley-Spike - Yep. A meta post about the rather interesting dynamics between Riley and Spike in S4 and S5.
Awesome You Were - My tribute to the bestest episode of S6, As You Were.
B/A Revisited - I think back on the question of Bangel being subversive.
Not Chosen - One of my key issues with the S7 feminist metaphor.
A Call to Fannish Arms - Some people have clearly Wrong Thoughts about the show. This cannot be allowed.
There were never such devoted sisters... - I never caught on to the Buffy/Faith subtext. Instead, I see them as have a sister-type relationship. This post kinda sums up my view.
Fandom Eyewear - I often like to pontificate about how fandom works. I'm a sociology major. It's a thing.
Episode Polls - Early in 2010, I started doing weekly episode polls (Every Tuesday, of course). This tag has them all gathered for ya.
B/A as Subversive. Yeah, I said it. - After much pondering and rewatching, I've come around to the idea of B/A as being incredibly subversive. Wanna know what I mean? Read it!
Being Willow - I don't write about Willow a lot. Honestly? I think I relate to her a bit too much. However, I was inspired to do a Grand Old Meta all about how Willow ticks.
Subversive Bangel: S3-S7 Edition - A follow-up to my previous Subversive B/A post. I, apparently, neglected some important points.
15 Reasons Why Buffy's My Homegirl - Some Buffy-love. *huggles Buffy*
Angel's Case of Humanitis (That Wasn't) - This interested people. Angel was originally supposed to become human at the end of Prophecy Girl.
A defense of my girl, the Buffster - A bit of a rant countering some common Buffy-bashing I see in fandom.
Whose Show is it Anyway? - Originally, this started as an attempt to test the claim that "Spike took over the show". It involves comprehensive line and scene counts for the characters. Of course, it quickly expanded past it's original premise and became more generalized to look for different trends that emerged. The link takes you to the tag for it.
Extra-Fandom Roll Call - A post to combat the prevailing view that LJ is an insular entity and that anything posted on it won't reach a larger audience.
What Happens vs How It's Done - Some thoughts about the different ways fans view canon.
Where do your sympathies lie? - A poll and discussion on which characters fans sympathize, when they lose that sympathy, etc.
Angel & Buffy 4 Ever! - "Forever" is an important word in the B/A ship. I detail the canon occurrences and significant of it in this post.
Run, Buffy, Run! - All about Into the Woods and Buffy/Riley.
Douche Moves - I finally put into words my frustration with Into the Woods, how Xander and Riley (and fans) reframe the problems so as to gloss over the fact that Riley visited vamp whores to, instead, focus on Buffy's supposed inadequacies.
My Top Six Willow Moments - Just some Willow-love. :)
Buffy as Selfish/less - It's a criticism often launched at Buffy. I take it on and get meta.
Fool for Love: Cliff Notes Edition - A bit of funny picspam about FFL.
Angel on top? - Poll and discussion on whether Buffy is over Angel by the series' end.
The Unpopular Opinions Sanctuary Post 2010 and 2011 Edition - This post is massive (1,500+ comments) but fairly self-explanatory.
I often like to reevaluate my thoughts on the show... - About Riley's arc in S5.
Death is her gift...and it sucks - A big picture meta about the theme of S5 and how S6 and S7 were necessary to complete the arc.
A Culpable Poll - When characters are under supernatural influence, how culpable are they for their actions?
Final Days Outline - Okay, the timeline of the last six episodes of S7 always leaves me a bit confused, so I decided to trace things out. I figured some other people may enjoy it, too.
Expectations, Fears, and Perceptions: Buffy and Riley in S5 - So, you know how people always point out a few scenes as examples of Buffy pulling away from Riley in S5? I wanted to sit down and examine those scenes and show how Riley's perception (Buffy pulling away) didn't quite match what was actually going on. In doing so, I think I actually managed to key into some interesting parts of Riley's arc.
Fandom Pondering/Commentary:
Spike: The Big Softy! - A response to criticisms of Spike's character "going soft" later in the series.
Missing the trees for the forest... - About canon enjoyment, fandom, taking a step back and remembering why we joined.
A bit of a ramble on that damned Seeing Red scene... - Friends-locked due to subject matter. My reaction to some of the defenses of Spike in the Seeing Red. Might not make sense taken out of context of the larger discussion, but it explains why I do view what happened as an attempted rape.
Straight Faith - Hmmmm...I suppose this can go under the "queerness" heading. There's a common belief in fandom that Faith is bisexual. This irks me.
Fandom Eyewear - I often like to pontificate about how fandom works. I'm a sociology major. It's a thing.
A Call to Fannish Arms - Some people have clearly Wrong Thoughts about the show. This cannot be allowed.
Extra-Fandom Roll Call - A post to combat the prevailing view that LJ is an insular entity and that anything posted on it won't reach a larger audience.
Allow me a brief bout of hysteria - Whooo boy. Okay, there was some stuff going on in fandom, and it kinda provoked this rant of righteous rage. All about how shippers get dismissed by wider fandom, the inherent sexism, and how it annoys the fuck out of me.
It seems my womb is still missing - My rage couldn't be contained in one post.
Taboo - In response to claims that Spike/Spuffy fans are "taking over fandom".
The negative space *around* Marti Noxon - A post in response to the large amount of Marti-bashing in fandom.
Wherein I go to bat for my girl, Buffy, again... - About Man Pain and how fandom's reaction to it contrasts with its reaction to Buffy's angst. Plus, Spuffy.
Fandom Truth - About fannish perceptions.
The Rape Narrative - About the AR, fans' reactions to it, the tendency to excuse Spike, and how that plays into rape culture.
Too Strong - Addressing complaints about Buffy's characterization in the AR scene and how it connects to rape culture.
Eggs and Chickens - About how people form opinions on characters.
Polls:
Putting Feminist Characters to the Test
That Joss guy...
Facets of Spike - Poll Results
So...did William die a virgin?
Reversing the Genders...not the typical rape question
Yep, a poll on Spike's role in AtS S5
Tough Decisions Poll
Subversion
Subversion: Buffy/Spike Edition
Episode Polls - Will take you to the tag for the weekly episode polls.
BtVS Writers' Poll
I found another OTP (One True Poll)!
Happiness is...
Where do your sympathies lie?
Run, Buffy, Run!
Angel on top?
A Culpable Poll
Of Souls and Spuffy
The "Dude! Not Cool!" Poll
Buffy Rewatches:
Miscellaneous fangirl/thinky-thoughts/reaction posts under the following tags:
S1 is so cute
why does S2 rock/suck so much?
S3 has vamp!willow
my happy season is S4
S5 pwnz you
i love S6
S7 is my spuffy season
Transcripts:
Commentary Transcript: Wild at Heart - For those outside the US who didn't get it with their DVDs.
It Got Metafandomed:
Anybody else actually *prefer* to watch women over men? Anybody? - Just what it says on the title. Much fan-love for female characters in the comments.
Why I Bitch About Female Characters All the Time - Well, the subject matter should be self-evident based on the title. :)
Newsflash: Women Are Interesting - A bit of a primer on the Bechdel test and what it indicates for shows/movies that pass it.
My Fandom is All Genres - metafandom had a slash appropriation thing for a while. This post is in reaction to some of that.
On Lurkers - I'm a fan of lurkers. This post tells you why.
I found another OTP (One True Poll)!
Non-Buffy:
Written for National Mental Health Month...posted early - Personal post about my past struggle with depression. Triggery stuff for SI and suicide.
Reality: Believing the victim - Kinda summing up all my feminist thoughts on rape. Use it as a reference as needed.