You know, everything you say just serves to remind me what a damn shame it is that fandom isn't more interested in Dawn Summers. Because. The construction of her character is THE MOST FASCINATING? /sigh /sigh /sigh
More than that, now I'm frustrated the show itself didn't delve into it further - the fact that Dawn HAD NO AGENCY before discovering the truth about herself. I love how much Dawn grows as a person by the end of the show, I really do, but at the same time... SO SHAFTED.
I read an interesting article the other day that said that the best thing about Buffy is that it isn't about "finding" one identity but dealing with multiple identities (because people are complex, etc.). Obviously that's true for Buffy herself (girl v.s. Slayer). I'm still trying to figure out how Dawn's character works under that theme. Her struggle isn't about wanting to be ordinary, it's about wanting to be SOMEONE. You can't compare it to Buffy's journey because even under duress the Slayer is still a subject, whereas the Key is just a tool. /o\
Anyway, I'm not sure Joss is a mastermind either, but it is fascinating that these themes repeatedly pop up in his work. Sadly, I'm not convinced even he sees her as one of his significant creations.
You know, everything you say just serves to remind me what a damn shame it is that fandom isn't more interested in Dawn Summers. Because. The construction of her character is THE MOST FASCINATING? I MEAN RIGHT? WHAT IS THE WORLD ACTUALLY?!
The series and the writers really shafted Dawn. It's gross.
That article sounds interesting!
Her struggle isn't about wanting to be ordinary, it's about wanting to be SOMEONE. You can't compare it to Buffy's journey because even under duress the Slayer is still a subject, whereas the Key is just a tool. /o\ THIS!
I couldn't have possibly said it better myself. Ever.
The themes that run through Joss' work are so much fun and so interesting.
I read an interesting article the other day that said that the best thing about Buffy is that it isn't about "finding" one identity but dealing with multiple identities (because people are complex, etc.).
I'm still trying to figure out how Dawn's character works under that theme.
I'm going to cut and paste what I said upthread to Lynzie because I'm lazy. I don't know if this makes any sense: There's an irony in that even though she has to make herself "real" to claim "Dawn" as her identity, in many ways she's nearly the only character who isn't playing with personas. That is, being created out of whole cloth is such a huge project that William turning himself into Spike, Angel/Angelus, Andrew's romanticized fantasies, even Buffy's Slayer/Girl conundrum seem like small potatoes in comparison. Dawn doesn't have time for those false masks in the quest for identity.
I don't know if that adds anything? Kelsey is a thousand times more brilliant, so...
You know, everything you say just serves to remind me what a damn shame it is that fandom isn't more interested in Dawn Summers. Because. The construction of her character is THE MOST FASCINATING? /sigh /sigh /sigh
More than that, now I'm frustrated the show itself didn't delve into it further - the fact that Dawn HAD NO AGENCY before discovering the truth about herself. I love how much Dawn grows as a person by the end of the show, I really do, but at the same time... SO SHAFTED.
I read an interesting article the other day that said that the best thing about Buffy is that it isn't about "finding" one identity but dealing with multiple identities (because people are complex, etc.). Obviously that's true for Buffy herself (girl v.s. Slayer). I'm still trying to figure out how Dawn's character works under that theme. Her struggle isn't about wanting to be ordinary, it's about wanting to be SOMEONE. You can't compare it to Buffy's journey because even under duress the Slayer is still a subject, whereas the Key is just a tool. /o\
Anyway, I'm not sure Joss is a mastermind either, but it is fascinating that these themes repeatedly pop up in his work. Sadly, I'm not convinced even he sees her as one of his significant creations.
YOU, I LIKE.
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I MEAN RIGHT? WHAT IS THE WORLD ACTUALLY?!
The series and the writers really shafted Dawn. It's gross.
That article sounds interesting!
Her struggle isn't about wanting to be ordinary, it's about wanting to be SOMEONE. You can't compare it to Buffy's journey because even under duress the Slayer is still a subject, whereas the Key is just a tool. /o\
THIS!
I couldn't have possibly said it better myself. Ever.
The themes that run through Joss' work are so much fun and so interesting.
too bad he's a douche
YOU, I LOVE.
Reply
Jumping in here - I think you're talking about "A New Version of You" by Kim O'Connor? One of the GREATEST THINGS EVER: http://the-toast.net/2013/08/14/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-a-new-version-of-you/
I'm still trying to figure out how Dawn's character works under that theme.
I'm going to cut and paste what I said upthread to Lynzie because I'm lazy. I don't know if this makes any sense: There's an irony in that even though she has to make herself "real" to claim "Dawn" as her identity, in many ways she's nearly the only character who isn't playing with personas. That is, being created out of whole cloth is such a huge project that William turning himself into Spike, Angel/Angelus, Andrew's romanticized fantasies, even Buffy's Slayer/Girl conundrum seem like small potatoes in comparison. Dawn doesn't have time for those false masks in the quest for identity.
I don't know if that adds anything? Kelsey is a thousand times more brilliant, so...
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And I agree with you completely. It makes me wonder if BtVS was too small a show for Dawn, weirdly.
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