Meta about meta

[gabrielleabelle]

Because I'm aware that a new Buffy comic came out today and that it's contentious and I don't want to get mired down in the whatever, consider this a blanket ban on comic mentions in the comments to this post. I don't know how it could be related, but I'm playing it safe. Don't mention the comics.

elisi had a post about Mark Watches Buffy and, you know

Comments

[angearia]

Hmm, interesting. I think that while you might not be as prominently writing meta explicitly about feminism (except, feminism filter? it counts!), your approach to your meta is grounded in a feminist perspective because... you're a feminist. It's more foundational and I feel it's honestly nearly ever-present in your approach to dissecting the show, even if it's not the central focus. There's aspects that are always there.

[gabrielleabelle]

The feminist filter def counts! I'd say that's the biggest one, to be honest. That still feels relatively new, though (since we're only mid-S2ish, though geez, I should finish up the final draft on the BBB outline and post it sometime, shouldn't I?).

And I can see that. Obviously, it's something that comes with me when I'm writing about the show, and it is one of the primary lenses I use for evaluating it. I also think I write a decent amount of impromptu meta-ish stuff involving feminism and Buffy.

[angearia]

You're just well-balanced, is all!

See, I tend to fixate on 1) Buffy's character 2) Spuffy and 3) comics.

I had the urge to write a Riley meta, but then I sat very still and it went away.

[gabrielleabelle]

lol!

I've actually developed an interest in Riley lately.

But my fixation has always been Willow's hats.

HER HATS!!!!!

[goldenusagi]

I should rewatch Utena... I started rewatching some anime stuff this winter. Though right now, I only have time for good dubs, not reading subs. I have no idea what sort of dub Utena has. Do you happen to know?

[gabrielleabelle]

Eek, the Utena dubs are pretty bad. I'm not an automatic dub-hater (I actually prefer the dub on several series), but Utena...yeah, it's foul.

[goldenusagi]

Good to know, lol. I was really into anime at a time when a lot of series had horrible dubs, either in edits or voice acting or both, so I know to be skeptical of series that have older dubs. But I'm not an automatic dub hater. If a series has a good dub, I'm unlikely to see the original. (Do you remember the promos for Gundam Wing UNCUT? It was a Big Freaking Deal.) Though on the other hand, if I happen to see the Japanese version first, it's unlikely I'll ever watch the dub. There there were things like Inuyasha, which I liked the dub fine on, but then the episodes Cartoon Network ran out, and I realized there were dozens of more episodes in Japanese and it was still on air in Japan, and after that, I never watched the dub again, lol.

[gabrielleabelle]

Heh. Yeah, we sound about the same. I started out with some dubs initially cause one of the guys I watched anime with was vision impaired and couldn't read subs. So there are several series that I'm just used to the dub and prefer it. If I watch the sub first, though, yeah, I don't do the dub.

Utena I actually watched most of it via fansubs, as there wasn't an official release beyond the first 13 eps. That probably biases me against the dub a bit, but I still think the dub is just horrible outside of it.

[alexeia_drae]

"You really don't know what's happened, do you? By all means, stay in this cozy little coffin and continue to play the prince. But I have to go now."

"Anthy? ANTHY!"

"Goodbye."

AGH!!!!!!!! Love Utena! I just get so unbelievably happy when I think of that scene!

[gabrielleabelle]

I'M JUST ABOUT TO START THE AKIO ARC!!!

Ugh, but I get reluctant to do it cause I hate Akio's seduction of Utena. Ugh! Ugh! UGH! And then THAT EPISODE!!! *shudders* UTENA HE'S A CREEPY PEDOPHILE DON'T DO THAT!!!

The Black Rose Arc is AMAZING, though! I picked up some stuff I hadn't noticed before with the parallels between Mikage and Utena and their warped memory of their own past. Mikage misremembering so that Mamiya was at the center of everything whereas Tokiko was far more important to his character. Ditto with Utena pinning everything on Dios/Akio, completely forgetting about meeting Anthy, who sparked her whole "be a prince" wish.

Do you have the remastered release yet? Do you? DO YOU??? HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS???

[alexeia_drae]

Yeah, the Akio arc is hard to watch. But then you get to the AWESOME Apocalypse Arc! AND EPISODE 34!!!!!!!

OMG! I am so going to have to look for those parallels! Ugh, I need more time to watch stuff.

Haven't gotten them yet. I'm going to order them next week as my treat for working out with the kettlebell regularly for a month. Next Friday they will be ordered!

[gabrielleabelle]

Akio's a creepy fucking creeper who spends two whole arcs grooming Utena before banging her. I fucking hate that guy. Ugh.

Best. Villain. Ever.

But yeah, the Akio arc is still quite good. The duels get stepped up a level. The Anthy/Akio struggle over Utena starts up in earnest (which would be hilarious if it weren't so horrifying). Touga's a general douche. Nanami is my woobie. Oh! And the Anthy/Utena hand-holding and heartfelt talks. Love those.

Next Friday they will be ordered!

Darn well better be!

[blueteainfusion]

Oh, Utena, how I love thee. I think it was the first show ever that I started to really analyze in my head. It was so gloriously symbolic and twisted that it was actually hard for me to watch it for the plot - but the themes! The wonderfully messed-up characters! I was very young when I first saw it and let me tell you, I was not prepared for the sheer mind-fuck. I had dreams in which I came up with some weird interpretations and for a long time I was utterly fascinated. And then I started reading lots of meta about it. During that time I was strictly in anime/manga fandom, and I never seriously watched any live-action shows. That's why it was such a surprise for me to come across BtVS and discover that yes, there are good, thought-out teenage shows in American TV and shockingly, Buffy was one them, if not the best. I never would have thought. And here I am now, reading almost every meta there is on shows that I came across. Huh.

There is never too much of Utena! I would love to read your thoughts about it, there are so many possible

[gabrielleabelle]

UTENA LOVE!

Utena's one of those strange series where I don't think you can divorce the plot from the themes. Like, there is no independent plot. It's all metaphor. I think it's impossible to "read too much into" that show.

That's why it was such a surprise for me to come across BtVS and discover that yes, there are good, thought-out teenage shows in American TV and shockingly, Buffy was one them, if not the best. I never would have thought.

Same here! :)

There is never too much of Utena! I would love to read your thoughts about it, there are so many possible readings of the series and I rarely see anything new on the subject these days.

Ah, I wouldn't know where to start with Utena. And a lot of my thoughts are based on essays I've read that seem to have disappeared off the net. Though my sis and I are kinda rambling on about it in comments above, it seems.

*bounces* *raises hand*

[menomegirl]

I can't wait til Mark gets to those episodes. I fucking love his reviews!! Love. Them. His reactions remind me so much of how me and my daughter reacted as we watched them. They make me smile and remember why I loved BtVS.

And hey! Don't you have any Xena meta? *feels deprived*

Re: *bounces* *raises hand*

[gabrielleabelle]

Alas, I have no Xena meta. For some reason it's just not a show that compels me to get all meta on it. I just fangirl the show. :)

Re: *bounces* *raises hand*

[menomegirl]

Hmm. That is exactly how I feel about Leverage. It's funny how that happens.

Re: *bounces* *raises hand*

[deird1]

Heh. Same. :)