Comments on: Buffy the PhD Slayer? http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-phd-slayer/43411/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:28:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Drusilla http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-phd-slayer/43411/comment-page-1/#comment-446344 Drusilla Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:50:52 +0000 http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-phd-slayer/43411/#comment-446344 As a die-hard fan of the show (my handle is actually a tribute to Spike's Drusilla), I'd be interested in knowing what the academic take on it was, but I'm always a little wary of actually <i>studying</i> pop-culture phenomena I love- over-thinking things can ruin my joy in them, though I'm always up for a good discussion . (I think http://atpobtvs.com/ is awesome) That said, <i>Buffy</i> had awesome music - it actually used songs that suited the mood of scenes, even if nine times out of ten I hadn't actually heard of the band (though it never promoted itself as an indie music haven, unlike say, The OC). And five years after the show ended, I'm still a fan of some of the bands I first heard as the background for Buffy episodes, from Cibo Matto to Rasputina to My Vitriol. As a die-hard fan of the show (my handle is actually a tribute to Spike’s Drusilla), I’d be interested in knowing what the academic take on it was, but I’m always a little wary of actually studying pop-culture phenomena I love- over-thinking things can ruin my joy in them, though I’m always up for a good discussion . (I think http://atpobtvs.com/ is awesome)

That said, Buffy had awesome music – it actually used songs that suited the mood of scenes, even if nine times out of ten I hadn’t actually heard of the band (though it never promoted itself as an indie music haven, unlike say, The OC). And five years after the show ended, I’m still a fan of some of the bands I first heard as the background for Buffy episodes, from Cibo Matto to Rasputina to My Vitriol.

]]> By: Katherine Dacey http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-phd-slayer/43411/comment-page-1/#comment-333315 Katherine Dacey Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:39:35 +0000 http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-phd-slayer/43411/#comment-333315 Jim: As someone who's in the process of pursuing a PhD, I also have reservations about Buffy scholarship. I'm skeptical that dragging Schopenhauer and queer theory into the mix sheds much light on why this series continues to find such a devoted audience. But I must disagree with your assertion that academics are "ill equipped to handle all the concepts involved" in Whedon's work. Anyone who's taken a good high school English course or a college opera seminar could analyze Whedon's work--from both a thematic and a technical standpoint, there's nothing about Buffy that would put it beyond the reach of say, an Austen scholar, a cultural anthropologist, or a Wagner enthusiast. Aya: This announcement appeared on the AMS member list-serve (www.ams-net.org). To subscribe, you'll need to join AMS--something you ought to do anyway if you're planning to get an MA or PhD in musicology. Jim: As someone who’s in the process of pursuing a PhD, I also have reservations about Buffy scholarship. I’m skeptical that dragging Schopenhauer and queer theory into the mix sheds much light on why this series continues to find such a devoted audience. But I must disagree with your assertion that academics are “ill equipped to handle all the concepts involved” in Whedon’s work. Anyone who’s taken a good high school English course or a college opera seminar could analyze Whedon’s work–from both a thematic and a technical standpoint, there’s nothing about Buffy that would put it beyond the reach of say, an Austen scholar, a cultural anthropologist, or a Wagner enthusiast.

Aya: This announcement appeared on the AMS member list-serve (www.ams-net.org). To subscribe, you’ll need to join AMS–something you ought to do anyway if you’re planning to get an MA or PhD in musicology.

]]> By: Jim Austin http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-phd-slayer/43411/comment-page-1/#comment-332765 Jim Austin Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:36:31 +0000 http://www.popcultureshock.com/buffy-the-phd-slayer/43411/#comment-332765 I think academia should stay away from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other Whedon productions. From my contacts with college professors, I can say that they are ill equipped to handle all the concepts involved. I think academia should stay away from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other Whedon productions. From my contacts with college professors, I can say that they are ill equipped to handle all the concepts involved.

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