1. Buffy is often described as cult TV - what characteristics do you think define a film or television programme as 'cult'? What relationship do these characteristics have with Thompson's (as cited in Wilcox and Lavery, 2002) description of 'quality television'?
2. Buffy questions the traditional filmic dichotomy between good and evil. How was this seen in the week 9 screenings of Buffy?
3. Buffy often makes reference to other genres or pre-texts. Do you think it is necessary to be familiar with these genres or pre-texts to understand or enjoy watching Buffy?
4. Although it is a fantasy, Buffy is often described as being more realistic than most 'serious' television. Did this come across in the week 9 screenings?
Q5. Yes, I did. Because it talks about good and bad (evil). My upbringing always reminds me Be Good, Be Good. What is good? Why I need to be good? Who do I need to be good to, to myself or to others? How to be good? Very confused!
"There is nothing either good or bad, thinking makes it so." - Shakespeare
Hello, all. I was waiting for the question of Buffy during the weekend but it didn't appear, so I thought that I could take more rest time. Oh, it was just dream!! However, I've learned a lot through Buffy. Thanks Buffy.
Then, what makes film or TV program as a cult, Wikipedia helps me to understand: cult film and TV has normally a strong loyal audience or has a certain groups of fans who devoted to creating a new trend such as costume creation, replica prop and model building based on the characters and the most obvious cult TV programs are Star Treck, Doctor Who, The X-files as well as Buffy the vampire Slayer. And, I think No3 of Thompson’s touchstones is quite related to, It says "Quality TV tends to have a large ensemble cast." Sarah Michelle Gellar: the core of Buffy’s excellent cast, Alyson Hannigan (Buffy’s best bud) Willow Rosenberg( computer genius), Nicholas Brendon , Anthony Stewart, etc. Casting is the most important thing than anything else to be the cult.
Q4. I also feel that Buffy is more realistic than most serious television when I watched it in class. This is because, setting is a real town of Sunnydale Highschool in LA City and it mainly deals with high teen’s school life stories which can be easily seen around us such as “high school as hell” concept. Besides, we often see Buffy’s friend ship with a circle of loyal friends among teens lives and the family relationship as well. Also I think, half machine human is likely to exist, because nowadays we live in a world dominated by new technology.
Hi, AW. I can understand what your thought of Good and Evil are. I know defining Good and Evil are not a easy task even though we were always taught to be good and not to be evil from childhood. However, I’ve been thinking of this matter since I’ve read yours and now I’d like to say you know very well what good and evil are, as long as you listen carefully to the voice of your conscience which is from God as a gift. Yet, Good and evil may co-exist within one conscience. Anyhow, so far, I hardly judge what is good or evil but if Buffy has been chosen as a slayer to fight against vampire, demons and darkness, she would be good and opposite side would be evil. Too simple? sorry.
Q5 Although, Buffy the Vampire Slayer always had very positive reviews, and ‘it was ranked #41 on the list of TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time’ (Wikipedia), to be honest, personally, I don’t like watching films related to vampire. The reason is that I’m so scared of that kind of story, and actual problem is, my stomach had often upset when I see horror scenes even I always closed my eyes. Despite this, I watched it and I seem to learn something that why it’s a cult hit in America that aired around 7 years lasting seven seasons. I think fighting evil and good could be one of the human natures which are originated form the beginning of the world: Serpent said “For god knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”(Genesis 3) In fact, most people concern about good and evil. So, audience could be captured when it’s touched by this series. Or, Buffy is an attractive young girl who may be chosen by audiences to fight evil that could be our fundamental desire.
2. Buffy questions the traditional filmic dichotomy between good and evil. How was this seen in the week 9 screenings of Buffy?
About this question, I have some words would like to say. In Buffy, it questions the traditional filmic dichotomy between good and evil. I like the changes. Usually, the characters can be simplified a good or evil. I think TV is the best way to reflect reality life. Truly, our life is mush complex than films. And it’s difficult to define a people as a good or a evil.
3. Buffy often makes reference to other genres or pre-texts. Do you think it is necessary to be familiar with these genres or pre-texts to understand or enjoy watching Buffy? I think, being familiar with genres or pre-texts could be a help for us to understand Buffy. But there are lots of references throughout the series. Only Buffy will take me a few of weeks to finish. It’s not an easy job to familiar with “all” these genres or pre-texts.
4. Although it is a fantasy, Buffy is often described as being more realistic than most 'serious' television. Did this come across in the week 9 screenings? Oh, yes, I think Buffy is more realistic than most “serious” television. It’s similar with another series, named “heroes” which is very popular recently. It’s about some people have superpower and their lives, after they knows how differences they are. Parts story happened in high school, and something about a beautiful cheerleader. By the way, I like “heroes” very much. And I will post fan-fiction about “heroes” later.
5. Did you like watching Buffy? In fact, i can’t say I like it. But it’s OK. Buffy have so many session, I’m not a patient person, and the series is too long for me.
I agree with Shelley that it will help us to understand Buffy easier if we're familiar with those genres or pre-texts. But it doesn't necessarily make Buffy less enjoyable.
For example, in the episode 'surprise', if I hadn't read an article about Buffy's wooden stake by Braun, I wouldn't have known that by penetrating Angel's body it's "a reversal of their initial sexual encounter and as a reversal of gender roles". (Braun 2000, p.69) I wouldn't go that far.
However, even not knowing about that, I still could have enjoyed watching that episode and probably understood the truth about the complexity in a relationship that lies underneath without any articles to guide me.
4) For me, I agree that Buffy is more realistic than most 'serious television' even though it is about vampire Slayer, vampires, demons, and other fantasy elements.
Like Grace said, its setting is a high school and there are more issues than fighting vampires alone, like friendship, romance, family, etc. At the beginning you might think it's only about killing demons, good fighting evil. But if you give it another look, you will see that Buffy represents a normal teenage girl with good and bad personalities in her. She is not perfect, just like any of us, and those demons are metaphoric forms of problems and obstacles we've to go through in our lives.
To answer the first question, according to Wikipedia (2007), Cult TV should be described as is special kind Television programme which could entice a group of loyal devotees keep watching, discussing and remembering this programme. (Wikipedia, 2007).
Wilcox and Lavery (2000) states that “Quality TV has a memory (Wilcom &Lavery, 2000). Basically, I would like to say: after I finish reading the information from Wikipedia website, I know that the purpose of the Cult TV aims to make a group of audiences would like to create their strong reaction, memorize the storyline, for example, people discuss Buffy at home or outside, post some thoughts of themselves to their blog, or chatting with some other fans with this on line. These all make people to remember the characters, interesting storyline, costume…..and so on.
Also, according to Wilcox and Lavery (2000), Quality TV creates a new genre by mixing old ones (Wilcom &Lavery, 2000). The genre of Buffy influenced by some old art forms, including horror films, teen dramas and Scoody Do. For example, in Buffy, it also reflects that the teenage characters’ natural lives, such as friendship, jealousy, self-esteem, sex and responsibility. These characteristics also appear in the teen dramas.
Moreover, Wikipedia (2000) states that, as a genre, Cult TV cover all series that plays with widely held beliefs and perceptions. This covers most shows in genres which include science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction and some forms of sitcom (Wikipedia, 2007). So both the wikipedia (2007) and Wilcom &Lavery (2000) states that as a new genre, characteristic of Cult TV is to mix many old art forms together.
To answer the fifth question, do I like to watch Buffy? I am not going to say yes or no! Actually Buffy is a new story to me. Before I do the pop genre paper, I didn’t have a chance to Buffy. So it is quite new to me. And I borrowed the DVD from my classmates in pop genre class.
Actually this story is quite enticing me, because Buffy is a girl. It is quite different. In many stories, the hero usually is a boy or man. Furthermore, in Buffy’s age, the girl in the high school, usually try to date with their favourite boys, buy flowers, or dome some romantic things.
In fact, “Buffy” also reflects a true life in the American high school. As Wilcom &Lavery (2000) states that Quality TV aspires towards realism” (Wilcom &Lavery, 2000). This factor will attract more college start to watch “Buffy”. Also, “Buffy” will encourage young people how to assume responsibility and how to face and solve the difficulties.
14 comments:
Questions for discussion
1. Buffy is often described as cult TV - what characteristics do you think define a film or television programme as 'cult'?
What relationship do these characteristics have with Thompson's (as cited in Wilcox and Lavery, 2002) description of 'quality television'?
2. Buffy questions the traditional filmic dichotomy between good and evil. How was this seen in the week 9 screenings of Buffy?
3. Buffy often makes reference to other genres or pre-texts. Do you think it is necessary to be familiar with these genres or pre-texts to understand or enjoy watching Buffy?
4. Although it is a fantasy, Buffy is often described as being more realistic than most 'serious' television. Did this come across in the week 9 screenings?
5. Did you like watching Buffy?
Q5. Yes, I did. Because it talks about good and bad (evil). My upbringing always reminds me Be Good, Be Good. What is good? Why I need to be good? Who do I need to be good to, to myself or to others? How to be good? Very confused!
"There is nothing either good or bad, thinking makes it so." - Shakespeare
Hello, all.
I was waiting for the question of Buffy during the weekend but it didn't appear, so I thought that I could take more rest time. Oh, it was just dream!!
However, I've learned a lot through Buffy. Thanks Buffy.
Then, what makes film or TV program as a cult, Wikipedia helps me to understand: cult film and TV has normally a strong loyal audience or has a certain groups of fans who devoted to creating a new trend such as costume creation, replica prop and model building based on the characters and the most obvious cult TV programs are Star Treck, Doctor Who, The X-files as well as Buffy the vampire Slayer.
And, I think No3 of Thompson’s touchstones is quite related to,
It says "Quality TV tends to have a large ensemble cast."
Sarah Michelle Gellar: the core of Buffy’s excellent cast, Alyson Hannigan (Buffy’s best bud)
Willow Rosenberg( computer genius), Nicholas Brendon , Anthony Stewart, etc.
Casting is the most important thing than anything else to be the cult.
Q4. I also feel that Buffy is more realistic than most serious television when I watched it in class. This is because, setting is a real town of Sunnydale Highschool in LA City and it mainly deals with high teen’s school life stories which can be easily seen around us such as “high school as hell” concept. Besides, we often see Buffy’s friend ship with a circle of loyal friends among teens lives and the family relationship as well. Also I think, half machine human is likely to exist, because nowadays we live in a world dominated by new technology.
Hi, AW.
I can understand what your thought of Good and Evil are.
I know defining Good and Evil are not a easy task even though we were always taught to be good and not to be evil from childhood.
However, I’ve been thinking of this matter since I’ve read yours and now I’d like to say you know very well what good and evil are, as long as you listen carefully to the voice of your conscience which is from God as a gift. Yet, Good and evil may co-exist within one conscience.
Anyhow, so far, I hardly judge what is good or evil but if Buffy has been chosen as a slayer to fight against vampire, demons and darkness, she would be good and opposite side would be evil. Too simple? sorry.
Q5
Although, Buffy the Vampire Slayer always had very positive reviews, and ‘it was ranked #41 on the list of TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time’ (Wikipedia), to be honest, personally, I don’t like watching films related to vampire. The reason is that I’m so scared of that kind of story, and actual problem is, my stomach had often upset when I see horror scenes even I always closed my eyes.
Despite this, I watched it and I seem to learn something that why it’s a cult hit in America that aired around 7 years lasting seven seasons.
I think fighting evil and good could be one of the human natures which are originated form the beginning of the world: Serpent said “For god knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”(Genesis 3) In fact, most people concern about good and evil. So, audience could be captured when it’s touched by this series. Or, Buffy is an attractive young girl who may be chosen by audiences to fight evil that could be our fundamental desire.
2. Buffy questions the traditional filmic dichotomy between good and evil. How was this seen in the week 9 screenings of Buffy?
About this question, I have some words would like to say. In Buffy, it questions the traditional filmic dichotomy between good and evil. I like the changes. Usually, the characters can be simplified a good or evil. I think TV is the best way to reflect reality life. Truly, our life is mush complex than films. And it’s difficult to define a people as a good or a evil.
3. Buffy often makes reference to other genres or pre-texts. Do you think it is necessary to be familiar with these genres or pre-texts to understand or enjoy watching Buffy?
I think, being familiar with genres or pre-texts could be a help for us to understand Buffy. But there are lots of references throughout the series. Only Buffy will take me a few of weeks to finish. It’s not an easy job to familiar with “all” these genres or pre-texts.
4. Although it is a fantasy, Buffy is often described as being more realistic than most 'serious' television. Did this come across in the week 9 screenings?
Oh, yes, I think Buffy is more realistic than most “serious” television. It’s similar with another series, named “heroes” which is very popular recently. It’s about some people have superpower and their lives, after they knows how differences they are. Parts story happened in high school, and something about a beautiful cheerleader. By the way, I like “heroes” very much. And I will post fan-fiction about “heroes” later.
5. Did you like watching Buffy?
In fact, i can’t say I like it. But it’s OK. Buffy have so many session, I’m not a patient person, and the series is too long for me.
I agree with Shelley that it will help us to understand Buffy easier if we're familiar with those genres or pre-texts. But it doesn't necessarily make Buffy less enjoyable.
For example, in the episode 'surprise', if I hadn't read an article about Buffy's wooden stake by Braun, I wouldn't have known that by penetrating Angel's body it's "a reversal of their initial sexual encounter and as a reversal of gender roles". (Braun 2000, p.69) I wouldn't go that far.
However, even not knowing about that, I still could have enjoyed watching that episode and probably understood the truth about the complexity in a relationship that lies underneath without any articles to guide me.
4) For me, I agree that Buffy is more realistic than most 'serious television' even though it is about vampire Slayer, vampires, demons, and other fantasy elements.
Like Grace said, its setting is a high school and there are more issues than fighting vampires alone, like friendship, romance, family, etc. At the beginning you might think it's only about killing demons, good fighting evil. But if you give it another look, you will see that Buffy represents a normal teenage girl with good and bad personalities in her. She is not perfect, just like any of us, and those demons are metaphoric forms of problems and obstacles we've to go through in our lives.
To answer the first question, according to Wikipedia (2007), Cult TV should be described as is special kind Television programme which could entice a group of loyal devotees keep watching, discussing and remembering this programme. (Wikipedia, 2007).
Wilcox and Lavery (2000) states that “Quality TV has a memory (Wilcom &Lavery, 2000). Basically, I would like to say: after I finish reading the information from Wikipedia website, I know that the purpose of the Cult TV aims to make a group of audiences would like to create their strong reaction, memorize the storyline, for example, people discuss Buffy at home or outside, post some thoughts of themselves to their blog, or chatting with some other fans with this on line. These all make people to remember the characters, interesting storyline, costume…..and so on.
Also, according to Wilcox and Lavery (2000), Quality TV creates a new genre by mixing old ones (Wilcom &Lavery, 2000). The genre of Buffy influenced by some old art forms, including horror films, teen dramas and Scoody Do. For example, in Buffy, it also reflects that the teenage characters’ natural lives, such as friendship, jealousy, self-esteem, sex and responsibility. These characteristics also appear in the teen dramas.
Moreover, Wikipedia (2000) states that, as a genre, Cult TV cover all series that plays with widely held beliefs and perceptions. This covers most shows in genres which include science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction and some forms of sitcom (Wikipedia, 2007). So both the wikipedia (2007) and Wilcom &Lavery (2000) states that as a new genre, characteristic of Cult TV is to mix many old art forms together.
To answer the fifth question, do I like to watch Buffy? I am not going to say yes or no! Actually Buffy is a new story to me. Before I do the pop genre paper, I didn’t have a chance to Buffy. So it is quite new to me. And I borrowed the DVD from my classmates in pop genre class.
Actually this story is quite enticing me, because Buffy is a girl. It is quite different. In many stories, the hero usually is a boy or man. Furthermore, in Buffy’s age, the girl in the high school, usually try to date with their favourite boys, buy flowers, or dome some romantic things.
In fact, “Buffy” also reflects a true life in the American high school. As Wilcom &Lavery (2000) states that Quality TV aspires towards realism” (Wilcom &Lavery, 2000). This factor will attract more college start to watch “Buffy”. Also, “Buffy” will encourage young people how to assume responsibility and how to face and solve the difficulties.
Post a Comment