'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Now a Subject of Academic Conferences; Patricia Pender's Contemporary Feminism
"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" who fights forces of darkness is now a subject in academic conferences. Patricia Pender who wrote the appraisal of the story is now being talked about.
Contemporary Feminism
"I'm Buffy and You're History: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Contemporary Feminism" is a book by Pender which reminds readers about feminism. Pender's book has a particular perception on a cultural landscape especially on the state of feminism when Buffy began in the 1990's. Buffy started to air in 1997 and in 1994 Spice Girls released their song "Wannabe" which is also particularly about girl power.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
During those times, women were encouraged to learn pole-dancing and wear stripper heals. A lot of girl power shows were also in television one of these was "Ally Mcbeal" which was about a high powered lawyer whose interest was to find a boyfriend. There was also "Sex and the City" which was about four strong women who were all interested in boyfriends and shoes.
Apart from these shows, there was Buffy, she was fighting the forces of darkness and that was her only interest. Buffy sometimes wishes she can be a normal girl who can have a boyfriend and wear high heels but her purpose is much bigger than these worldly things. By that time, Buffy was not just a feminist show; it was a show all about feminism.
Pender also argues about feminism to have elements of diversion. She also explores Slayer's postmodern politics, her third wave feminine icon position these days and how she places the masculinity in extremis. This book is a great contribution to the great cult TV show.
Before Buffy
Furthermore, before Buffy, there has been an enormous amount of television studies on the significance of a series to TV and culture.
"I'm Buffy and you're History" has been intended to be included in university courses and other academic purposes. The book is not intended to convert one to a Buffy fan. However it helps one understand how feminism is these days as to how Buffyis in the series. If the series has a powerful impact on someone then the book is actually a good read.
The book also depicts smart ways on how Buffy stepped lightly between genres. Buffy defied categorization even its title is different. The book has also a clever thought on how humorless feminism could be. The way Buffy works in the show to be the pretty girl fighting forces of darkness is subversive and counter cultural.
