04.02.03

Is Buffy a feminist?

Posted in Uncategorized at 5:03 pm by

Is Buffy a feminist?

There’s a thesis in this. Some argue, no; because while she is a superhero, she has to be presented in the guise of a skinny, attractive, blonde with nice clothes. Others argue, yes; because she is a skinny, attractive, blonde who instead of being helpless or accompanied by suits of armour and gimmicks, is still a superhero. I’m with the latter.

Furthermore, the way men are presented in the programme is very important. Xander has no special powers but his caring, feminine side helps him (e.g. persuading Willow to stop being evil). Giles, whilst assuming the role of the teacher, has on more than one occasion admitted that Buffy doesn’t really need him. He is a supporter rather than a teacher.

Furthermore, sex is presented in a negative way. Usually sex is presented in the media as being the saviour of women. e.g. “Well, they can be as successful as they want, but at the end of the day, all a woman really wants is the love of a good man.” See previous posting on Sex and the City.

However, Angel turned nasty as soon as he had sex with Buffy due to an ancient curse. Riley left her because he couldn’t stand the fact that she was stronger than him. This is presented as his weakness rather than her loss. And poor Spike. He confesses his love for Buffy but altho’ she does use him for sex, ultimately, he tries to rape her. Instead of presenting her as some victim, he is rather dispatched to undergo a tortuous penance in his attempt to redeem himself and acquire a soul. In other words, sex is presented as a complex act in which men’s motives are suspect. A far cry from Ally McBeal hanging around waiting to be rescued by love.

In addition, Buffy works in a typical womanly way…with the help of her supporters rather unlike the traditional male superhero who works alone (Batman, Superman etc).
Even the best evil characters are women.

New favourite programme. (Even if did take 6 series to get me involved).

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04.01.03

Naomi Wolf and Ali G

Posted in Uncategorized at 3:48 pm by

Naomi Wolf and Ali G

Naomi Wolf is taking herself far too seriously these days and in so doing displays a certain lack of intelligence and an absence of a sense of humour. Ali G got her good in a spoof interview for his new TV show in the US. Her reaction was to go to the lawyers and demand that the programme not be aired. She won. Details here.

Ali G is funny on many levels but the two fundamentals of this whole act are:

- Mocking young white suburban males who have crassly adopted urban black culture
- Ferociously exposing the hypocrisy and patronising attitude of the politically correct establishment.

The whole point is that when Ali comes out with these clearly offensive remarks, none of the interviewees, including Wolf gets angry with him. Instead they very politely and delicately try to correct him because they think he’s from the ghetto. If the same remarks were made by anyone vaguely middle class the interviewees would attack him immediately. The TV critics who slate the programme are even worse because they know what’s happening. The interviewee has no clue what is happening at the time.

Personally I can’t wait to see the new series.

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