At the beginning of spring quarter of my sophomore year, a professor approached me about writing a paper to present at an academic conference. The topic? Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the television program, not the movie). Being an obsessed fan from the pilot episode to the end of season seven, I eagerly accepted. . . And then spent weeks agonizing over exactly what to focus on and how to get everything I needed out of the subject.
While many prefer to look at Buffy as nothing more than supernatural soap opera, those of us who analyze and pay attention know better. Focusing on the character of Spike, I went on to discuss his changing style of masculinity within the confines of the show, his personal hero's journey, and how he grows as a person throughout the seasonal story arches. Spike, formally William the Bloody, formally William-the-bloody-awful-poet, styles himself in the way that he thinks men ought to behave through his interactions with the world and those around him.
Presenting the paper in Greensboro, NC, on a rainy late spring day in June frightened me, but also gave me the confidence to know that I can do that again. Besides, presenting a paper at a conference reserved for mostly masters students and those with PhDs looks quite impressive on a resume.
1 comment:
Oh, how my heart melts at the word "Buffy." I just finished S7 about a month ago. I promptly moved on to "Firely" and "Angel." I've finished "Firefly" and am on "Angel" S3. I heart Joss Whedon more than words can express.
And Spike, woo-hoo, he could bite me any day.
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