Weeks 10 and 11 – Buffy.
1) Q. Wilcox and Lavery
(2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of 'quality TV' - can you apply any
of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there
any other characteristics that you could add to their list?
2) What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans
play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
3) Hills (2004)
lists a number of defining characteristics of cult TV that contain similarities
to the defining characteristics of pop genres (e.g. fantasy, science fiction)
discussed earlier in the Pop Genres paper. Can you identify these and discuss
why you think that these characteristics are repeatedly viewed as underpinning
popular genres?
5) In what way is Buffy influenced by the romantic gothic tradition? Yet how does Buffy also provide a contemporary critique of this tradition?
ReplyDeleteRomantic gothic is based on the admiration for a male romantic hero who struggles with the opposing forces within his psyche. The conflicting pulls of social/ antisocial impulses, intellect, and perhaps most manifest these opposing forces.” The view upon the traditional gothic hero is “as a lonely, sensitive, often misunderstood crusader against injustices of the fates and the cruelty of man.
The themes of romantic gothic tradition is a fear of science and technology and the effects of humanity cab be seen as a rejection of the values of order, harmony, balance and rational in the late 18th century. According to Rose (2002) buffy employs romantic ideology in contemporary contexts and terms and suggests alternatives within a framework. Rose (2002) also states that the character of Adam in Buffy replicates the notion of Frankenstein, with one of his first victims being a young boy.
References:
Rose, A. (2002) Of creatures and creators: Buffy does Frankenstein, in R. Wilcox & D.Lavery (eds) Fighting the Forces: what’s at stake in Buffy the Vampire slayer. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.
Question One: Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of 'quality TV' - can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?
ReplyDelete1) Quality TV = Quality pedigree: This generally involves educated and honoured creators or writers who have academically achieved and have been acknowledged within high regarded schools. Or they have experience working on quality projects previously.
2) Publicity and broadcasting problems. Good quality television series often struggle to get viewers and often have to fight to keep broadcasting there shows on networks. They may negotiate through other networks or seek funding to help them stay on air. Buffy was one of the unfortunate shows which struggled in viewer numbers and was taken off air by ‘The WB Television Network’.
3) Generally have large ensemble casts. Quality shows tend to have large ensemble casts that generally keep recurring and are seen on screen quite often. The cast of Buffy involves a large cast with more than 20+ characters that are recurring.
4) Have memory. Quality TV has a memory which often involves having a recurring narrative that will repeatedly look back and remember anything or moments that have happened to an important character. This feature was quite often used in Buffy to recap and highlight some of the climaxes or important moments.
5) Creating new genres by mixing old ones. This involves engaging with rather old popular genres and celebrates what they were by incorporating them into the Buffy series. In terms of recognised genres like supernatural fantasies and gothic romances.
6) Literary or writer based. Soaps and shows similar to Buffy, usually have an impact on the telling of a story, for instance, Whedon likened working on Buffy to like working on a novel Wilcox and Lavery(2002).
7) Quality TV is ‘Self Conscious’. The shows often make references to other shows. In Buffy a reference to another text that was used was that Buffy's close friends are referred to as "The Scooby's"
8) The subject matter tends toward the controversial. The lack of popularity allows shows like this to adapt on social issues and touch on controversial topics that wouldn’t be acceptable on more watched television series means they can deal with issues or have scenes which would be unacceptable in more watched television.
9) Quality TV aspires towards realism. Buffy is mostly made of scenarios and misfortunate events that are unbelievable, however, with the relationships that were sustained and build over the duration of the series, it leads to believe in some realism and world issues.
I am not a huge TV watcher, especially nowadays, I tend to watch short clips on social media which take up more time than a regular show. However shows that I have watched. Shows that I do generally engage with are ones that I can relate to, or reality TV so I wouldn’t have much knowledge of these sorts of shows or similar shows to fit the criteria.
I think that some of the reasons these shows are less popular are there maybe less creators / writers who are willing to take the risk of making a low rating show or networks are not willing to invest in projects they believe will not be successful.
I had never seen Buffy until it was screened in class however I do feel like cult TV shows such as Buffy will remain on TV. It has a point of difference that remains separate from the average drama and reality shows.
Wilcox, R. & Lavery, D. (2002). Introduction, in R. Wilcox & D. Lavery (eds) Fighting the forces: what’s at stake in Buffy the vampire slayer. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield