Dear Brain

[offbalance]

Please stop pounding on my head, in an attempt to get out. It won't work, and it is only causing me to be cranky.

Also, as a result of said crankiness, I will not be commenting on how angry this made me. For everyone out there screaming about how no creative work is good anymore, here's your answer. No one is allowed to create freely, or say what they want to say, because there's no way to worry about plot or character development when you spend all of your time worrying about whose agenda you're pushing and why.

Note to Mr. Black: Those who can, do. Those who can't write literary criticism.

Comments

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

I think i've managed to read nearly all the articles that have been published online about this (at least all the ones slayage.com has linked to). It's a bit weird because the evil lesbian cliché that gets talked about is totally foreign to me, but i understand the complaint that Joss has always talked about Buffy as being social commentary and all, and has admitted awareness of the evil lesbian cliché, and yet he falls into it anyway. And the fact that writers actually lied, rather than subtly not giving away what would happen in future episodes, is definitely horrendous. So i don't think i'll ever decide who i side with. I definitely sympathize with both sides.

there's no way to worry about plot or character development when you spend all of your time worrying about whose agenda you're pushing and why.

You're absolutely right. Being a thinking, socially aware, etc. person, though, it's so hard not to worry about it. I've found that to be my biggest problem in trying to write fiction recently. I'm so aware of stereotypes and try to play with them, but you can't base a story just on messing with stereotypes.

So um yeah, hopefully some of this made sense--and didn't make your headache worse.

Another rant

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

I do appreciate the 'evil lesbian' cliche (though it was new to me as well, but I think that this particular group's overconcentration on their own agenda made them miss the larger picture here.

Tara's death, to me, was horrible because it made no sense. She wasn't sacrificing herself in a heroic act (Buffy) or involved in a dangerous act (Jenny), but she was merely an innocent bystander. Joss's point is that sometimes, good people, role models, die. And whether it's a gunshot wound or a car accident or some health problem (Joyce) people just die. It doesn't matter if they're good, or bad. Bad people don't always die in real life. Sometimes, it's the good people, the people we love and adore, who do nothing wrong and we all look up to, die for absolutely no reason whatsoever. And it's horrible, and maddening, but it's one of the truest things that happends. (As was Willow's reaction. If someone I loved that much was killed as suddenly and senslessly as Tara, Willow's little jaunt into dark magic would look like kiddie stuff compared to how apeshit I would go). Since this particular author is so eager to depict 'real life,' he should take a step back from his agenda and look at the bigger picture. Joss was playing the angel of death; an entity that cares not for creed, race, religion, color, or sexual preference. When it's your time, you go. The End.

I think it's far more damaging to show the idea on television that only Bad, Mean People (tm) die, and The Good People always wear white hats and live happily ever after. For crying out loud, when in the hell has BTVS ever done that?

I end with a quote:
"Buffy: Doe

Re: Another rant

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

I agree, with everything you just said.

And i knew you were gonna post from the end of "Lie To Me" as soon as you said you were gonna end with a Buffy quote -- partly 'cause of the White Hats comment and partly 'cause it's definitely one of your favorite bits of dialogue (and one of mine too, really, i just utilize much less frequently). Hee.

Another rant

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

grrr! It cut me off!

I end with a quote:
"Buffy: Does it ever get easy?
Giles: You mean life?
Buffy: Yeah. Does it get easy?
Giles: What do you want me to say?
Buffy: Lie to me.
Giles: Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after.
Buffy: Liar."