Converted!? Ever wonder why...

Q

Quarkfan

Townie
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Dec 16, 2008
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Have you all noticed that people don't just start watching "Buffy" but that they "come" to Buffy, and the description that follows is almost like a religious conversion? Could it be something within the show? Within Whedon's "worldview"?

I have never heard anyone say, when I came to NYPD Blue, followed by, then I read all things Stephen Bocho. (Which is not a slam against the show--it was one of my favorites...while it was on. Just doesn't have the same staying power).
 
From an old article (and I think this has been discussed before)

"According to the recent British study published in Women and Religion in the West, young women have taken an increased interest in practicing witchcraft after Gellar's hit TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer hit the mainstream. The study's author Dr. Kristin Aune says: 'Because of its focus on female empowerment, young women are attracted by Wicca, popularized by the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In short, women are abandoning the church.'"

So yes, I think people are being converted, but into what?

But seriously, that is why it is a cult show, because you do have to kinda GO TO them.
 
thanks...but

I read that as well. And thanks for the response. But I guess I was speaking more metaphorically. I don't think there is an actual conversion going on, but rather that the emotional connection people often have to Buffy (and to Whedon's other texts) are often couched in terms that sound like one has been "converted." It transcends liking a show and becomes something that changes one's perspective. Or maybe I am just crazy (or I have been talking/listening to crazy people, which is a good thing, I think).
 
Skanky Vamp
Skanky Vamp
I know you were.. it was a joke. But it is a cult show, and most cult shows have to have the audience come to them; so it doesnt sound too outrageous that others would use that lingo.
*Raises Hand* I just started watching. Well, I stumbled upon it. But I didn't "come" to it. I was obsessed for quite a while, but nothing more than, say a "Power Rangers" obsession.
 
I didn't experience a conversion, either. I thought it was going to be dumb (because of the title and the tiny bit of the movie I'd seen), caught an episode or two and realized it wasn't dumb, started buying DVDs, and watched it about like I watch Supernatural or The X-Files or read my favorite author. Not as though the truth of life, the universe, and everything is in the show (because it's in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, of course).
 
But wouldnt expecting nothing then all of a sudden buying DVDs be considered 'going to it' because you expected nothing and now you post on the board? You FOUND Buffy. Simple as that.
 
Yes, but not "found" in a religious sense. Not like "found God." If there was a board available for discussing the works of Mercedes Lackey, I'd be over there, too. I AM on the board for discussing other SF/F things. I enjoy these works, I enjoy finding the deeper meaning in them, and I enjoy discussing them with others . . . kind of the same reason I majored in and am now teaching literature. Buffy isn't my Christ.
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scobro agrees: never said otherwise.. but you did find it, every new fan by definition has to find it. In contrast, Supernatural can find you via commercials, promos etc
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True. Just clarifying since the OP was discussing "found" in the religious sense (and I was a new fan while it was still on TV, so I guess you can say it found me, too).
 
Skanky Vamp
Skanky Vamp
never said otherwise.. but you did find it, every new fan by definition has to find it. In contrast, Supernatural can find you via commercials, promos etc
I just think its all vernacular.. the had to be introduced somehow.. so the came to Buffy via xyz..
 
Well than we all "find" everything we watch, so is it really significant to say we "found" buffy? No.
 
Skanky Vamp
Skanky Vamp
no, thats not what I said. we dont all find everything, sometimes it finds us via various marketing. But since Buffy the series has none of that any longer the new fans have all 'found' it
I think you're spot on. Mostly because the one person that I actually got to borrow my box sets had already watched S1-3.
 
I think it is a good show that through friendships and circumstances tells real life relatable stories....not the vampires mind you, but the relationships.

For those that can identify with the emotions shown, thats a powerful connection, and can make you want more. Toy story is like that, i imagine so are a lot of Joss stuff.

It's not a religious thing in total, but it is a comfort and sort of a friend. It is not like many of the other things I enjoy/ collect.
 
I blame subliminal messages in the opening credits of Buffy. And I think there are some in Angel when they flash the WR&H sign. I haven't figured out where they are in Firefly and that's the one that really stumps me as to why I like it, but I'm leaning toward they must be in the opening credits also because I didn't really like Serenity so it has to be something exclusive to the show.


Anyway, that's where I stand on it!
 
Good point. Buffy fans (well, Whedonists in general) are often pretty passionate. I mean, in comparision to fans of other shows it seems (excluding Star Trek, of course. You just can't beat the Trekkies.)
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer said:
(excluding Star Trek, of course. You just can't beat the Trekkies.)
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no, but some of them you would REALLY like to... I mean, really.. too many conversations like Jonathan and Andrew discussing the subtleties of the Klingon language have I overheard in my life..
 
scobro said:
no, but some of them you would REALLY like to... I mean, really.. too many conversations like Jonathan and Andrew discussing the subtleties of the Klingon language have I overheard in my life..
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Dude. I'd totally be down to get into some in-depth conversation about the subtext of Buffy, or whatever. Too bad there aren't more Whedonverse conventions.
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer said:
Dude. I'd totally be down to get into some in-depth conversation about the subtext of Buffy, or whatever. Too bad there aren't more Whedonverse conventions.
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No, but there is this really groovy forum that has this ubercool TV thing where you can get together with a bunch of other members and watch the show together and do just that..
 
Relic said:
It's not a religious thing in total, but it is a comfort and sort of a friend. It is not like many of the other things I enjoy/ collect.
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Right on. I don't think anyone is consciously comparing it to a religion, but there is something about it that makes it "not like many other things" and it goes beyond simply being a really good show. Of course, it most certainly is not for everyone.

Maybe it has to do, in part, to low expectations (as many alluded to).

There just seems to be a place for everyone -- meaning the audience, while "small" is extremely diverse. So it is welcoming in a peculiar way?
 
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