Help Finding and sharing Buffy/Angel information - grad school research

SadieJude17

SadieJude17

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Hi all!

I am a graduate student of Library and Information Science and I am studying information communities, particularly their information behavior. I chose fellow Buffy/Angel fans as my community. 😉

I was wondering if anyone is willing to help me with my assignment by answering any or all the questions below, in regards to how you find/share Buffy/Angel information. Here are the questions:

1. Do you use resources and services provided by libraries or other information organizations? Why or why not?

2. Do you create your own information sources and/or services? Why or why not?

3. How do you use technology to advance the community and/or share information?

I thought it would be interesting to see if a discussion sparks out of this and to also see the different places we find and/or share Buffy/Angel info. But if you rather not post your answers, feel free to PM me!

Thanks!
 
I can try to answer! Not sure I have much to say though :S

1. I don't use any libraries concerning info on the show. I think BtVS being a TV show means that not many people would go and check a library for information on the topic. Although I would love for my library to have a comic section! I have read some Buffy books though, most weren't novels, but more so philosophical type analysis on the show. I can't remember the name of one specific book that I thought was super cool for Buffy information. Oh, I also use to get those Buffy magazines. Not sure if anyone remembers those but they were friggen awesome. Didn't get anything from a library though. I don't think a library is equipped to inform anyone about Buffy.

2. I guess this site counts as an information source or service? But obviously I didn't create it, we have a wonderful team to thank for that! And the awesome Buffy Summers! I guess I don't create my own sources because I lack time and interest in technology. I mean, I love posting here, I will always be up for discussing this awesome show and talk with awesome people. But that's exactly it, I like discussing. I wouldn't like to have a one sided discussion. Which is what blogs feel like. If I was in a field that permitted me writing for example a thesis on Buffy, then I'd be all up for it.

3. Again, technology=having this site! You won't find a better place to share info on the verse. People around here share basically anything they read about BtVS, whether it be convention, updated info on the actors and the crew, or anything else even mildly related to Buffy. The internet is what keeps this fandom alive!
 
SadieJude17
SadieJude17
These are great answers! Thank you!!! :-D
1. Actually, I have. One of my interests in BtVS and AtS is their intersection with academic philosophy. I checked out a few books on Buffy/Angel/Philosophy at the library (my school library has a resource called "prospector" which allows us to check out any book from any public university library in the state. They are all networked). I ended up liking some of what I read and bought the books afterwards.

There was a lot of interest in academic study of BtVS and AtS years ago (not as much these days). I sometimes like to visit the webpages of scholars in so-called 'Buffy-studies' or Whedon-studies' just to see what the academic community are discussing, and compare them with my own ideas. I've got a few ideas for some philosophical papers I'd like to try to write on BtVS/AtS, but I'm not in school for philosophy anymore, so it would be strictly for enjoyment. I'll probably post them to the forum if and when I finally do them.

2. Not on BtVS/AtS, some other things yes. I don't for two reasons: 1. I wouldn't call myself an authority on the show yet (like some people in the community and these boards) by any means. I came to the show relatively recently, and I'm still distilling my thoughts/feelings on some topics regarding the Buffyverse. I wouldn't do anything like that until I felt that my knowledge and opinions on the shows were more concrete. 2. There is not a demand for BtVS/AtS academic resources like there was, say, 10 years ago. It kind of feels as if the academic community moved on from the shows, and interest in Whedon from a strictly academic perspective has diminished. So yes, I appreciate having information resources on the show, but I'm not sure if I would start my own (on the shows) at this point. But who knows, maybe I guess.

3. I like to remind people still that BtVS and AtS are still worth watching, so I sometimes use facebook, twitter, tumblr, pinterest and other social networking sites to post quotes from the show, thoughts from thoughtful fans/critics/academics, and thoughts or news from former contributors to the show if and when I get that information. Most of that stuff I find right here on BB. If I think my social network friends should know about it or would find it interesting, I post it. I've had modest success in bringing new fans to the show, but I do have a few friends who loved the shows (and watched before I did) that appreciate the reminders.
 
SadieJude17
SadieJude17
Insightful answers! Thanks so much!
Blaze said:
...Although I would love for my library to have a comic section!

...I don't think a library is equipped to inform anyone about Buffy.
Click to expand...

It's very interesting that you said this, because this is an issue that I have encountered in the research and I plan to talk about it in my paper (libraries evolving and getting to know the different information needs of fan communities in order to serve them better).

AnthonyCordova said:
...One of my interests in BtVS and AtS is their intersection with academic philosophy...

...I sometimes like to visit the webpages of scholars in so-called 'Buffy-studies' or Whedon-studies' just to see what the academic community are discussing, and compare them with my own ideas.
Click to expand...

I am fascinated by the interest academia has taken on the Buffyverse! I am exploring it more (have definitely referenced some Slayage articles in my research). I joined the Whedon Studies Association Facebook group earlier this week to keep myself in the loop too.

Once again, thank you both for your answers. These perspectives are excellent for my research!
 
Thank you guys for your answers. I've posted my assignment (it had to be in form of a blog). Here it is, if you're interested (I didn't mention your names/usernames).

Also, I didn't talk about the third question there, because that is for a later assignment. Once that goes up (around November) I'll post it here too for you guys to view. Thank you again, it really helped!
 
Fuffy Baith
Fuffy Baith
Great article! There's a lot more that goes into being a librarian than I thought.
I have another question!

What Buffy/Angel websites do you visit the most to get your info? (Besides Buffy-Boards, of course) 😉

Besides this site, as a newbie, I mostly visit the Buffy Wikis (Wikipedia and Buffyverse Wiki), and the Buffy subreddit, but I am interested to know what you guys think are really good sites, not just for my research, but for my personal use too lol.
 
http://www.buffyworld.com/ - Sunnydale Herald is the shit, it's basically a fandom newspaper listing latest fan fiction, articles, discussions and stuff. Also, they have full episode scripts there and a list of fan fiction authors. Nifty.

http://vrya.net/bdb/index.php - dialog database, pure gold. You can search by arcs, character interactions ( it will show you every dialog between Xander and Buffy for example ) character nicknames - it's incredible.

http://gabrielleabelle.livejournal.com/tag/whose show is it anyway? - this person did the maths so you don't have to, basically, counted dialogue lines and scenes and visualized the data. Great resource.

http://slayageonline.com/ - an archive of academic works about BtVS. I'm not pretentious enough to actually read it but hey, some people might find it useful.

http://archiveofourown.org - fan fiction site with functional search.
 
SadieJude17
SadieJude17
Thank you!
MarlieTheSlayer
MarlieTheSlayer
[No message]
I would add:

http://www.buffyguide.com/

which has valuable short descriptions of each episode (although some later ones are missing) plus details on the cast.

http://www.imdb.com/

this is the internet movie database which shows number of appearances of cast members. For example, Faith was only in 20 of the 144 episodes of Buffy, something that surprised me for all the coverage and importance she has.
 
SadieJude17
SadieJude17
Thanks :)
I'd love to help.

1. Do you use resources and services provided by libraries or other information organizations? Why or why not?

In general, or for Buffy-related information? I'll answer for both.

Buffy: Yes, I have in the past, when I didn't have a personal computer, used computers at the public library to access this board and also to watch the show online.

Otherwise: Absolutely. I am a huge fan of the public library. I use it all the time. The library is a lifesaver for me.

2. Do you create your own information sources and/or services? Why or why not?

Yes. I think my blog counts as this, right? Why? To share fandom content and discuss news related to the show.

3. How do you use technology to advance the community and/or share information?

You're referring to the online fan community, right? I use my blog, and forums, like this one, to share information with other fans, as well as gain information for myself. 
SadieJude17 said:
I have another question!

What Buffy/Angel websites do you visit the most to get your info? (Besides Buffy-Boards, of course) 😉

Besides this site, as a newbie, I mostly visit the Buffy Wikis (Wikipedia and Buffyverse Wiki), and the Buffy subreddit, but I am interested to know what you guys think are really good sites, not just for my research, but for my personal use too lol.
Click to expand...

********* (forum), Slayage (academic papers), Buffyfest (news blog), Spuffy Realm (fan fiction)
Watcher Junior Blog
Tumblr and Livejournal for fandom content like fan art, meta and fan fic
I'm reading this right now (it's incredibly good!) http://www.bloodshedverse.com/stories.php?go=chapters&no=6841
and of course, UTube for fan vids. I really like this vidder: https://www.youtube.com/user/SpuffyPr0ductions
🙂
http://*********.com/forum.php
http://www.slayageonline.com/
http://buffyfest.blogspot.com/
http://spikeluver.com/SpuffyRealm/
http://blog.watcherjunior.tv/
 
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SadieJude17
SadieJude17
Awesome, thank you!
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