Writing a Research Paper - Need Your Input!

[Spikesgurl235]

Hey guys! It's been a while since I've been on here. I was around a lot a few years ago and remember how great and helpful you all were, so I thought I'd pop back in to ask a few questions!

I'm writing a research paper primarily looking at BTVS from a feminist point of view. My main argument is that the character of Buffy overall is a positive role model for young women, despite things like the fairly heavy influence on Sarah Michelle Gellar's beautiful appearance in the shows ads.

I'm going to discuss how the character balances stereotypically masculine and feminine attributes and how that strengthens her (i.e. her relationships with family and friends and "feminine emotions" are what help her survive where other slayers have failed). I'm also looking to delve into the empowerment both Buffy and Willow gave women and homosexuals.

Now here's where you come in! I want to get fans input. Firstly, do you think the character is a positive one in general? Is she a role model at all? In what ways, is she or isn't she a good role model? What attracted you to the show in the first place?

Feel free to soundoff on anything related to feminism and the show. Any input is greatly appreciated. I'm really interested to hear what everyone has to say!

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

I'm writing a research paper primarily looking at BTVS from a feminist point of view. My main argument is that the character of Buffy overall is a positive role model for young women, despite things like the fairly heavy influence on Sarah Michelle Gellar's beautiful appearance in the shows ads.

WOW thats a stretch.

If only Joss Whedon had written his character just like this.

I mean, I know I've read somewhere that Joss is really big on empowering women and believes in feminism, and it has been said often how she was a good role model because she was average, she dealt with things in a very real, human way and that Buffy was meant to be a beautiful blonde because it was exactly what you wouldn't expect....wait, what was my point?

I don't mean to be rude(well actually, I don't mean to be REALLY rude) but this is hardly an original take on something that was obvious.

You might as well just write a Buffy Season Synopsis.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Basically what Bored of the Dead says,

How many times has some-one decided to do a paper with those questions ?
Maybe you've got a little twist, but is it enough to get different answers ?
I'm all for girl power, but.................................

 

[Spikesgurl235]

Well, this isn't quite getting the response I was hoping for. I'm not asking for a critique of the research idea. I'm asking for your thoughts on the show and the aspects I mentioned.

After researching this and reading a ton of academic research written on the topic, I'm well aware that it has been done and re-done a million times. To be perfectly honest, my goal isn't to write something ground-breaking here, obviously. I'm writing a decent paper for a decent grade.

I'm also not planning on writing a super pro-Buffy paper. I'm going to present both sides to the argument of Buffy as an empowering figure because honestly, I fall in the middle and am not sure whether she truly was mostly positive. Joss, despite being a self-proclaimed feminist, clearly wrote a character that could be debated. So I'm just asking for your view of the character and the show.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

After researching this and reading a ton of academic research written on the topic, I'm well aware that it has been done and re-done a million times. To be perfectly honest, my goal isn't to write something ground-breaking here, obviously. I'm writing a decent paper for a decent grade.


I'm just posting what you wrote.

You've read a topic 'done and re-done a million times' and you are just doing it for a decent grade because your 'goal isn't to write something ground-breaking here' so answer this - if you're just trying to grab a grade, why should anyone here help?

If you wanted to be really unique, try something new or even seemed to actually care about the topic as opposed to just using a topic you know a bit about to coast, you'd probably get some decent comments, but if you make it seem like you can't even be bothered, why should we do alot of the work for you?

Amazing.

 

[Spikesgurl235]

I'm really not looking to argue with anyone on here. Perhaps, I got defensive due to your first post. I'm all for constructive criticism, but I personally don't feel your comments have been constructive in the least bit. The paper is in its first stages, and I do aim to find my own personal twist to the topic as I proceed. My professor suggested using a forum to get fan input, and I immediately thought of this board as a great tool for me especially since I'm already a member. I'm rather disapointed by the negative tone this thread has taken. It was not my intention.

Now, I'm still looking for anyone's input on the show. I would really appreciate any constructive criticism, ideas! Thank you!

 

[nerd4hire]

Actually BotD isn't she asking more for personal reminiscences on how you personally were affected positively, or negatively on what it means to be a woman.

I'm not sure you could help her there even if you wanted to, could you?

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

You may already be a member, but you haven't posted since 2004 pre-this thread.

You may be a fan of the show, but due to the length of time away from this board it would have been maybe a touch nicer had your first post back not been 'Yeah, I've not been here for a ages, but i'm going to ask you guys to discuss something then I'm just going to cream off the bits I like, give it my twist then hand it in to my teacher because, well it seems easier that way'.

We get people coming all the time asking us to do crap like this, we're noy a reference group you can get to answer all your questions.

I mean, as you say, there are a million takes on this topic, why not just cream off some information from them?

Or better yet, just research the board for the times this has already been discussed take a new stance on something else.

Personally, I find it offensive, the way you have done this. There are better ways to do things.

Edit:

Actually BotD isn't she asking more for personal reminiscences on how you personally were affected positively, or negatively on what it means to be a woman.

I'm not sure you could help her there even if you wanted to, could you?

BUT if a female character in a fictional show is conceived of, explored by and written at length by a man, then all of us are able to comment, surely.

A man writing a positive female character/role model obviously breaks the lines between the sexes as he is showing that a man can understand this struggle.
If he does a good job, which I think we can all agree that he does, then obviously this isn't just about the girl/woman/feminist.

Damn you N4H for making me actually comment on the topic that I still find this offensive due to the way the OP started.

 

[Spikesgurl235]

I really do apologize for the way this has turned out. I do see where you're coming from BOTD, but my goal wasn't to get any ideas for the paper from the fans. Perhaps I didn't make that clear enough.

I'm solely asking for a fans point of view aside from my own. I am planning on writing about how the fans, not just academics, perceive the character, as I think there is a difference between the two perceptions. How the fans personally feel they were affected/changed/empowered by something on the show. And I am looking for both viewpoints of men and women, if anyone is still willing to share.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

I'm solely asking for a fans point of view aside from my own. I am planning on writing about how the fans, not just academics, perceive the character, as I think there is a difference between the two perceptions.

OK, you want input, then you start. Without the obvious issus with the above statement, explain to us WHY you believe academics and fans have different perceptions.

When you have done that, maybe I'll feel more inclined to give you a response, a debate - Obviously after I explain to you WHY the bit that I have quoted is so very very wrong.

 

[Blondie Bear]

I'm solely asking for a fans point of view aside from my own. I am planning on writing about how the fans, not just academics, perceive the character, as I think there is a difference between the two perceptions.

Actually, I don't think that's true. I think you'll find, once you get out of school (or at least further on in school) and you don't have to write about something just because your teacher tells you to, that you have to enjoy a text before you analyze it. Therefore, the vast majority of "academics" who write about Buffy are and were fans FIRST and realized that the show was so intricate and layered that it could be analyzed in an academic way as well as a fan-way. Also, it gives academics a way to back up their enjoyment of something so "fluffy" as a pop-culture Fantasy series; they can prove that there's more to it than just "fluff."

If you need source material, I can give you a TON, since I just finished doing my Master's thesis on Buffy. There's also a thread around here somewhere with a list of academic texts and such. It's kind of old, so you might have to dig a bit, but I know it's been updated in the last few months (cause I did the updating).

 

[Hello Cutie]

My only comment is don't pay any attention to Germaine Greer's take on Buffy. I hate feminists like her... if a woman is a sidekick, then she's subordinate to men, if a woman is the kickass heroine, then she's being made to do a man's job, because a man can't be bothered to do it- there's no winning with her.

And with regards to the question, I'm pretty much with everyone else- there's a TONNE of literature all devoted to the same idea, going in the same direction, and most of them cover all the ideals I ever thought of with regards to Buffy (only with nifty references to philosophers and ancient cultures/religions).

 

[nerd4hire]

OK, Spikesgurl, I think you might be getting a bit of a bad break here so I'll give you a perspective I think might be at least a little bit fresh. It's not fresh because nobody's ever thought of it. It's fresh because there seems to be this kind of pressure from buggaboo saying you shouldn't talk about it.

It's the "like a guy" thing.

Something that always kind of bugs me about a lot of stuff where there's a female hero, is this feeling not just that if a guy can do it, a girl can do it, but that a girl should do it. It creates a kind of disconnect for me where I can't seem to suspend my disbelief.

When Sidney Fox from Alias walks into a confrontation, backhands some guy and he flies across the room, all I can think of is "gimme a break". It's a fundamental, real world fact. Guys are bigger and stronger than girls. I just can't disconnect from that. There's a reason you don't see mixed matches in Ultimate Fighting, mixed martial arts contests between guys and girls.

I can accept super powered girls in the super hero world though. If you tell me Wonder Woman has God like powers I can go there, and accept Wonder Woman batting the bad guys about the room.

Even there though, Wonder Woman has a feminine side. She remains a woman. She has feminine power.

For me Buffy is like that. The show allows me to believe she can do the things she does with the supernatural power explanation, but even so Buffy doesn't fall into the "like a guy" trap. They don't lose track of her feminine side, and even with it there's a suggestion of an advantage to that.

Buffy doesn't necessarily have to go Jack Bauer to get the information from the bad guy. She can do it, but one gets the impression it's not who she is. I think Buffy shows the method of acquiring information that feels more natural to her when her and Xander visit Willie the Snitch to find out what he knows. Xander approaches it like a guy with posturing, and suggestions of harm. Buffy is sensitive to what must be going through Willy's mind. She watches, listens, and communicates. Buffy's method is superior to Xander's method even though she's shown in the past she's capable of playing the threat of violence card. It's a choice to play the card of female sensitivity there instead, and as it turned out, the superior choice. In other words there's such a thing as feminine power. She doesn't have to be "like a guy" to get the job done.

There's a difference between the way Buffy leads her group, and Angel leads his. The traditional male leader role requires a disconnect between the leader, and his subordinates, a willingness to make decisions from a pose of superior power without explanation. The guy commander walks into confrontation without considering the fears, or possible inputs of those below him.

Buffy wants to hear what the others have to say. She wants to know the background story before she acts. She's sensitive to input. She listens.

So many girl-hero stories are ruined by forcing the heroine to behave like a guy. You're not supposed to notice it, because the politically correct mindset says if a guy can do it, a girl to it. But should she? Buffy doesn't think so. She never stops being a girl. And her feminine side actually brings more power to the problem.

 

[TheHeartist]

There's a difference between the way Buffy leads her group, and Angel leads his. The traditional male leader role requires a disconnect between the leader, and his subordinates, a willingness to make decisions from a pose of superior power without explanation. The guy commander walks into confrontation without considering the fears, or possible inputs of those below him.

It might by worthy to note that Buffy is ejected from her group as the leader, in contrast to Angel ejecting EVERYONE from Angel Investigations at one point, and later casting out Wesley from his group (that to a lesser degree because Wes is also rejected by the rest of the group as well, not just the leader.)