Comments on: Joss Whedon Inadvertently Became my Academic Specialty

By: jane

jane — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:52:38 +0000

It's more than recognizing a pattern, Ben. Beej was being directed by his subconsciousness. Let's put it this way: Beej would probably have affinities for Whedon and teaching even he took to the Chair and had himself wiped all shiny and new.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:52:07 +0000

I think your affinity for pop culture and modern cinema in order to teach literary knowledge is wonderful.

I can say that not only will students be more connected to the material, they themselves can venture into the genre with a healthy dose of what's current.

Of course, having an appreciation for the classics is a must, but leave that for the more mundane classes.

By: Ben Miller

Ben Miller — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:49:34 +0000

I agree with Jane. Coincidence, to me, just seems to be a word for recognizing a pattern, but not the cause of the pattern.

My computer specialty fell into my lap the same way, I think it happens to more people than are willing to admit it.

By: cww

cww — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:19:05 +0000

You're crazy. But, that's awesome! Keep up the great work.

By: Syp

Syp — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:38:54 +0000

I can definitely tell that you have great love for him and his work, and I understand why. Over the years of enjoying his work, I've come to two conclusions that I'd like to encourage you to explore:

1. That Whedon is not only painfully aware of genre tropes that are examples of tired, photocopied storytelling, but often engages in reversing expectations (i.e. Mal kicks the bad guy into the jet engine instead of doing the "noble" good guy thing and letting him go).

2. That his atheism and humanistic beliefs have echoes in his characters, especially in his two core messages: that we have the strength within to be great, and that friendship/family is the greatest thing to believe in. I find it interesting that he so heavily promotes friendships and relationships, yet also constantly tears them down, shows how they fail, and often leaves his characters shattered.

By: jane

jane — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:16:30 +0000

Beej: "It was just a happy coincidence that I wanted to introduce my students to something I care about...

It seems my niche just fell into my lap, based on me experimenting with television in the classroom. I never really made a conscious decision to “study” Joss Whedon. But I’m happy that it’s turned out this way."

It's not a coincidence. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

For someone who studies Whedon, you should know that that Buffy is modeled after the Heroic Journey, the "monomythic" structure described by Joseph Campbell. You've heard the Call to Adventure - a call to follow your bliss. All else follows from that.

By: Loki

Loki — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:20:14 +0000

I'm not a professor, but if I'd gone on to try for a phD, the subject of my specialisation would've been decided pretty much at least as happenstance as that, if not more. I did my master's on the religion of ancient Rome through a series of years of choosing whatever looked interesting and fit with my schedule from what was offered by the university I attended. When I started, I thought I'd do history or philosophy, or if I somehow DID end up doing religion I was sure it'd be Norse. So, while not the same circumstances at all, I do think people sort of fall into things they at some point suddenly realise they know a lot about and enjoy working with.

By: Longasc

Longasc — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:05:59 +0000

I think I already told you, I know a lot of Whedonites! I like Whedon, too, but I always thought focusing on Whedon would be too limiting … just pulling your leg.

I think your students are lucky to have a Whedonite professor. At least I have not yet seen people that were outright bored or angered by Buffy, even if not all like the series as much as I do.