Amy (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} salymander) wrote in ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} feminist_fandom,@ 2008-05-09 16:10:00 |
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I'm new-ish. I think I may have been a member once before, or I had at least friended the comm. That was a whiiiile back and school got in the way; I frequented When Fangirls Attack for a while, but I'm more a Television critic than Comic critic. I don't have many truly feminist friends, so I wanted to join, or rejoin :) Anyway, my main point in posting is to pimp my blog, Salymander Speaks. Which, separate from my personal LJ, is me trying to write somewhat scholarly, or at least thoughtful, Feminist Media Criticism. And my latest essay is "Young & Experimenting" Buffy as Patriarchy's Sexual Feminine Ideal
Buffy was created by Joss Whedon as a reaction to the blonde horror-film victim. He has stated in multiple interviews that he created Buffy because he wanted a woman to beat the monster, in film she never has a chance, but in Buffy feminine power is redefined. To Whedon, Buffy is a full fledged feminist icon for the post-modern age. She kicks ass and wears high heels. But it is just this metaphor of patriarchaly defined sexuality in a female hero that is in opposition to feminist ideals. Throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer it is made apparent that Buffy fulfill the role of the perfect woman. She has silky blonde hair, her make up is never smudged or smeared, her clothes are sexy but not slutty. She remains chaste until finally consummating her relationship with Angel, the climax of true and perfect love.
There is a problem inherent in the Buffy narrative, however. And that is that Buffy’s sexuality is continually defined by her choice of partner be it consummated vs chaste love with Angel, missionary style vanilla sex with Riley, a one night stand with what’s his name, kinky bondage play with Spike, or quasi-lesbian sex with Satsu. While creator Whedon defines Buffy as “open-minded” I argue that Buffy’s sexual choices are in fact not choices at all, but Buffy fulfilling the role of patriarchy’s female sexual ideal which is to mold herself to the pleasure of her partner.
