This is how big of a geek I am

[lirazel]

I kind of want to write a piece of meta about how much Flannery O'Connor would love Spike and how he's like the most grotesque character ever and how both him getting his soul and dying in "Chosen" are like the most O'Connor-esque moments of grace EVER and how well-constructed his arc is and how O'Connor would think at the end he'd grown closer to the Catholic view of the world (ha! but she would!) and how she would just eat this up (incidentally, Faulkner would also love Spike. In case you were wondering, and I know you were). I sort of started rambling about this whedonesque and it was just coming together before my eyes and I LOVED IT.

There are a couple of problems:

1) It's been a while since I've studied her in depth, and I'd have to go back to the university library and pick up a ton of books and spend a lot of time on this and, really, I should be working on my novel. Or at least writing fic for the approximately 12.7 challenges and fic-a-thons I'm signed up for.

2) Who would read this? No, seriously: who would read this?

3) Why does my brain work this way?

Speaking of ways my brain works, last night when I went to visit my parents (I was kinda weepy and needed hugs from my mama, okay?) for some reason we were talking about babies, and I asked if anyone has ever done a spoof of Baby and Child Care as written by Mr. Spock instead of Dr. Spock and how this needed to exist in the world somewhere, and my daddy shook his head and said that this was proof that I had too much time on my hands. And I'm like, "I just had this thought! Sitting right here with you! You should be more interesting in hopes of distracting me if it bothers you!"

Oh, family.

Also, I really, really need to avoid getting into internet arguments in places outside of lj. I really, really do. They always leave me feeling slightly sick to my stomach.

Comments

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

I might've bought the whole Spike as Flannery O'Conner "hero" until I saw James' character's first moments onCaprica, in which he might as well have walked right out of one of her stories. Truly amazing. In case you haven't been watching, I won't go into detail, but you've got to see for yourself.

I love the idea of a Mr. Spock's Baby and Child Care! Of course, with the reboot, it's only logical that he go forth and multiply.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Actually! I saw that episode! With the barbed wire? I think I'm going to have a "convince me to give Caprica another chance" thread soon. ;)

It's interesting: Spike is much more of a grotesque character in a subtle way. In a more purely Bakhtinian (did I even spell that right? I don't know) than in a Southern Gothic way--he's not Popeye from Sanctuary or anyone from Wise Blood or anything like that. Just in a "troubles categorizing and falls into the cracks" sort of way.

Seriously, WHY does it not exist already? It's just waiting to be spoofed. I can't believe nobody's jumped on this before!

[angearia.livejournal.com]

OMG love this post! And your discussion you started (yes, it's you! People don't go on like this in such a thoughtful manner usually, I KNOW, so it's you that's making it different) is so wonderful!

And Lauren, I would read it. Snick would. Everyone with a brain would. Quiet, you.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

yes, it's you! People don't go on like this in such a thoughtful manner usually, I KNOW, so it's you that's making it different You have more faith in me than I do in myself!

Aw! Well, I don't know that I'd ever really write it because seriously: I'd have to do some research. But it is a thought that I kind of like. Maybe I'll make like a mini!meta about O'Connor and grace and Spike. It wouldn't have to be long.... *ponders*

Also, I love that my flist has brains. It makes me want to glomp you all forever!

[angearia.livejournal.com]

ps I love that you're a geek. You're so my kind of geek! Yay!

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

I would read!

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yay! Don't hold your breath, though!

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

I'd read it, too!

I'd run to read Mr. Spock's Guide to Baby and Child Care, too.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

:D

Seriously, why does that not exist already? It SHOULD.

[herself_nyc]

I would read it, actually, I love Flannery O'Connor. And Spike of course.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

There's honestly more interest than I thought there would be. I might actually have to put some time into this....

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

I'd read it too!

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[ghostrunner7.livejournal.com]

My southern literature professor would read it. Don't think I wouldn't drop her a link.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Haha! My former Southern Lit professor is also the professor who gave me an A on my Spike/literary theory paper and who is a bigger geek than I am and who is generally awesome. So this makes me smile.

Maybe Southern Lit professors are all just awesome?

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Um, I want to read this paper. Post it? Please.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

The paper is funny: it needs to be tons longer. TONS LONGER. I doesn't feel very good to me because I feel like I just touched on stuff that should have been more developed, so it's not all that great.

Still. I may post it, but at the very least, I will email you a copy. And then you can tell me if it's worth posting. Okay? :D

[angearia.livejournal.com]

I will email you a copy

YES.

*bounces*

:D

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I want to read this meta. I want to read your lit theory/Spike paper. It proves I'm not the only person who brings up Buffy in literature classes - though I'm more known for bringing it up in theology classes. Spike and Angel are the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism in terms of redemptive grace personified (this is where I may argue with your O'Connor assertions, but I'd need to brush up on my Southern Gothic, too). Spike is the prodigal son, Angel the older son who never went astray in AtS S5. The dream in OoMM is Spike's Road to Damascus experience, and Spike is the Apostle Paul to Angel's Apostle Peter. I haven't decided if Buffy was Chosen by Arminian or Calvinistic election, but both have good reasoning.
The great Southern writer I've studied extensively was Tennessee Williams, and the Buffy characters he'd most likely write are Riley - the good ol' boy with the dirty secret (I'm thinking Cat on a Hot Tin Roof there), and Dru - Blanche DuBois as a vampire!

[gigi-tastic.livejournal.com]

its nice to see someone else using random things in class. i had this whole long argument with a teacher once in middle school about how harry potter clearly was Jesus.... its a long story.

[gigi-tastic.livejournal.com]

i think Fitzgerald would like spike to. spuffy always had an air of The Great Gatsby to me. but then again i'm all sorts of crazy. also your daddys insane in the membrane if you dont mind me saying so sweets. the world needs a mr. spock child care book. i dont know how children have been raised without it. i would love to read this epic meta. i dont know much (oh anything) about Flannery O'Conner but this sounds like such an interesting concept

[bobthemole.livejournal.com]

YES YES OH MY GOD YES!!!!!


So much darkness! So much religion! So much DOOM!
Please write this!

[silverusagi]

said that this was proof that I had too much time on my hands

Why do they keep telling us this like it's a bad thing?

[serendipily.livejournal.com]

Let me sum it up in a few words for you:

WRITE IT.

Write it and let me read it because I wll read it and because I have way too much free tiem on my hand sand becafuse yiou know what? Flannery O'Connor is GOD. And you know what else? Spike is GOD. You have to write it. You avhe to get all flaily and rambly because I love Lauren!rants and they make me thinka nd they make me inspired. I wrote a Buffy fic after reading yoru whole spew on Angel/Buffy = not good couple. So. Write. It. Write it till your little fingers burn off!

(Oh I hate that too. It makes me feel unsettled and a bit woosy. Should go on without it.)