So Mark, he of the Mark Watches blog, is now watching Buffy straight through and posting his thoughts as he goes. This has stirred up a lot of feelings in the remnants of BtVS fandom, and we’ve already talked at length about the depth of his analysis (or, more accurately, the lack thereof) and whether or not we think it’s weird that he’s making money off of basically just posting his emotional responses to a show (for the record, my thoughts are: yes, it’s weird, but I’d probably do the same thing if I had the option, so I can’t really blame him). But I wanted to talk about something I’ve seen mentioned a couple of times in passing in discussions about other aspects of his analysis, because it’s been on my mind a lot.

I can’t remember which post it was (please feel free to link me to it if you remember what I’m talking about), but someone mentioned that you almost have to watch the show in its historical context the way you would read a book written three centuries ago or something like that. Because social justice-y ways of watching the shows were not at all prominent ways of approaching these texts back then (15 years ago, more or less, which: crazy).

For instance. ( Read more... )

And I am sure I’m leaving out something I meant to say, so don’t be surprised if this post is edited to add stuff in the future. My mind does not at all work in a linear fashion, so I usually end up leaving things out.

So Mark, he of the Mark Watches blog, is now watching Buffy straight through and posting his thoughts as he goes. This has stirred up a lot of feelings in the remnants of BtVS fandom, and we’ve already talked at length about the depth of his analysis (or, more accurately, the lack thereof) and whether or not we think it’s weird that he’s making money off of basically just posting his emotional responses to a show (for the record, my thoughts are: yes, it’s weird, but I’d probably do the same thing if I had the option, so I can’t really blame him). But I wanted to talk about something I’ve seen mentioned a couple of times in passing in discussions about other aspects of his analysis, because it’s been on my mind a lot.

I can’t remember which post it was (please feel free to link me to it if you remember what I’m talking about), but someone mentioned that you almost have to watch the show in its historical context the way you would read a book written three centuries ago or something like that. Because social justice-y ways of watching the shows were not at all prominent ways of approaching these texts back then (15 years ago, more or less, which: crazy).

For instance. ( Read more... )

And I am sure I’m leaving out something I meant to say, so don’t be surprised if this post is edited to add stuff in the future. My mind does not at all work in a linear fashion, so I usually end up leaving things out.

Because I have a few, and none of them are Yuletide related. They're all just stuff I found while browsing AO3 while bored at work.

Leverage:

Techno-Wizardry. "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced." Alec is on board with this argument. A little ficlet about Hardison being a Tech God. Because he is.

FANDOM IS SRS BZNESS. So then, because he’s Hardison, he created a fandom. post-the Gold Job. A meta, geek-love celebration of fandom and its ways, all issuing forth from Hardison’s brain of perfectness. If you have any familiarity with this fandom at all you must read this. OMG I CAN’T.

four times hardison told his nana he was sorry, and one time he said he was (but he totally wasn’t) Sometimes, a geeky fanboy has to do what a geeky fanboy has to do. Obviously my new favorite subgenre is “Hardison participates in fandom with bonus fandom meta!” fic. Because, y’all, Hardison is so one of us.

Life in theTwenty-First Century. Alec Hardison, if pressed, would probably suggest that he subscribes to a post-modern definition of identity. Hardison figures out who he is, sexually and otherwise, via fandom. I think ladyofthelog in particular would be interested in this one.

Nu!Trek:

Your Mom. In which Kirk, Sulu and Chekov feel guilty for no good reason, Spock feels bewildered, and McCoy feels an aneurysm coming on. If everyone listened to Bones, their whole lives would be better. Basically, male bonding, only Spock isn’t so good at that.

In Which the Enterprise Is Like a Village. Turns out, despite the vast emptiness of space, and the worryingly illusory protection offered even by Starfleet's finest vessel, and the sheer likelihood of being taken out by an unexpected cosmic event (sure, those nebulae look pretty now but up-close they're just a disaster waiting to happen) and/or Klingon attack (McCoy's sure it's going to happen any day now) and/or new and fatal alien disease (probably sexually transmitted; probably Kirk's fault), life on the Enterprise isn't as far off a village as you might expect. Gen!space!family!times. Basically: Nakama 101.

That’s What Friends Are For. The Enterprise crew takes take of each other. They are friends, they went through thick and thin together, and they are violently protective of theirs. They are family. Everyone loves everyone else and everyone is BFFs and everything is beautiful and nothing hurts.

Harry Potter:

journals and ice-cream series. Draco Malfoy: ex-Death Eater, former bigot, divorcee, and single father. His wife left him for Viktor Krum, his children worship the Weasleys who clash with the décor, something is rotten at Hogwarts, and he doesn't really know what he's doing. But maybe he's getting the hang of it. Draco in this fic has absolutely nothing to do with Draco in canon. Maybe less than nothing. But this series is fun. And silly. And occasionally strangely moving. I don't even have any particular feelings for Draco, and I enjoyed this. It's fun.

Dollhouse:

Whatever Remains, However Improbable. Victor and Sierra are imprinted as Holmes and Watson, but the engagement does not go as planned. For fans both of Dollhouse and Arthur Conan Doyle. Only the most basic working knowledge of DH is required to enjoy this fic. Which you should read because it is DELIGHTFUL.

Zone is MOODY FREAKIN' SPURGEON.

I love the universe!

Thank you to dollsome for enlightening me.

The awesome, awesome rebcake and petzipellepingo started a fascinating Spuffy-related conversation in my Dollhouse reaction post. I'm sure not all of you have read it, but I know there are some of you who would be majorly interested, so keep reading for some insights.

( SPOILERS FOR EPITAPH TWO )

So I did my freaking out about last night's finale of Dollhouse. Now's the time to be more practical.

Oh, yeah. There's spoilers.

( let's talk logistics )

I'm sure I have loads more questions, but I think this is a good place to start. Help me out, people!

I...do not know how I feel about this.