Reading Joss Whedon / edited by Rhonda V. Wilcox, Tanya R. Cochran, Cynthea Masson, David Lavery.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Wilcox, Rhonda, editor.

Cochran, Tanya R., editor.

Masson, Cynthea, 1965- editor.

Lavery, David, 1949- editor.

Series:

Television and popular culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Whedon, Joss, 1964---Criticism and interpretation.

Whedon, Joss.

Whedon, Joss, 1964-.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

xv, 461 pages ; 27 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Syracuse : Syracuse University Press, 2014.

Summary:

In an age when geek chic has come to define mainstream pop culture, few writers and producers inspire more admiration and response than Joss Whedon. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Much Ado about Nothing, from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog to The Avengers, the works of Whedon have been the focus of increasing academic attention. This collection represents new work by some of the best scholars covering a wide array of topics that clarify Whedon's importance, including considerations of narrative and visual techniques, myth construction, symbolism, gender, heroism, and the business side of television. The editors argue that Whedon's work is of both social and aesthetic significance; that he creates "canonical television." He is a master of his artistic medium and has managed this success on broadcast networks rather than on cable. From the focus on a single episode to the exploration of an entire season, from the discussion of a particular narrative technique to a recounting of the history of Whedon studies, this collection will both entertain and educate those exploring Whedon scholarship for the first time and those planning to teach a course on his works. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part 1 Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: An Introduction / Rhonda V. Wilcox Wilcox, Rhonda V. 17

From Beneath You, It Foreshadows: Why Butty's First Season Matters / David Kociemba Kociemba, David 22

Hero's Journey, Heroine's Return?: Buffy, Eurydice, and the Orpheus Myth / Janet K. Halfyard Halfyard, Janet K. 40

"It's Like Some Primal, Some Animal Force ... That Used to Be Us": Animality, Humanity, and Moral Careers in the Buffyverse / Anany Mukherjea Mukherjea, Anany 53

"Can I Spend the Night/Alone?": Segments and Connections in "Conversations with Dead People" / Rhonda V. Wilcox Wilcox, Rhonda V. 70

"Hey, Respect the Narrative Flow Much?": Problematic Storytelling in Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Richard S. Albright Albright, Richard S. 84

All Those Apocalypses: Disaster Studies and Community in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel / Linda J. Jencson Jencson, Linda J. 99

Part 2 Angel

Angel: An introduction / Cynthea Masson Masson, Cynthea 115

"Enough of the Action, Let's Get Back to Dancing": Joss Whedon Directs Angel / Stagey Abbott Abbott, Stagey 119

What the Hell?: Angel's 'The Girl in Question" / Cynthea Masson Masson, Cynthea 134

Part 3 Firefly and Serenity

Firefly and Serenity: An Introduction / Tanya R. Cochran Cochran, Tanya R. 149

Firefly: Of Formats, Franchises, and Fox / Matthew Pateman Pateman, Matthew 153

"Wheel Never Stops Turning": Space and Time in Firefly and Serenity / Alyson R. Buckman Buckman, Alyson R. 169

Metaphoric Unity and Ending: Sending and Receiving Firefly's Last "Message" / Elizabeth L. Rambo Rambo, Elizabeth L. 185

Part 4 Dollhouse

Dollhouse: An Introduction / David Lavery Lavery, David 201

Reflections in the Pool: Echo, Narcissus, and the Male Gaze in Dollhouse / K. Dale Koontz Koontz, K. Dale 205

"There Is No Me; I'm Just a Container": Law and the Loss of Personhood in Dollhouse / Sharon Sutherland Sutherland, Sharon, Sarah Swan Swan, Sarah 221

Part 5 Beyond the Box

Joining the Evil League of Evil: The Rhetoric of Posthuman Negotiation in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Slog / Victoria Willis Willis, Victoria 237

Butty's Season 8, Image and Text: Superhero Self-Fashioning / Marni Stanley Stanley, Marni 250

Watchers in the Woods: Meta-Horror, Genre Hybridity, and Reality TV Critique in The Cabin in the Woods / Kristopher Karl Woofter Woofter, Kristopher Karl 268

Joss Whedon Throws His Mighty Shield: Marvel's The Avengers as War Movie / Ensley F. Guffey Guffey, Ensley F. 280

Part 6 Overarching Topics

Stuffing a Rabbit in It: Character, Narrative, and Time in the Whedonverses / Lorna Jowett Jowett, Lorna 297

Adventures in the Moral Imagination: Memory and Identity in Whedon's Narrative Ethics / J. Douglas Rabel Rabel, J. Douglas, J. Michael Richardson Richardson, J. Michael 312

Technology and Magic: Joss Whedon's Explorations of the Mind / Jeffrey Bussolini Bussolini, Jeffrey 325

From Old Heresies to Future Paradigms: Joss Whedon on Body and Soul / Gregory Erickson Erickson, Gregory 341

"Hot Chicks with Superpowers": The Contested Feminism of Joss Whedon / Lauren Schultz Schultz, Lauren 356

Whedon Studies: A Living History, 1999-2013 / Tanya R. Cochran Cochran, Tanya R. 371.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780815633648

0815633645

9780815610380

0815610386

OCLC:

863195034