Welcome to the Dollhouse

It's been quite a while since I've posted here - I devote this blog strictly to Whedon issues and primarily use it as an update site for my classes. Since I haven't had a Whedon class in a while (blasted global economic meltdown!), I've been focusing my energies elsewhere.

But now there's a new show. Have you checked out Dollhouse yet? If you missed the first episode, you can see the whole thing on Hulu for free. Just click here.

What do I think? Actually, the jury's still out on this one. I want to love it. Really, I do. It warmed my heart to see the stick-monster lurch across the screen and hear "Grr. Arrgh." again. (By the way, Dollhouse premiered five years to the day that the announcement broke that Angel had been cancelled. I'm just sayin'.)

The show has a fine cast and crew (look at the credits carefully - there are a host of producers [DeKnight, Fain, Craft, etc.] who have Whedon connections) - it's got quite the pedigree. Yet I must admit to being a wee bit disappointed at the ratio of dark action to quippy dialogue. Then again, it's a first episode, and much must be set up for later. I can be patient.

Names are always important and so far we have Echo, who has allowed herself to waste away from being a real person to a mere projected fantasy. Interestingly enough, the first "engagement" we see her on involves a self-centered rich boy who bought her as a "perfect date" for his party but is fine with her having to go; he has enough else to entertain him. Narcissus, party of one. Your table's ready. We also have Paul, who is apparently the only one who sees things as they truly are. No scales on this boy's eyes!

And watch for more references to eyes and vision. "Things are never what they appear to be." "That's because you're only seeing part of it." "Ms. Penn" being near-sighted. Nothing wanders into a Whedon-written script by happenstance and this could easily be a recurring theme.

This is a show that has great potential. I'll also admit to being troubled by parts of it. The "Actives" have apparently agreed to a five-year "term" with the Dollhouse, so it's not slavery. Yet what else can you reasonably call it when your memories and personality is stripped away and you are re-programmed to be someone else's fantasy? All sorts of interesting places to go here - identity is only one. There are also power issues to be explored - the Dollhouse is run by a woman; I thought of the Guild rule laid down in Whedon's Firefly that only women could run a House. Is prostitution better if it's female-led? If it's high-class and expensive? What will this show say about choice? Exploitation? And consequences? And it's just eerie to see the "dolls" being put up after everyone's done playing with them for the day.

So we'll have to see.

And please, make with the funny!

Once More, With Feeling!

No, it's not going to be a post about the Buffy musical episode, as much as I enjoy that! Rather, this is a post to remind everyone out there that the next class is quickly approaching! This one will expand beyond just Whedon (yes, I feel an ever-so-faint sense of betrayal) to use other shows as well in order to explore what it means to be human.

Large topic, so many shows will be used to provide examples. One area that science fiction does such a nice job of exploring is really looking hard at the question, "What does it mean to be human?" In addition, some of the best explorations of that question have come through non-human characters. (Interestingly enough, Whedon's most "sci-fic" show, Firefly, contains no non-human characters - it's a 'verse without aliens.) We'll take a look at shows such as Star Trek, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, as well as some Whedon offerings.

The local paper just ran an article about the class - thanks for commenting, Tucker! - with information about joining the class. You can read it here. The cost is low ($40 gets you six weeks), the class will be a blast (based on past performances; your actual experience may vary) and I look forward to seeing you there! Please - right now, I've been told that enrollment is very low, so if you are itnerested, please call the continuing education department at (704) 484-4015 and sign up. Tell your friends and bring 'em along!

Grr. Arrgh.

Signing Off for Now!

As you may know, I maintain this blog for Whedon purposes - here's where I post regarding classes, conferences, and so on. The next class is in the fall and SLAYAGE has concluded, so I won't be posting here for the remainder of the summer. I will, however, be posting over at my other, more general, blog. You can reach that here. Visit me there and decide which of these is my secret identity!

To keep you in the mood, my first post over there since returning from Arkadelphia sort of straddles the line - I went to the Charlotte "Can't Stop the Serenity" event last night (got home early this morning) and I'll be writing about that. Good times, great cause!


See you soon - and watch the "Dollhouse" trailer! Interesting times are ahead . . .

Arkansas, Day 3

The conference has wound down - which is always an occasion for melancholy. Conferences like this (not all of them, I can assure you) result in some very strong bonds between attendees that last far beyond the span of the conference itself. I will not attempt to recap every session I attended - it would make for a very long post, although if you're interested in particular papers and responses, I'd be happy to assist. Keep in mind that I was only able to attend a fraction of the sessions, since three or four sessions ran simultaneously.

However, mention has to be made of Janine Basinger's keynote address yesterday morning. Prof. Basinger teaches film at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and has been both a mentor and friend to Joss Whedon for 20+ years. She shared a number of insights and stories with a rapt audience and I'll admit to being a touch star-struck. She's sharp as a blade, yet quite approachable. You get the distinct feeling she not only does not suffer fools gladly, but is quite willing to have them eviscerated. And one of Whedon's great ongoing regrets is that he was unable to take her "The Four Directors" class - a sore point he apparently continues to bring up in discussions with her.

Stacey Abbott and Janet Halfyard both gave astonishingly strong presentations and no, it wasn't just because they had clips! Scholarship plus enthusiasm - that's the secret! Further, the "Mr. Pointy" award for best paper given at this conference was justly awarded to Cynthea Masson who presented on the oft-misunderstood episode "The Girl in Question." It's now on my "must rewatch" list. (By the way, the "Mr. Pointy" award is one of those rare academic awards that is not a plaque. Indeed, Cynthea may have a difficult time should she unwisely attempt to put it in her carry-on luggage!)

It's been a great time - my own paper on Doyle (presented in conjunction with musicologist Janet Halfyard's wonderful paper on the Orpheus myth and how Buffy manages to be both Orpheus and Eurydice; savior and saved; hero and heroine) was very well received, although questions were scant. It was the final day - people are a bit tired by then. The "Buffy Bookers" session was lovely and (for me) wonderfully circular. Two years ago, I was in the audience puzzling over how these people managed to get published. Now I was at the front of the room, wondering just which of those eager, bright-eyed folks out there was me two years back.

The circle not only continues, children, it becomes wider.

Arkansas, Day 2

Just a few observations from the second day of SLAYAGE here at Henderson State University, as it's late and I need to review my paper one more time before I turn in. I'm always a touch nervous about running too long in my presentations, so I need to look it over again and fret a little.

1. I love it here! These are truly wonderfully generous, intelligent, passionate people. Put us all together and you can't help but both have fun and get at least some glimmers of inspiration.
2. Rhonda Wilcox just sees things differently. She took an episode that I enjoy and have often thought is brilliant in its structure ("Conversations with Dead People" from Season 7, if you're interested) and shows you patterns and links that you never saw before. She does this so effortlessly that you want to throw yourself under a train. But then she's so generous towards the work of other people that you decide to stick around - besides, if you threw yourself under a train, it'd make quite a mess and she'd probably insist on cleaning it up.
3. Chinese fortune cookies that contain gems like this one that I got in my lunch today: "You will be the mast of all you survey." Not "master," but "mast." I still don't know what that one means. Smooth sailing, perhaps?
4. Matthew Pateman gets major points for (1) having Buffy and Angel cutouts in his office, (2) having his picture taken with said cutouts, and (3) presenting one of the most articulate answers to the question, "You study what?" that I've heard to date. And it's not just the English accent - his arguments are well thought out, humorous, and dead-on accurate.
5. It's great to be here. At most conferences, once the sessions are over for the day, attendees break off and head out to dinner, then maybe hit a club or just disappear into their rooms. I came home from dinner tonight (Arkansas BBQ - let us not speak of it. I grew up in mighty fine Carolina pig country and admit to being biased.) to find most attendees gathered around the lobby television. Yep, watching Buffy. Together.