Keynote Address:
"I'm Like a Superhero": Buffy and Power
- Dr Catherine Driscoll (University of Adelaide)
Power
Buffy and the role of the Slayer.
A distinction between types of girls.
The Wish shows a more integrated Buffy/Slayer
The routine of slaying.
Anne: 'Family Home' represents what she lacks
Loss of identity
Exaggerated capitalist dystopia which Buufy destroys (hammer and sickle)
As a slayer:
Physically improbable
Socially uncomfortable
-yet just a girl.
Ordinary Buffy
- all her roles
- all 'girl' stuff
What else might Buffy be?
This is explored by other universes and other slayers
Kendra
- non-whiteness
- obedience to council regime
- no 'girl' stuff (limited wardrobe is fashionalbe though)
Faith
- class position
- social norms, no family
- external to institutions (no watcher or council)
- "Want. Take. Have."
- Refuses emotional connection (remorse) which sets her to the dark side, despite all her steraling and promiscuity before.
Kendra and Faith are more aligned with their slayer sleves than Buffy which is their failing.
Who Are You? - Buffy and Faith confront their doppelganger selves.
Xander - key point of relation to the audience, the Everyman.
Buffy - Helpless - her as ordinary girl. Her first deisre is for her powers. Recollection
of her previous shallow existence.
"If I'm not the slayer, why would you like me?"
First appearance of the council - manipulative.
Demonically enhanced boyfriends
- they have no choice over their "states" (soul, G.I. Joe, chip) as Buffy has no choice over being the slayer.
Not emasculation but negotiation of power.
Knowledge as a mode of power.
Glory needs Buffy
Checkpoint: Gender and age heirarchies "Miss Summers"
The university
Binaries
- Ben/Glory
- Angel/Angelus
- Souled/Unsouled
- Girl/Slayer
The only other people to have physical power are other slayers and her boyfriends.