20 Years of BtVS

[shapinglight]

I was not able to get online yesterday (or the day before) for various reasons, and as a consequence missed being able to post on Buffy the Vampire Slayer's 20th anniversary.

Terrible really, given that this TV show changed my life in so many ways. I met all of you lovely people for a start, and if that were the only thing to be grateful to Joss, the writers, the actors, and everyone else involved in the show for, it would still be a huge thing.

But BtVS is more than just a TV show that people get fannish about, chat with each other online about, make art and fic about. Lots of TV shows do that, and who is going to remember many of them in twenty years' time?

No, BtVS was (and still is) a seminal cultural document, if you like. It did exactly what Joss set out to do when he thought of the original idea - influence the cultural zeitgeist. Before BtVS, there were great female characters on TV, of course, but I honestly don't remember a TV show before BtVS - certainly not a fantasy/sci-fi one - with a female character like Buffy as lead- strong, brave, empowered, but also very relatable.

Okay, Xena, but I think it's a lot more difficult to relate to an angry leather-clad amazon with a big sword

Well, I could witter on pompously for quite some time, but I'm going to have to get offline again soon, so anyway, wish I had not missed the anniversary, and let's hope that by the time BtVS's thirtieth anniversary rolls around, we're all still here talking about it.

And not because we're complaining that no one has managed (still!) to create a female TV character with even half of Buffy's greatness in the meantime.

You know, the more I think about it, the more it bugs me that I wasn't able to post this yesterday and that I won't be able to catch up with all your lovely posts until Monday evening at the earliest, but better late than never, I guess, and from my very superficial scan of everyone's posts, you've all done BtVS proud

Comments

[molly_may]

It's still hard for me to believe that it's been twenty years!

No, BtVS was (and still is) a seminal cultural document, if you like. It did exactly what Joss set out to do when he thought of the original idea - influence the cultural zeitgeist. Before BtVS, there were great female characters on TV, of course, but I honestly don't remember a TV show before BtVS - certainly not a fantasy/sci-fi one - with a female character like Buffy as lead- strong, brave, empowered, but also very relatable.

It shouldn't still seem so revolutionary, but somehow it is.

[shapinglight]

It shouldn't still seem so revolutionary, but somehow it is.

I agree, it shouldn't, and that it still does is rather sad. There have been great female characters in genre shows (and mainstream shows) in the years since, but I'm still left with the vague feeling that what BtVS has to teach the TV industry is a lesson still not really learned, or at least misunderstood.

[yourlibrarian]

let's hope that by the time BtVS's thirtieth anniversary rolls around, we're all still here talking about it.

Hear, hear. I agree, too, about Buffy's portrayal, although some of this has to do with the length of time the show was able to stay on the air as well as her being in the lead role. It allowed for more time to develop the facets of her character as well as that of other women on the show.

Speaking of all the coverage, I was tickled that someone posted the very article that convinced me to check out the show: http://yourlibrariandw.tumblr.com/post/158276783009/elizabethminkel-on-the-anniversary-of-the

[shapinglight]

Heh! That's a coincidence.

[maia]

♥ ♥

*Hugs you*

[shapinglight]

:Hugs back:

[kikimay]

Buffy is THE BEST, honestly. It changed a lot of things and it was always emotionally engaging, either in a sad/dramatic way or in a funny way. Best best best.

[shapinglight]

I absolutely agree. :)

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

I thought you were probably frantically busy. :) We're all still be here Monday though. :D

And yes, Buffy is my favourite show, now, and I suspect, for always.

[shapinglight]

I think mine too.

[kerkevik-2014.livejournal.com]

For all its flaws and imperfections Buffy never stops giving hope for the future; ideas for stories; new friends and new perceptions.

[shapinglight]

Absolutely.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

It was a brilliant show, even when it drove me crazy *g* And yes, without it, I would ever have discovered so many great people and so many brilliant writers, artists and general good eggs. (As opposed to the bad eggs in the basement of the Sunnydale high school *g*)

[shapinglight]

Yes, a lot to be grateful for.

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful to read the outpouring of Buffy love this anniversary is generating.

[shapinglight]

I only managed to skim it all, but yes, it's great to see.

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

It's hard to even put into words what the show has meant. I know there are other shows with large fandoms, but I'm not aware of any that were life-changing in the way Buffy was. So many people who posted talked about how Buffy inspired them during difficult periods in their life. It almost feels like a religion. Without the silly rituals. And with Spike.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

And so say all of us. *g*

[dalmeny]

I agree. I still meet people who mention Buffy in passing and then we give each other a knowing look.

I know there are other shows with large fandoms, but I'm not aware of any that were life-changing in the way Buffy was.

I know the original Star Trek changed the lives of some, perhaps in similar ways. I'm less sure about other fandoms.

[shapinglight]

I still meet people who mention Buffy in passing and then we give each other a knowing look.

:)

Maybe we should have a secret handshake?

[shapinglight]

It almost feels like a religion. Without the silly rituals. And with Spike.

Yes, pretty much perfect. ;)

[kathyh]

BtVS was (and still is) a seminal cultural document

Yup, I've been a fan of many TV shows both before and since Buffy, but none of them has felt as important as Buffy does in what it has achieved in cultural terms. And it has done it while making people laugh and cry, which is not something you can always say about things that are culturally important.

[shapinglight]

And it has done it while making people laugh and cry, which is not something you can always say about things that are culturally important.

True. Usually, such things are pretty deadly serious.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

BtVS changed my life. <3

I spent the whole week posting about Buffy on Facebook.

[shapinglight]

:)

That's great. I'm not on Facebook and never will be, but I'm glad people were celebrating on there too.

[sandy-s.livejournal.com]

*sniffs*

[shapinglight]

:Hands you a tissue: :Gives you a hug:

[dalmeny]

I still think about the show every day, which is amazing really.

[shapinglight]

Yes, I'm pretty sure I do too. Do you still write fanfic at all?

[dalmeny]

In my head, almost every day. On screen? Rarely. I have a long piece about Drusilla that's been 90% done for five years now, dwyld even gave me a beta, but I haven't quite managed to finish it. Parts of it are quite daunting.

[shapinglight]

Ple-ase finish it. Ple-ase! Ple-ase!

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

I missed the date too. It was definitely life-changing.

[shapinglight]

It really was. Without it, I would never have met you for a start (and possibly never got really into birding).

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

Oh, really? Well, we should do some more! But my life is so complicated now - three jobs instead of one ... but I want to visit you again one day!

[shapinglight]

That would be nice. If you came at the right time of year (ie. spring), I could take you to see the black grouse lekking.

[sibilant.livejournal.com]

Buffy shaped my whole internet experience, as I started watching around the same time as I started surfing (how old-fashioned that expression sounds now). Everything (and everyone, almost) I know online, I know through Buffy. So it's truly seminal for me. I still have my old Buffy paperbacks - maybe I should read them this year and then spread the love via the charity shops.

Thanks to all of you for 20 years of stories, art, thoughtful comment and friendship!

[shapinglight]

Buffy shaped my whole internet experience, as I started watching around the same time as I started surfing (how old-fashioned that expression sounds now).

Me too. In fact, I only really cared about being online to start with because of BtVS. I wanted to join in with the fandom.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

In the last few day so many people have posted how BtVS changed their lives (I am, of course, one of those people.) It still excites and confuses me that a TV show had such an impact on my life and that so many others feel the same way. I've been enjoying reading all post about the 20th anniversary but I am especially enjoying seeing old friends come back to lj just to post about the anniversary.

[shapinglight]

It still excites and confuses me that a TV show had such an impact on my life and that so many others feel the same way.

Yeah, me too, but I'm very glad it did.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

Yup!!!

I don't know if have hear but there is a new group in FB called " friends reunion 2017" Many "pld time BtVS fans (from lj) have joined. You have to be invited. If you wish to be included send me a PM with your FB name, (if you belong to FB)

[shapinglight]

I was told abut the group, yes. I don't have a Facebook account, though, and don't intend to get one, so sadly I will have to give it a miss.

I appreciate the offer, though.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

OK, if you would like I could keep you posted if anything good happens.

[shapinglight]

I would appreciate that. Thank you. :)

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

Sure, no problem! :D

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Isn't it enough to just be proud of Buffy as it is such an amazing show that so many get so many different things out of? :-) At least that's how I see it about both Xena and Buffy. (And now I want an icon with both of them on, dammit... :-P )

[shapinglight]

(And now I want an icon with both of them on, dammit... :-P )

Well, I'm sure there's one somewhere.