...But it's really the most exciting and enjoyable thing I've been doing on a regular basis.
My summer schedule has been: wake up by 7:30, go to the pool and swim 1000 meters (minimum), go to work for eight hours, then go straight to tae kwon do, and finally home for a shower, dinner, an episode of Buffy/Angel, and bed by 11 so I can get up early and do it all again. I don't really have unstructured free time, but I'm in the emotional range of content to happy with everything I'm doing.
Tae Kwon Do has been a pretty big part of my life since my sophomore year of high school. It was the first sport I was really able to stick with because there was no external pressure or expectations I had to meet or exceed. It's all about my personal journey and interactions with the school community, not what a coach wants me to be doing. I really needed, and still need, an outlet where I can be my own person, set my own goals, and still be part of a strong community.
I cannot even begin to explain the types of friendships I have formed in the dojang because it is such a random group of people. There's a certain type of trust one needs to share with his/her training partners, and that leads to conversations about what you're doing, which lead to conversations about life, and soon enough you have made a friend in a person you otherwise never would have met. These relationships are great when I'm home, but are what truly make me miss my school when I'm away at college.
I've always had a special place in my heart for classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first classes I ever took were on those weekdays, and when I switched to taking classes at the main school, I went on those days. In the year to year and a half leading up to my black belt test, I started going 5-6 days each week, but Tuesday and Thursday are always TKD days in my mind.
The instructor for those classes has a particular kind of creativity that I have never found elsewhere. Her alternative approaches that train the same techniques as every other traditional class have truly made me a better martial artist and a more creative thinker. I think we understand each other in a very unique way. Lately, I've been going to class early to work on self defense with her. This has been the most important training I've done all summer. It's a different way of thinking, because I really don't live in a violent world, and having to seriously contemplate these scenarios makes me uncomfortable (as evidenced by the "uncomfortable face" which I cannot complete a session without making). Better to be uncomfortable now than freaking out and having a blank mind if I should be attacked.
Anyway, tonight's class with her was simply wonderful. We did a drill where each student had to contribute 3 kicks to make a string of 9. I had to come up with the first three, and she knew exactly what I was thinking, so, because she said it before I could, I came up with an entirely different set. The second and third strings were different; she assigned a variation (hopping, skipping, jumping, flying) to each contributor. I had hopping and jumping, respectively, and I was a bit mean; I used a hopping axe kick, which is tricky in terms of balance, and a jumping turning wheel kick, which is nearly impossible to do. It was fun though...
Then we worked on kicking two bags over, about 400-500 pounds of material. I'd done it once about a year ago, but I couldn't do it tonight. Something to work on before class :) Finally, we all worked on a skipping side kick speed break. I'm so close!!!!!! Goal for the summer. I will drive around with that board until it is decimated. I refuse to leave for school with it intact.
The way the combination of personal growth, sense of community, and athletic work combine make an amazing training experience. When I'm tired or sore, the other aspects of at TKD class make it worthwhile to go to the dojang anyway and be with the people who make me stronger mentally and physically.
Today is awesome because I was reminded of the lightheartedness and pure fun that can be part of Tae Kwon Do.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2--My Experience
Thursday, July 14, 2011 was as awesome as I had hoped and planned for it to be.
I got up, had a great swim at the pool, concluded a camp session at work, and had a great night at Tae Kwon Do. I got picked up at 9:00 to go to the premiere.
My costume consisted of a white button-down shirt, my high school uniform skirt, my Gryffindor tie, the wand my friend gave me at her Harry Potter themed birthday party (Poplar (should be Ash, but I think they're related?), 14 inches, Unicorn core), and a red schoolbag. It is the most complete costume I have ever put together myself, and I'm really proud of it. Plus, I looked quite good as a Hogwarts student :)
Before heading to the theater, we went to Giant Eagle to buy an ice cream cake, which we smuggled into the theater and ate in the hour before the movie >.<
When we got to the cinema, it was so busy!! There were lines inside and outside to get into the various theaters, but our auditorium was already seating, so we went straight there. In the hour between getting seats and the start of the movie, we, as a group, got many compliments on our costumes: 2 Gryffindors, a Slytherin, Luna, Dobby, Kreacher, Fred, George, and Draco Malfoy. It was awesome!! I particularly loved dueling with Malfoy and our friend who brought her sonic screwdriver. Mixing fandoms for the win!
So, the film...
I am content. They moved the action along and showed the passages in Gringotts, Hogsmeade, and The Battle of Hogwarts. The horcruxes were done satisfactorily, and Snape was redeemed. I loved Neville, the escape from Gringotts was epic, and the visualizations of magic were really cool.
BUT:
I was dissatisfied with the way time moved in this film. The entire seventh book of the series demonstrates that fighting evil takes time, and it seemed like Harry just said, "Hey guys, let's break into Gringotts," and they did it immediately. In the book, every event except the battle takes at least a day, often weeks and months of planning, before it is executed. Everything moved so continuously and fast that the waiting and planning was lost.
There was nothing about the Dumbledore/Grindelwald/Ariana stuff. The filmmakers shifted the focus to be exclusively in Harry's story, but I always felt that Deathly Hallows is much more about Dumbledore than it is about Harry/Voldemort, and the story of Dumbledore's youth is very important in the book.
I really wanted them to spend more time on "The Prince's Tale" (and not just because of the amazing wrock album). As a character in the books, Snape is quite dynamic, and this chapter adds to his roundness while filling in the details of his motivations for every action he takes. In the films, Snape is portrayed rather flatly, which makes me sad because Alan Rickman is such an amazing actor. I wanted all of the memories to be there, particularly the happy memories of his friendship with Lily and the way he brought about his own downfall by ruining that relationship. He is a much more sympathetic character in the book, and I really hoped for him to be similarly redeemed in the film.
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH" should have been bigger. I appreciated Molly's contained rage, but when Rowling writes in all caps, the line needs to be outwardly, wildly passionate. And shouted. It was okay but not great.
Harry never mended the Phoenix wand. It is a very important moment in the book when he uses the Elder wand to repair the broken Phoenix wand before destroying the Hallow, and that was entirely ignored. Essentially, Harry broke his wand without having a new one, and he would never continue to use Malfoy's Hawthorne wand. It may seem like a detail, but it should have been there because it shows Harry's growth as a person for him to be able to discard a powerful object in favor of his own belonging.
The Epilogue made me want brain bleach. I couldn't stand it in the book, and it was just horrible to see them age the actors just so Harry could call Snape the bravest man he ever knew. The film would have had a fine ending if it had stopped when the characters were still 17.
Overall, it was good. I don't feel the need to watch it again, and it certainly wasn't as good at Part 1, but it was satisfying in its own way.
I must reiterate that the final film does not mean this series/phenomenon/fandom is going to end. There is too much for it to be over already, and I plan on sticking around to see what comes next. Whether it is a con, a new wrock album, or the legendary Pottermore, fans will never have to miss this world we have grown to love so much. Plus, I can relate anything to Harry Potter (test me on this; I've succeeded in such topics as religious theory and Tae Kwon Do), so it will always be fresh in my mind for there to be a metaphor/analogy for things to make sense.
Today is awesome because I threw battle axes at the Medieval Faire.
I got up, had a great swim at the pool, concluded a camp session at work, and had a great night at Tae Kwon Do. I got picked up at 9:00 to go to the premiere.
My costume consisted of a white button-down shirt, my high school uniform skirt, my Gryffindor tie, the wand my friend gave me at her Harry Potter themed birthday party (Poplar (should be Ash, but I think they're related?), 14 inches, Unicorn core), and a red schoolbag. It is the most complete costume I have ever put together myself, and I'm really proud of it. Plus, I looked quite good as a Hogwarts student :)
Before heading to the theater, we went to Giant Eagle to buy an ice cream cake, which we smuggled into the theater and ate in the hour before the movie >.<
When we got to the cinema, it was so busy!! There were lines inside and outside to get into the various theaters, but our auditorium was already seating, so we went straight there. In the hour between getting seats and the start of the movie, we, as a group, got many compliments on our costumes: 2 Gryffindors, a Slytherin, Luna, Dobby, Kreacher, Fred, George, and Draco Malfoy. It was awesome!! I particularly loved dueling with Malfoy and our friend who brought her sonic screwdriver. Mixing fandoms for the win!
So, the film...
I am content. They moved the action along and showed the passages in Gringotts, Hogsmeade, and The Battle of Hogwarts. The horcruxes were done satisfactorily, and Snape was redeemed. I loved Neville, the escape from Gringotts was epic, and the visualizations of magic were really cool.
BUT:
I was dissatisfied with the way time moved in this film. The entire seventh book of the series demonstrates that fighting evil takes time, and it seemed like Harry just said, "Hey guys, let's break into Gringotts," and they did it immediately. In the book, every event except the battle takes at least a day, often weeks and months of planning, before it is executed. Everything moved so continuously and fast that the waiting and planning was lost.
There was nothing about the Dumbledore/Grindelwald/Ariana stuff. The filmmakers shifted the focus to be exclusively in Harry's story, but I always felt that Deathly Hallows is much more about Dumbledore than it is about Harry/Voldemort, and the story of Dumbledore's youth is very important in the book.
I really wanted them to spend more time on "The Prince's Tale" (and not just because of the amazing wrock album). As a character in the books, Snape is quite dynamic, and this chapter adds to his roundness while filling in the details of his motivations for every action he takes. In the films, Snape is portrayed rather flatly, which makes me sad because Alan Rickman is such an amazing actor. I wanted all of the memories to be there, particularly the happy memories of his friendship with Lily and the way he brought about his own downfall by ruining that relationship. He is a much more sympathetic character in the book, and I really hoped for him to be similarly redeemed in the film.
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH" should have been bigger. I appreciated Molly's contained rage, but when Rowling writes in all caps, the line needs to be outwardly, wildly passionate. And shouted. It was okay but not great.
Harry never mended the Phoenix wand. It is a very important moment in the book when he uses the Elder wand to repair the broken Phoenix wand before destroying the Hallow, and that was entirely ignored. Essentially, Harry broke his wand without having a new one, and he would never continue to use Malfoy's Hawthorne wand. It may seem like a detail, but it should have been there because it shows Harry's growth as a person for him to be able to discard a powerful object in favor of his own belonging.
The Epilogue made me want brain bleach. I couldn't stand it in the book, and it was just horrible to see them age the actors just so Harry could call Snape the bravest man he ever knew. The film would have had a fine ending if it had stopped when the characters were still 17.
Overall, it was good. I don't feel the need to watch it again, and it certainly wasn't as good at Part 1, but it was satisfying in its own way.
I must reiterate that the final film does not mean this series/phenomenon/fandom is going to end. There is too much for it to be over already, and I plan on sticking around to see what comes next. Whether it is a con, a new wrock album, or the legendary Pottermore, fans will never have to miss this world we have grown to love so much. Plus, I can relate anything to Harry Potter (test me on this; I've succeeded in such topics as religious theory and Tae Kwon Do), so it will always be fresh in my mind for there to be a metaphor/analogy for things to make sense.
Today is awesome because I threw battle axes at the Medieval Faire.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
My Day...Thursday, July 21, 2011
Yes, I'm postponing my Harry Potter post. Today was just too strange not to write about.
So, things started out normally. I woke up, ate breakfast, and went to the pool. However, it was 80 degrees outside at 8AM.
After my lovely 1000 meter swim (and I swam all thousand meters without stopping, which I've never done before. I usually breathe after 500 or 600), I went to work. I knew it was going to be hot today, so that wasn't a big deal.
The morning went by pretty normally. I did some emailing, some typing, and finished the Survivor activity I made for the campers. Lunch was fine, and then we went into the afternoon. More desk time, then at 2:00, the former camp director arrived to visit before the evening activity he volunteered to run.
This man is 68 years old and was the camp director when I was a camper. He remembered me instantly when I answered the phone for the first time, and it was so great to see him.
So, he got there, I signed him in, walked some campers to the pool, and went back to the office to wait for the next visitor to arrive at 3:00. Sometime between 2 and 3, the current camp director left to make a trip up to the nature center to get a tree finder book for tomorrow's activity. I signed in the visitors, took them down to the pool, was about to get in, when the power went out at camp. No swimming in the pool. So, the director is out, there are visitors on campus, and someone needs to escort the former camp director around since the assistant director who was with him has to deal with the power outage.
I got to spend the afternoon with my former camp director. And we went on a hike through the woods in the 110 degree heat (this is from the weather.com real feel analysis; it was actually 97, which isn't much better). It was great to spend time with him, but when we finished that walk, I was dripping with sweat, sunscreen, and bug spray. Ew.
I rinsed off in the bathhouse, got changed, and left for Tae Kwon Do class. I got to the dojang early, as usual, and we trained in tee shirts today because of the heat. When I walked into the room, the fans were on, and the Tuesday/Thursday instructor never uses the fans. Ever.
She offered to let me train in the shorts I was wearing, and I tied on my belt and started stretching, then it was too emotionally weird to be training in shorts, so I put on my pants despite the heat. It felt more serious and respectful of what we were doing to be in half the uniform rather than none of it.
In the before class time, I worked on my knife defense with my instructor. We've been working for a couple weeks now, and I benefit so much from those training sessions.
I think the quote of the day is, "Steph, for a person who doesn't like violence very much, you take to it quite nicely."
After half class (shortened for the heat), we went down the street for coffee, then I finally got to be in my air conditioned home after being out for 12 hours.
It was the most well-deserved shower of my life.
Today is awesome because of how random everything was AND because I designed tomorrow's camp activity.
So, things started out normally. I woke up, ate breakfast, and went to the pool. However, it was 80 degrees outside at 8AM.
After my lovely 1000 meter swim (and I swam all thousand meters without stopping, which I've never done before. I usually breathe after 500 or 600), I went to work. I knew it was going to be hot today, so that wasn't a big deal.
The morning went by pretty normally. I did some emailing, some typing, and finished the Survivor activity I made for the campers. Lunch was fine, and then we went into the afternoon. More desk time, then at 2:00, the former camp director arrived to visit before the evening activity he volunteered to run.
This man is 68 years old and was the camp director when I was a camper. He remembered me instantly when I answered the phone for the first time, and it was so great to see him.
So, he got there, I signed him in, walked some campers to the pool, and went back to the office to wait for the next visitor to arrive at 3:00. Sometime between 2 and 3, the current camp director left to make a trip up to the nature center to get a tree finder book for tomorrow's activity. I signed in the visitors, took them down to the pool, was about to get in, when the power went out at camp. No swimming in the pool. So, the director is out, there are visitors on campus, and someone needs to escort the former camp director around since the assistant director who was with him has to deal with the power outage.
I got to spend the afternoon with my former camp director. And we went on a hike through the woods in the 110 degree heat (this is from the weather.com real feel analysis; it was actually 97, which isn't much better). It was great to spend time with him, but when we finished that walk, I was dripping with sweat, sunscreen, and bug spray. Ew.
I rinsed off in the bathhouse, got changed, and left for Tae Kwon Do class. I got to the dojang early, as usual, and we trained in tee shirts today because of the heat. When I walked into the room, the fans were on, and the Tuesday/Thursday instructor never uses the fans. Ever.
She offered to let me train in the shorts I was wearing, and I tied on my belt and started stretching, then it was too emotionally weird to be training in shorts, so I put on my pants despite the heat. It felt more serious and respectful of what we were doing to be in half the uniform rather than none of it.
In the before class time, I worked on my knife defense with my instructor. We've been working for a couple weeks now, and I benefit so much from those training sessions.
I think the quote of the day is, "Steph, for a person who doesn't like violence very much, you take to it quite nicely."
After half class (shortened for the heat), we went down the street for coffee, then I finally got to be in my air conditioned home after being out for 12 hours.
It was the most well-deserved shower of my life.
Today is awesome because of how random everything was AND because I designed tomorrow's camp activity.
Monday, July 11, 2011
HARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTER!!!!!
If you couldn't tell from the title of this blog, I'm super excited for the Harry Potter premiere. I'm actually going to a midnight showing in costume AND I'm playing wizard rock at the theater before it starts, so it's basically a dream come true. As the mainstream production of this series comes to an end, those of us who are pretty deep in the fandom feel a conflicted sadness because, on the one hand, HP will no longer be in the forefront of the public consciousness in the same way ever again, but, on the other hand, there will still be wizard rock, cons, fan sites, and the community of fans that has been growing since the series came out.
My preparation has consisted of listening to nonstop wizard rock, practicing on my guitar, and prepping my costume. I'm not really letting myself think of this movie as an ending because "no matter what the last [film--formerly "book"] implies, the fun isn't over, so save your good-byes" (Lauren Fairweather, "Post-Potter Depression").
Last week, Lauren Fairweather released an album she has been working on for quite a while now. It's a solo wizard rock album called "The Prince's Tale," and chronicles Snape's memories in the chapter of Deathly Hallows with the same name.
It is the best wizard rock album I have ever heard.
Lauren was able to get to the emotional core of each memory, tell the story, and make me feel what the characters were feeling, all in 10 songs. I love the way the songs alternate between Lily and Snape's points of view. And I love every single song on that album, both individually and as part of the entire album. It's rare for me to love every song because I usually find myself skipping at least one or two.
I think the thing I appreciate most about this musical work is the instrumentation. It is guitar, ukulele, bass, drums, banjo, and clarinet. I never expected the clarinet parts, but they add so much to the overall sound of the album, and it's actually my favorite part.
So, I have faith in the fandom. We'll still be here after this film, after the Pottermore hype dies down (because I don't think that's going to be quite as big as everyone is anticipating), and we'll always be ready to welcome the next generation of fans.
Today is awesome because this is a week when everyone is as excited about Harry Potter as I am on a regular basis.
My preparation has consisted of listening to nonstop wizard rock, practicing on my guitar, and prepping my costume. I'm not really letting myself think of this movie as an ending because "no matter what the last [film--formerly "book"] implies, the fun isn't over, so save your good-byes" (Lauren Fairweather, "Post-Potter Depression").
Last week, Lauren Fairweather released an album she has been working on for quite a while now. It's a solo wizard rock album called "The Prince's Tale," and chronicles Snape's memories in the chapter of Deathly Hallows with the same name.
It is the best wizard rock album I have ever heard.
Lauren was able to get to the emotional core of each memory, tell the story, and make me feel what the characters were feeling, all in 10 songs. I love the way the songs alternate between Lily and Snape's points of view. And I love every single song on that album, both individually and as part of the entire album. It's rare for me to love every song because I usually find myself skipping at least one or two.
I think the thing I appreciate most about this musical work is the instrumentation. It is guitar, ukulele, bass, drums, banjo, and clarinet. I never expected the clarinet parts, but they add so much to the overall sound of the album, and it's actually my favorite part.
So, I have faith in the fandom. We'll still be here after this film, after the Pottermore hype dies down (because I don't think that's going to be quite as big as everyone is anticipating), and we'll always be ready to welcome the next generation of fans.
Today is awesome because this is a week when everyone is as excited about Harry Potter as I am on a regular basis.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Summer 2011 and Some Book Reviews
So, I haven't blogged in about a month because there's been nothing to say.
I got home, went straight to work, and haven't really had time to do much of anything. I have an arduously long commute every day to an uneventful workday followed by TKD classes in the evenings. This keeps me busy for 12 hours outside my house in a constant go-mode. My work week is strange because of the way the camp sessions fall, so I don't get to spend much time with my friends. I'm living in a state of general discontent rather than the general happiness that was my school life.
Last week, my dog died, so I'm dealing with that. It really sucks, but I'm getting better. He was old, it was his time, but I'm still sad about it. I did some writing when the emotions were really raw, and maybe I'll share some of that later.
Tae Kwon Do classes are the highlight of my week. They are a time when I get to do something I love in a place where I feel valued. Tonight I was singled out for some leadership in class, and that felt amazing. When I'm in class, I forget all of the lifesuck that's been going on this summer, and I can just train. And I get to hit stuff. It's really the best thing for me.
I've done a bit of reading this summer, and all three books I've read this month have been amazing. The first one I read was The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. It was a WWII story from the American perspective, and it followed a doctor, his wife, the postmistress of a small town on the Massachusetts Cape, and a radio journalist. The plots were masterfully interwoven to tell an emotional and relevant story.
The second book I read was Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I don't really need to go into the awesomeness of this humorous apocalypse novel simply because it can be inferred from the authors. I even loved reading the authors' notes. These two have a great narrative voice and I loved all the components of their story.
Finally, I read a book today that I can't really talk about because I read an advance reader's copy.
Basically, I miss my friends. I miss having time for myself to relax (other than all this reading, but I've been doing that to avoid boredom). I miss feeling like I have a place in the community where I spend most of my time. I'm ready for the unscheduled time in August/September and the transition to sophomore year.
Today is awesome because I read a really good book. (See? Even when life isn't 100% happy and wonderful, there's something awesome in every day)
I got home, went straight to work, and haven't really had time to do much of anything. I have an arduously long commute every day to an uneventful workday followed by TKD classes in the evenings. This keeps me busy for 12 hours outside my house in a constant go-mode. My work week is strange because of the way the camp sessions fall, so I don't get to spend much time with my friends. I'm living in a state of general discontent rather than the general happiness that was my school life.
Last week, my dog died, so I'm dealing with that. It really sucks, but I'm getting better. He was old, it was his time, but I'm still sad about it. I did some writing when the emotions were really raw, and maybe I'll share some of that later.
Tae Kwon Do classes are the highlight of my week. They are a time when I get to do something I love in a place where I feel valued. Tonight I was singled out for some leadership in class, and that felt amazing. When I'm in class, I forget all of the lifesuck that's been going on this summer, and I can just train. And I get to hit stuff. It's really the best thing for me.
I've done a bit of reading this summer, and all three books I've read this month have been amazing. The first one I read was The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. It was a WWII story from the American perspective, and it followed a doctor, his wife, the postmistress of a small town on the Massachusetts Cape, and a radio journalist. The plots were masterfully interwoven to tell an emotional and relevant story.
The second book I read was Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I don't really need to go into the awesomeness of this humorous apocalypse novel simply because it can be inferred from the authors. I even loved reading the authors' notes. These two have a great narrative voice and I loved all the components of their story.
Finally, I read a book today that I can't really talk about because I read an advance reader's copy.
Basically, I miss my friends. I miss having time for myself to relax (other than all this reading, but I've been doing that to avoid boredom). I miss feeling like I have a place in the community where I spend most of my time. I'm ready for the unscheduled time in August/September and the transition to sophomore year.
Today is awesome because I read a really good book. (See? Even when life isn't 100% happy and wonderful, there's something awesome in every day)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
At Night by the Lake: A Poem
Great times with friends,
Indoors and out.
Spontaneity is my friend;
Sitting on the rocks,
The sounds recalling Inisfree,
The sights recalling Eliot.
Living and loving the poetry of the moment:
The people,
And the place,
And the people in the place,
Wondering at
The vastness of the universe
And the majesty of nature.
Telling stories,
Being together,
Living these final days
Before Summer,
Appreciating each other.
In the moment the words don't come.
The poetry is there,
Ours for the taking,
Bringing beauty from this
Experience that will never be
Replicated,
As we recognize the splendor
Around us.
This is why today is awesome.
Indoors and out.
Spontaneity is my friend;
Sitting on the rocks,
The sounds recalling Inisfree,
The sights recalling Eliot.
Living and loving the poetry of the moment:
The people,
And the place,
And the people in the place,
Wondering at
The vastness of the universe
And the majesty of nature.
Telling stories,
Being together,
Living these final days
Before Summer,
Appreciating each other.
In the moment the words don't come.
The poetry is there,
Ours for the taking,
Bringing beauty from this
Experience that will never be
Replicated,
As we recognize the splendor
Around us.
This is why today is awesome.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Things I've Learned from Season 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I'm watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer from start to finish, and I just got through season 1. It's wonderful :) I now understand so many references in nerd culture that I didn't really get before other than the recognition of, "oh, that's from Buffy. I should watch that sometime." Well, now I am. It's also a really good way to pass the time between finals and moving out.
So, things I've learned in season 1:
1. I am now seeing the 1990s from a young adult perspective. I was really young when Buffy was running, too young to watch or be aware of popular culture beyond Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, so seeing that decade through the eyes of people around my age is a stark contrast from where we are now. The 1990s was a distinctive decade in terms of fashion and slang, and I never even realized it. However, this show would benefit from cell phones. Who even used beepers?
2. It's important to stay pretty, even when slaying, because you want the vampires to compliment your prom dress. But really, Buffy has the balance of toughness and girliness that makes it characteristic for her to remain pretty (and care about being pretty) no matter the circumstances.
3. Joss Whedon is my kind of feminist. He lets Buffy be a girl, but also the strongest, toughest, most independent character in the entire series. She does things on her own terms, which is exactly how I think all women should behave. She doesn't let Cordelia get to her, nor does she get so caught up in the boy drama that she looses sight of herself.
4. Don't smoke; you will get attacked by monsters.
5. School principals are obsessed with not being sued. (This is just a memorable moment from the episode with the invisible girl. Harmony gets pushed down the stairs and the principal says, "Are you okay? Don't sue!" It's a caricature that stuck with me.)
6. Buffy needs to slay Edward. He's a creep, and she's awesome.
7. Angel is what Edward was meant to be. He's the good vampire, really good-looking, enigmatic, and totally in love with the female protagonist. I know Spike exists and comes in later, but right now I'm obsessed with Angel.
8. Willow and Xander are awesome! I can see some impending awkwardness from the love triangle in season 1, but they make such good friends for Buffy that I can't help liking them.
9. Giles proves that studying is always the answer. Getting attacked by the undead? Go read some books on how to overcome them.
10. When you live in a small town, everyone always goes to the one club every night. I don't even see the draw of the Bronze, but I guess it's either that or ice cream, so they'd rather dance.
There's more that I'm picking up as I go along, but these are the ten most obvious to me.
Today is awesome because Buffy prevented the apocalypse. And because I've worn shorts for an entire week now; that means summer is really here!!!
So, things I've learned in season 1:
1. I am now seeing the 1990s from a young adult perspective. I was really young when Buffy was running, too young to watch or be aware of popular culture beyond Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, so seeing that decade through the eyes of people around my age is a stark contrast from where we are now. The 1990s was a distinctive decade in terms of fashion and slang, and I never even realized it. However, this show would benefit from cell phones. Who even used beepers?
2. It's important to stay pretty, even when slaying, because you want the vampires to compliment your prom dress. But really, Buffy has the balance of toughness and girliness that makes it characteristic for her to remain pretty (and care about being pretty) no matter the circumstances.
3. Joss Whedon is my kind of feminist. He lets Buffy be a girl, but also the strongest, toughest, most independent character in the entire series. She does things on her own terms, which is exactly how I think all women should behave. She doesn't let Cordelia get to her, nor does she get so caught up in the boy drama that she looses sight of herself.
4. Don't smoke; you will get attacked by monsters.
5. School principals are obsessed with not being sued. (This is just a memorable moment from the episode with the invisible girl. Harmony gets pushed down the stairs and the principal says, "Are you okay? Don't sue!" It's a caricature that stuck with me.)
6. Buffy needs to slay Edward. He's a creep, and she's awesome.
7. Angel is what Edward was meant to be. He's the good vampire, really good-looking, enigmatic, and totally in love with the female protagonist. I know Spike exists and comes in later, but right now I'm obsessed with Angel.
8. Willow and Xander are awesome! I can see some impending awkwardness from the love triangle in season 1, but they make such good friends for Buffy that I can't help liking them.
9. Giles proves that studying is always the answer. Getting attacked by the undead? Go read some books on how to overcome them.
10. When you live in a small town, everyone always goes to the one club every night. I don't even see the draw of the Bronze, but I guess it's either that or ice cream, so they'd rather dance.
There's more that I'm picking up as I go along, but these are the ten most obvious to me.
Today is awesome because Buffy prevented the apocalypse. And because I've worn shorts for an entire week now; that means summer is really here!!!
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