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scotchneat's review
2.0
While it is "complete", in that it covers every TV show, the movies and the comics, the book is largely a rehash of essays from other sources.
Though I think the bigger bleh is maybe to do with the reader. The further away I am from my grad school days, the less I care to read academic analysis of pop culture. Some of the essays give different readings on Joss' work (whether the stories are feminist, Xander's symbolism, what the Reavers are...), but the essays that are more interesting are the ones that would probably be termed "fanfic". Unabashed love for the topic of writing and a retelling of stories that I know intimately. I think that's why I get such a kick out of stuff like "Mark Reads".
There's a few articles speculating on what Joss'll do with Avengers, and we all know how that went.
This might be a good read if you haven't read much of the analysis and research that follows Joss wherever he goes. But get it from the library.
Though I think the bigger bleh is maybe to do with the reader. The further away I am from my grad school days, the less I care to read academic analysis of pop culture. Some of the essays give different readings on Joss' work (whether the stories are feminist, Xander's symbolism, what the Reavers are...), but the essays that are more interesting are the ones that would probably be termed "fanfic". Unabashed love for the topic of writing and a retelling of stories that I know intimately. I think that's why I get such a kick out of stuff like "Mark Reads".
There's a few articles speculating on what Joss'll do with Avengers, and we all know how that went.
This might be a good read if you haven't read much of the analysis and research that follows Joss wherever he goes. But get it from the library.
prationality's review
4.0
Prelim Review: This is more of a 3.5 for me, but having following Whedon's career for the last 15 years of my life I knew a lot of what was contained in the book. That being said the interviews, essays by people outside of his Circle of Friends and Associates and writers was certainly intriguing. It was interesting to see how things I took for granted (like Illyria in Angel) could be seen differently or how some people really didn't like some aspects of Buffy.
Full review to be posted at Night Owl Reviews
Full review to be posted at Night Owl Reviews
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