Emily discusses Dystopia

So today I decided that I want to write a paper on the representation of dystopian worlds in literature and on TV. It's funny that I want to analyze TV so very much (Dollhouse, Buffy...) because I really don't like/watch that much TV. Who knows?

The idea of dystopian worlds scares and intrigues me. I want to compare Brave New World to Dollhouse, and I want to go beyond that and analyze the implications that each, and other dystopian works, have on our society and the way in which we perceive things.

We strive for equality, yet we simultaneously attempt to control those around us. We want equality so much that we end up harming other people. What if we took it a step further? These dystopian worlds are not entirely impossible. While they are obviously Science Fiction, they don't usually have aliens. The real villains are humans themselves. We will cause our own destruction because of the advances we make in technology and how we scoff at socialism and yet integrate bits of it into society. By this I mean we make all these advances far too quickly, and to sound cliché, if the machinery ends up in the wrong (though intelligent) hands, we're all doomed. Happy thoughts, huh?

Socialism, in theory, is brilliant, but in practice, it has never truly worked out.

Oh, today was Valentine's Day, wasn't it? :)

Nothing much happened, I had an early release from school, I took a nap, I did homework and read.

Now I need to go to sleep, because it's late and I like sleep. Plus, I'm re-reading Nancy Drew!

Ringer

I do not own this photograph. It is a promotional photo for Ringer.

For those of you who don't know, Ringer is Sarah Michelle Gellar's new show that premiered yesterday (and, as all the reviewers like to point out, her first television show since Buffy The Vampire Slayer ended eight years ago). So, Sarah's back! Which does enthuse me quite a bit! Of course, what I would want even more would be a new show with Amber Benson on it, but Sarah is pretty wonderful.

Prior to the premiere, I looked up reviews online, to see what others had to say. The funny thing I noticed was that the reviews were highly polarized- either the reviewer adored the show or they nearly abhorred it. I can't recall the last time I read reviews this polarized.

Now that I've seen the show, I lean more to the side of those who liked it. Yes, it was predictable to some extent; yes, this plot line or variations thereof has been done many, many times before; yes, it had its moments of being disjointed, but overall I enjoyed it. Let me add to this by saying I don't watch television much at all, so I'm picky about what shows I watch. I'm going to continue watching it at least for another week or so, to see what they do with the storyline. If I'm wildly confused then I may give up on it, but if I like it then I shall continue.

It's funny that the two shows I plan on watching next (Ringer and How I Met Your Mother) both have actresses from Buffy the Vampire Slayer in them (Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan, respectively). Anything having to do with Buffy makes me a happy child (other things make me happy as well, but I'd need a whole blog post to describe them). So these shows, even if they aren't the most amazing thing in the universe will make me feel happy.

Oh! I'm reading a really good book right now: The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

That's all for now, I must go and finish my piles of homework!

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Seven

Be forewarned, this post contains spoilers!

So, a good friend came over this afternoon, and together we braved the last ever episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I'm so relieved that Season Seven is over and done with. Though it had its good moments, all in all I was not a fan of this season whatsoever.

Granted, I came into it with a bias (I'm a HUGE Tara fan, and thus after Season Six, nothing was ever really the same again.) But even without that slant, many parts of this season just bothered me. Namely, the Potentials. Many of them are so whiny, and though I was glad with what happened in the end (all of them being activated and such) I didn't like them. Especially Kennedy. Never mind that she was Willow's new girlfriend (NO ONE can top Tara, so I was set up to dislike Kennedy) but she is so annoying even ignoring my bias, and a self-confessed "brat". She's also not Willow's type.

Willow's other relationships (Oz and Tara) were quiet, caring, compassionate, and selfless individuals. They put others first, and helped Willow to mature and discover who she really was/her place in the world. Kennedy was nearly the opposite. She whined, she was too loud, and she pushed Willow to points where she (Willow) felt quite uncomfortable. Though there are some things she did right (she gave Willow someone after she lost her true love [Tara]), it just felt too wrong.

I did like the unity of the Potentials and the Scoobies in the last episode, and the fight against The First, which was quite a good Big Bad. (My favorite Big Bads are still Glory and Dark Willow though.) Unity is a good message for a show like Buffy to end on- Unity and the power of women. Which is, after all, what the show's premise is: a seemingly ordinary girl who fights demons. I liked how they made all the girls who could possibly be Slayers into Slayers. To me that says: anyone can be whatever they want to be, so  long as they wish it and try.

Basically,  I'm glad I finished up Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but I will not being watching Season Seven again.