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April 25, 2003
Prof. Drezner and Buffy
So, Prof. Drezner has a problem with how Accedemic Sex is shown on TV. I don't know that I disagree with either his feelings or conclusion. Being, however, the contrarian that I am I had to take exception to his inclusion of Buffy on that list...
I wrote him an E-mail and, with baited breath, waited for the hit of a possible response. Long story short, I bow before the weight of his Buffy knowledge. Oh, I could argue the point; that the Buffy/Riley relationship is much more a relationship between equals than anything else, and that such a power differential is why those relationships are frowned upon in the first place. But nay, nay, there are more interesting questions...
Why, specifically, do so many of the academics of my knowledge and acquaintance like Buffy? Indeed, reading a column by (say) Gregg Easterbrook would be impossible without a certain amount of Buffyskill...
Others, including my own Poli-sci Prof. are fans of the show. What, then, is the basis of its appeal? Can we all be fixated on women who speak Latin? Apparently Willow doesn't do that very well. Besides, I think redheads speaking in tongues may just be my own fetish...
Oh, and the argument that Easterbrook doesn't teach and is therefore not an academic won't wash; most professors don't teach either. Academic in this sense will mean "person who is paid to sit and think"...
Posted by Andrew at April 25, 2003 01:52 PM