Introduction : BTVS & ATS and the Pitfalls of the TV Media (Reprinted from ATPO BTVS)

[Okay am reprinting my essay from ATPOBTVS & ATS here, so new people can read. And I can save it. I am lj-cutting of course, so if you've seen it before, you can safely ignore. It is chop full of errors - such as 24 (I was wrong about that series), and I have not looked at it in ages. But most of the quotes are correct. Posting for angeria who was hunting links.]

http://www.atpobtvs.com/existentialscoobies/archives/aug03_p12.html

[Warning - Evil Footnotes are included. When I wrote it, I was making fun of people on posting boards who kept putting footnotes on everything. Footnotes are evil!!! Most people don't put pertinent info in them. I did. And at the time I posted this, circa 2003 on the Angel's Soul Board - I got crucified for one my footnotes...lol! And yes, I had far too much time on my hands back then...as you can tell.]
( BTVS (also ATS) and the Pitfalls of The Television Medium...lengthy meta and posted in three parts as a result. )

Part I : Tragedy, Television and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (see post below for prologue)

These essays are full of quotes and interviews regarding the process of making Buffy, specifically the latter seasons. It was written at the end of 2003 and still has the time stamp of what I posted it on the discussion board I was on at the time, it is lj-cut for length and to protect people who aren't interested in such things. There are footnotes or rather endnotes at the end of each section. Note this is the last and only time I've done them online, since I hate footnotes.

Previous post here: http://shadowkat67.livejournal.com/460362.html#cutid1

Also for an in-depth and fairly objective discussion of these posts at the time I posted them - go here: http://www.atpobtvs.com/existentialscoobies/archives/aug03_p12.html

( BTVS and the Pitfalls of TV )

Part II: The Pitfalls of Plotting TV Shows...Buffy, etc..(see Parts I & II below)

( Pitfalls of Plotting Television Shows )

Part III: The Tv Show Grind and Writer Burn Out...

WARNING: When I posted this portion on the Angel Soul's Spoiler Board in 2003, I got blasted for a footnote regarding the "rape trope" in tv media, which I've since edited. To make it clearer. But if you have a trigger regarding sexual violence or rape, don't read. Plus, please note that my opinions have changed since I wrote this. I'm reposting for the interview links and quotes that several new people on my flist were hunting. There's a quote by Whedon in the footnotes regarding Seeing Red and the B/S relationship - which is interesting. Along with quotes from numerous people posting about the attempted rape at the time in reviews and posting boards. If this stuff makes your blood pressure sky-rocket, please avoid.

( TV Show Grind and Writer Burn-Out )

PART IV : Difficulties of Operating Within Structure and Boundaries of TV Formula

This doesn't appear to have footnotes. But I'm sure there are errors. Haven't edited and didn't edit after numerous comments were made at the time. Like most stuff, I meta, take the opinions with a grain of a salt. The interview quotage however was taken directly from the sources quoted.

(  Difficulties of Operating within Structure and Boundaries of TV Formula )

PArt V: Can Actors Really Break or Make the Show

This is back with the footnotes - where I often insert the actual interview quotes.

( BTVS Actors - Can Actors Really Break or Make the Show )

Part VI: Effect of Fans - Breaking the Fourth Wall - Part A: Media Critics

Yes, a continuation of the monster essay, or treatise that I wrote in 2003. Sigh, some people write fanfic on tv shows, I write essays on tv shows.

( Fans - Breaking the Fourth Wall & the Media Critics )

Part B of Part VI - Breaking the Fourth Wall - Fans and Majority Rules

This is the state of the fandom in 2003. It has changed a little since then. This portion of the essay is an examination on how a fandom can affect the story and plotting of a television series. Also how it can affect how a story is perceived. It is also an examination behind the psychology/sociology of fandom.

( Breaking the Fourth Wall Part B: Fans & Majority Rules )

Conclusion of the Six Part Essay on Buffy and Pitfalls of TV

Done. Finally.

Will go back and edit and put in links of previous posts, of course.

Previous post here: Prologue

Part I: Tragedy Television and Buffy

Part II:The Pitfalls of Plotting TV Shows

Part III: TV Show Grind and Writer Burn-Out

Part IV: Difficulties of Operating Within Structure and Boundaries of TV Formula

Part V: Can Actors Really Make or Break a Show

Part VI: Fans - Breaking the Fourth Wall - Part A: Media Critics

Part VI: Fans- Breaking the Fourth Wall- Part B: Fans and Majority Rules

Also for an in-depth and fairly objective discussion of these posts at the time I posted them - go here: http://www.atpobtvs.com/existentialscoobies/archives/aug03_p12.html

( Conclusion on Buffy and Pitfalls of TV. )