Catching up on the Whedon spotlight -- the linkfest begins

Finally catching up on the PopMatters Whedon Spotlight, in which I will be featured on Wednesday. Here's are a couple you might want to check out: Why Cast a Spotlight on Joss Whedon? and Joss Whedon 101: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The first is exactly what is says. Lots of interesting info, and you should go and read it, but the author suggests that, in a nutshell, Whedon rocks because he likes what we (geeks) like, thinks we (the audience) are smart, and actually likes and respects women. The second article linked is all about how BtVS came to TV, and what the author thinks its place in TV history is in terms of female heroes* and narrative structure. Also an interesting read. Both of those pieces are by the spotlight editor, Robert Moore.

*I've mentioned this here before, but will say again: for a thoughtful treatment of the history of female heroes in popular American media, check out Jennifer K. Stuller's Ink Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology.