Writercon panel recap #1
Jul. 28th, 2006 10:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lunabee34Magic and Science
I suppose this is misnamed as a recap, as it is rather more some thoughts of my own that occurred when I was listening to the panelists talk.
This is the only panel I went to with Rhonda Wilcox, although I did say something funny out in the hall to Michaela and she giggled at me. I also peed in the stall next to her. /brushes with celebrity
Anyway, this panel discussed the use of science and magic in mostly the Buffyverse although other fandoms were mentioned. As I was listening, two thoughts occurred to me that the panelists didn't address.
1. What does it mean that Fred, the scientist, uses magic to accomplish her one act that could be argued as evil (killing her prof)? Are we to assume that Fred views science as an extension of magic, or are they two separate things for her, and this misuse of magic on her part is meant to suggest a shift in characterization? She does die at the hand of magic, after all, although her scientific curiosity does play a part.
2. I see Riley as a liminal figure in the Buffyverse. He's very much caught between the worlds of magic and science. He's heavily influenced by Maggie Walsh and her scientific approach to the supernatural. Enter Buffy, and Riley must learn to also inhabit the world of magic, an endeavor in which I believe he fails. For example, when the Toth demon splits Xander in half, Riley's first impulse is to lock the two halves up and study them. He ultimately develops an addiction to the vampire bite, an addiction that has its roots in his inability to connect with Buffy, and is indicative of his failure to take part in the world of the supernatural in any positive way. Magic is dark and seductive and titillating and even useful at times, but not a thing to be integrated into one's daily life in the way that the Scoobs have.
I suppose this is misnamed as a recap, as it is rather more some thoughts of my own that occurred when I was listening to the panelists talk.
This is the only panel I went to with Rhonda Wilcox, although I did say something funny out in the hall to Michaela and she giggled at me. I also peed in the stall next to her. /brushes with celebrity
Anyway, this panel discussed the use of science and magic in mostly the Buffyverse although other fandoms were mentioned. As I was listening, two thoughts occurred to me that the panelists didn't address.
1. What does it mean that Fred, the scientist, uses magic to accomplish her one act that could be argued as evil (killing her prof)? Are we to assume that Fred views science as an extension of magic, or are they two separate things for her, and this misuse of magic on her part is meant to suggest a shift in characterization? She does die at the hand of magic, after all, although her scientific curiosity does play a part.
2. I see Riley as a liminal figure in the Buffyverse. He's very much caught between the worlds of magic and science. He's heavily influenced by Maggie Walsh and her scientific approach to the supernatural. Enter Buffy, and Riley must learn to also inhabit the world of magic, an endeavor in which I believe he fails. For example, when the Toth demon splits Xander in half, Riley's first impulse is to lock the two halves up and study them. He ultimately develops an addiction to the vampire bite, an addiction that has its roots in his inability to connect with Buffy, and is indicative of his failure to take part in the world of the supernatural in any positive way. Magic is dark and seductive and titillating and even useful at times, but not a thing to be integrated into one's daily life in the way that the Scoobs have.
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Date: 2006-07-29 03:59 am (UTC)And it just occurred to me that Giles' past bad experience with magic makes his operation of The Magic Box a lot like the many recovering alcoholics who become bartenders or cocktail waitresses.
PS--are you gonna propose a piece for Wilcox's Firefly book?
no subject
Date: 2006-07-29 04:06 am (UTC)Someone in the audience at the panel (she was really cool and articulate and since I can't read from afar will remain forever nameless) also mentioned that in Buffy and Angel we see small business magic vs. large corporation magic in the form of Wolfram and Hart.
I got the CFP a week or so ago, and I've been thinking about it. It'd be a cool thing.
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Date: 2006-07-29 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-30 02:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-30 01:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-29 02:05 pm (UTC)Too bad Firefly ended before we got to see the complete picture regarding Blue Sun. It makes for some intriguing speculation about the *evil* corporation and how far their influence extends. Were they a stand alone entity or did they work within the gov't? I couldn't tell.
Lunabee dear you must propose something for the Firefly book. Do it! Do it NOW! *grins*
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Date: 2006-07-30 02:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-30 03:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-30 01:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-31 02:47 pm (UTC)I really think I am gonna propose something for this book. Now I just gotta get on it. I may drag Andy into it with me.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-31 02:48 pm (UTC)