The clothes make the fan: Fashion and online fandom when Buffy the Vampire Slayer goes to eBay

Cinema Journal

Volumn 45, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 26-44

  Stenger, Josh ^a  

^a WHEATON COLLEGE   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 60949950275     PISSN: 00097101     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1353/cj.2006.0048     Document Type: Review

References (62)

1. In Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture (New York: Routledge, 1992), Henry Jenkins considers at length the multiple ways that fans engage in 'active' readings and rewritings of television programs. Readers interested in learning more about the contours of television fandom will find the book instructive
2. The group of core characters are often referred to as "The Scooby Gang" or "The Scoobies." The group originally includes Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles. Later in the series, other characters such as Riley, Tara and, arguably, Faith and Spike, become part of the group as well
3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Episode no. 1, "Welcome to the Hellmouth," first broadcast 10 March 1997 by the WB, directed by Charles Martin Smith and written by Joss Whedon
4. Boyd Tonkin, "Farewell Buffy, and Fangs for the Memories," The Independent, May 21, 2003, 2-3
5. Amanda Zweernik and Sarah N. Gatson, "www.buffy.com: Cliques, Boundaries and Hierarchies in an Internet Community," in Fighting the Forces: What's at Stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ed. Rhonda V. Wilcox and David Lavery (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2002), 241
6. Gail Collins, "Buffy Rides Off Into the Sunset," New York Times, May 21, 2003, A-30
7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Episode no. 18, "Halloween," first broadcast October 27, 1997 by the WB, directed by Bruce Seth Green and written by Carl Ellsworth
8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Episode no. 69, "The I in Team," first broadcast February 8, 2000 by the WB, directed by James A. Contner and written by David Fury
9. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Episode no. 108, "Once More, With Feeling," first broadcast November 1, 2001 by UPN, directed and written by Joss Whedon
10. Anne Millard Daughtery, "Just a Girl: Buffy as Icon," in Reading the Vampire Slayer: An Unofficial Critical Companion to Buffy & Angel, ed. Roz Kaveney (New York: Tauris Park Paperbacks, 2001), 152
11. For more on the addled sexual politics of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, fan practices and media coverage surrounding the show and its stars, see Sherryl Vint, ""'Killing Us Softly'? A Feminist Search for the 'Real' Buffy," Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies no. 5 (May 2002), http://www.slayage.tv/essays/slayage5/vint.htm
12. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Episode no. 144, "Chosen," first broadcast May 20, 2003 by the WB, directed and written by Joss Whedon
13. The hammer first appears in the episode "Triangle," (Episode no. 89, first broadcast January 9, 2001 by the WB, directed by Christopher Hibler and written by Jane Espenson) and figures centrally in the season five finale episodes "The Weight of the World" (Episode no. 99, first broadcast May 15, 2001 by the WB, directed by David Solomon and written by Douglas Petrie) and "The Gift" (Episode no. 100, first broadcast May 22, 2001 by the WB, directed and written by Joss Whedon)
14. Matt Hills, Fan Cultures (London: Routledge, 2002), 28
15. Hills, Fan Cultures, 35
16. For more on Walter Benjamin's discussion of the 'aura' of an original piece of art, see "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction," in Illuminations, trans. Harry Zohn (New York: Schocken Books, 1969), 217-252, especially 220-229
17. Andrew, "Buffy Auction," PeterDavid.net, May 15, 2003 (downloaded February 16, 2004; author has copy of post)
18. Bill, "Re: Anyone checked out the official Buffy auction?" (Message 5 in thread) posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer newsgroup May 20, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
19. In his chapter, "'Get a Life!': Fans, Poachers, Nomads," Jenkins outlines in very useful ways the dimensions and tensions of the fan-producer relationship, especially with regard to control over imagery, representations, characterization and narratives. For more on this, see pages 24-33
20. For more, see Sue Tjardes, "'If you're not enjoying it, you're doing something wrong': Textual and Viewer Constructions of Faith, the Vampire Slayer," in Athena's Daughters: Television's New Women Warriors, ed. Frances Early and Kathleen Kennedy (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2003), 67
21. Mary Ann Doane, "The Economy of Desire: The Commodity From in/of the Cinema," in Movies and Mass Culture, ed. John Belton (Rutgers University Press, 1996), 124
22. Stella Bruzzi, Undressing Cinema: Clothing and Identity in the Movies (London: Routledge, 1997), 24
23. Queen Anthai, "Buffy Auction," PeterDavid.net, 15 May 2003 (downloaded February 16, 2004; author has copy of post). Faith and Xander have a one-night stand in an episode called "The Zeppo," Episode no. 46, first broadcast January 26, 1999 by the WB, directed by James Whitemore, Jr., and written by Dan Vebber
24. Mark Towns, "Re: I'm a fan, but sheesh!" posted to alt.horror newsgroup May 14, 2003 (downloaded February 20, 2004)
25. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Episode no. 78, "Restless," first broadcast May 23, 2000 on the WB, directed and written by Joss Whedon
26. This occurs during a flashback in a season five episode called "Fool For Love," (Episode no. 85, first broadcast November 14, 2000 by the WB, directed by Nick Marck and written by Douglas Petrie), in which Spike kills a Slayer on a New York subway in 1977 and takes her coat as a trophy
27. IronMaster, "Re: Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 11 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy -v-slayer news group May 21, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
28. Dr. Bond, "Re: Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 10 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v -slayer 21 May 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
29. "The Wish," Episode no. 43, first broadcast December 8, 1999 by the WB, directed by David Greenwalt and written by Marti Noxon; "Doppelgangland," Episode no. 50, first broadcast February 23, 2000 by the WB, directed and written by Joss Whedon
30. Episodes frequently regarded as a response to, or engaging, popular fan discourse and fiction include: "Doppelgangland"; "Something Blue," Episode no. 65, first broadcast November 30, 1999 by the WB, directed by Nick Marck and written by Tracey Forbes; "Superstar," Episode no. 73, first broadcast April 4, 2000 by the WB, directed by David Grossman and written by Jane Espenson; "Restless," Episode no. 78, first broadcast May 23, 2000 by the WB; "Buffy vs. Dracula," Episode no. 79, first broadcast September 26, 2000 by the WB, directed by David Solomon and written by Marti Noxon; and "Normal Again," Episode no. 117, first broadcast March 12, 2002 by the UPN, directed by Rick Rosenthal and written by Diego Gutierrez
31. Justine Larbalestier, "Buffy's Mary Sue is Jonathan: Buffy Acknowledges the Fans," in Fighting the Forces: What's at Stake, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ed. Rhonda V. Wilcox and David Lavery (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2002), 229, 228
32. For more on these episodes, see Larbalestier, "Buffy's Mary Sue is Jonathan," 228-231
33. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Doppelgangland."
34. Whedon originally posted this message to The Bronze discussion board on Dec. 3, 1998. The Bronze is no longer maintained by Fox; however, the post can be viewed at several sites, including: http://members.tripod.com/buffyfaith/ joss.htm (downloaded July 20, 2004)
35. Dr. Bond, "Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 1 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 20, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
36. EGK, "Re: Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 2 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 20, 2003. (downloaded February 9, 2004)
37. Rowan Hawthorn, "Re: Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 3 in thread), posted to alt. tv.buffy-v-slayer May 20, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
38. Don Sample, "Re: Anyone Checked out the official Buffy auction?" (message 19 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 20, 2003 (downloaded January 23, 2004)
39. Joseph S. Powell, "Re: Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 8 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy -v-slayer May 20, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
40. Shorty, "Re: Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 14 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 20, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
41. Andrew, "OKAY, NOW WE'RE COOKING WITH GAS," posted to PeterDavid.net May 17, 2003 (downloaded February 16, 2004; author has copy of post)
42. Juleen, "Re: Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 21 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 20, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
43. Lee Parpart, "'Action, Chicks, Everything': On-Line Interviews with Male Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer," in Frances Early and Kathleen Kennedy ed. Athena's Daughters: Television's New Women Warriors (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2003), 79
44. Tom Galloway, "OKAY, NOW WE'RE COOKING WITH GAS," posted to PeterDavid. net May 17, 2003 (downloaded February 16, 2004; author has copy of post)
45. Panic, "Re: NEED BETTER AUCTION ITEMS ...," posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 21, 2003 (downloaded January 20, 2004)
46. Philip Chien, "Re: NEED BETTER AUCTION ITEMS ...," posted to alt.tv.buffy-v -slayer May 22, 2003 (downloaded January 25, 2004)
47. DarkMagic, "Re: Anyone checked out the official Buffy auction?" (message 3 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 14, 2003 (downloaded January 26, 2004)
48. Dstep, "Re: Willow-Vamp outfit!!!" (message 4 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 20, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
49. PimpDaddy, "Buffy auction!!!" posted to Tangent 21 - Buffy auction!! May 22, 2003 (downloaded February 15, 2004), http://www.tangent21.com/ it.php?node_id=104&topic_id=4243
50. Acker, "Buffy auction!!!" posted to Tangent 21 - Buffy auction!! May 22, 2003 (downloaded February 15, 2004), http://www.tangent21.com/ it.php?node_id=104&topic_id=4243
51. Dr. Bond, "Re: Anyone checked out the official Buffy auction?" (message 9 in thread), posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer May 20, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004)
52. "Re: Anyone checked out the official Buffy auction?" It is worth noting that with little exception, these items tend to be ignored by the broader fan community, which either out of conscientious objection or simple disinterest, typically refuses to bid on them
53. For more on the relationship between theme restaurants, entertainment culture and consumption, see Josh Stenger, "Consuming the Planet: Planet Hollywood, Stars, and the Global Consumer Culture," Velvet Light Trap, no. 40 (Fall 1997): 42-55
54. Ben Fritz, "Bidding Biz: Auctions thrive on hunger for memorabilia," Variety, August 31, 2003 (downloaded September 1, 2003), http://www.variety.com/story.asp?1=story&a =VR1117891746&c=1308
55. Tjardes, "'If you're not enjoying it, you're doing something wrong,'" 68
56. For more information on Fox's cease and desist order, see Lynn Burke's "Fox Wants Buffy Fan Sites Slain," Wired, March 1, 2000 (downloaded July 22, 2004), http://www. wired.com/news/business/0,1367,34563,00.html
57. For more on the blackout and the Buffy Bringers, see Ellen Ross, "Bringing on the Blackout," May 12, 2001 (downloaded March 1, 2004), http://www.suite101.com/article. cfm/buffy_and_angel/39263
58. Ross, "Bringing on the Blackout."
59. mp405, untitled online posting to Buffy the Vampire Slayer forum at "Television Without Pity," June 10, 2003 (downloaded February 18, 2004), http://forums.televisionwithoutpity. com/index.php?showtopic= 2285021&st=330
60. Beren, "Bummer about the Buffy Auction" (message 1 in thread), May 28, 2003 (downloaded February 9, 2004), alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer
61. Claris, "A Letter to Salon.com: Who is your money going to?" June 11, 2003 (downloaded February 21, 2004), http://www.themusesbitch.net/? &article=37
62. Emily Nussbaum, "Sick of 'Buffy' Cultists? You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," New York Times, June 8, 2003, 2