So, about that Buffy re-boot

[elisi]

Never mentioned it (not keen on Joss these days), but this is an excellent article:

How a Black ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Can Change TV’s Villainization of Black Women

And since I'm on the topic, one of the most incredibly useful Twitter threads I have ever come across:

Black Hair for Non-Black Artists: a Cheat Sheet Thread.

Comments

[orangerful]

Lots of very good points in that article. I just hope whatever network/streaming service picks up the show understands what BtVS legacy is about, like this writer clearly does. I mean, it was the horrors of high schools (if you were white/middle class/straight/suburban in the 90s) and while it still holds up now, it would be great to see someone create one with a story with a whole new setting and kinds of characters.

Still, it is all so far away, it is hard to get excited about anything yet. It could all fizzle out after a few months as it goes into that limbo of pre-production.

[elisi]

Still, it is all so far away, it is hard to get excited about anything yet. It could all fizzle out after a few months as it goes into that limbo of pre-production.
Yeah, this. I like the ideas of what it could be. But what it may actually become (if anything) is still unknown...

[promethia_tenk]

I feel like I would at least try a Buffy reboot.

Black women's haircare and styling videos are a YouTube rabbit hole I get sucked down from time to time. I find them really interesting? Plus I'm sure it confuses Google, which is always good fun.

[elisi]

I feel like I would at least try a Buffy reboot.
If it's anything like the speculative article, then I'd be very happy. Although I wish Joss would not be involved.

Black women's haircare and styling videos are a YouTube rabbit hole I get sucked down from time to time. I find them really interesting?
Black hair just... *more*. And the more I learn, the more impressed I am. My hair is like, zero maintenance. It's very fine and just below shoulder length and apart from washing it every day, I don't do anything with it. (Well, I dye it, but half an hour every 2 - 3 months is hardly a great investment.)

Plus I'm sure it confuses Google, which is always good fun.
Always a bonus!

[promethia_tenk]

If it's anything like the speculative article, then I'd be very happy. Although I wish Joss would not be involved.
I was going to read it, but they had an ad blocker blocker on and the internet has gotten too scary to turn your ad blocker off for random sites. I like the idea, though.

Maybe he would not really be in charge? He's 'involved' with Agents of SHIELD but you'd never know it.

Black hair just... *more*. And the more I learn, the more impressed I am.
I work with a lot of black women, and it's like going to an art show every day.

My hair is like, zero maintenance. It's very fine and just below shoulder length and apart from washing it every day, I don't do anything with it. (Well, I dye it, but half an hour every 2 - 3 months is hardly a great investment.)
Mine's short and curly and, on a very good day, looks something like Lix's there. IDK, regular white girl hair care is kind of predicated on the idea that hair needs an endless amount of products and messing whereas curly hair, I've founds through a long process of trial and error, looks better the less you do with it. I don't even properly wash it all that often anymore--maybe every week or two. I mostly just rinse it through and give it a good detangle every day to help distribute the oils and let it reshape itself. I've actually taken a lot of inspiration from black natural hair care? So much of it boils down to 'just stop messing with your hair' And as the twitter poster points out, black hair is just curly hair turned all the way up.

(Though, tbh, I suspect 'just stop messing with your hair' is good advice for everybody.)

[elisi]

I was going to read it, but they had an ad blocker blocker on and the internet has gotten too scary to turn your ad blocker off for random sites. I like the idea, though.
Main points - she was unhappy with all the people who didn't want a black Buffy, and then laid out various wishes; that Buffy's parent would be a single father (going against the stereotype of the absent black father) and that Buffy's Watcher would also be black and female, but living in a predominantly white neighbourhood, to showcase that side of things - how you can succeed, but then often have to navigate a new world.

I work with a lot of black women, and it's like going to an art show every day.
You lucky.

Mine's short and curly and, on a very good day, looks something like Lix's there.
That is very cool.

(Though, tbh, I suspect 'just stop messing with your hair' is good advice for everybody.)
Very true. My hair currently very very dark (basically black) which was not intentional. The colour was supposed to be 'golden brown'. But now I look like Morticia Addams according to the girls (which is not a bad thing btw). Esp funny since Miss M looks SO MUCH like Wednesday, except she's cut her hair very short. If she bought a wig with long black plaits we could totally rock an Addams Family cosplay. ;)

[greensword]

Wait, there's going to be a Buffy reboot?

My two cents -- I think I'd rather see a new series set in the BtVS universe, but I also kind of like the idea of multiple iterations of Buffy. There's already two different live action ones. It actually starts edging out of "reboot" territory and into "modern mythology" - like Superman or Spiderman or James Bond. Can you imagine twenty years from now people chatting about who is going to be the new Buffy Summers?

And if it's gonna happen then hell yes Buffy should be black. BtVS is my favorite show, but it was incredibly white and actively bad in how it treated characters of color. I still cringe at the ending to Restless.

[elisi]

Wait, there's going to be a Buffy reboot?
All of fandom was up in arms a couple of months ago when the news broke... And it's more of a spin-off, than a reboot (I think). Everything is still pretty vague. Although I love the idea of 'Who is the new Buffy Summers'. Like the Doctor...

And if it's gonna happen then hell yes Buffy should be black. BtVS is my favorite show, but it was incredibly white and actively bad in how it treated characters of color. I still cringe at the ending to Restless.
And poor Kendra and... yeah. Ahead of the curve in some ways, very much not in others.

[sea_thoughts]

I'm glad it's going to be a sequel and that she will be her own person. Just not happy that Joss is still involved. :/

[elisi]

All straight, white guys should have to go through a very rigorous vetting process to make sure they're fit to work in the modern world.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

I'd widen that to men in general, straight or gay, black or white.

[elisi]

Yeah, can't disagree with that...

[hobbituk.livejournal.com]

SMG will always be Buffy in my head, Alison Hannigal will always be Willow, ASH will always be Giles - and JM will always be Spike. I would really struggle with other actors in those roles, so I'm really happy the new slayer will be a different character... I don't care what colour she is! The trouble is that I find it too hard to adjust when the character I know and love is bizarrely different. The Starsky and Hutch film springs immediately to my mind. What were they thinking????

[elisi]

Well, it's apparently going to be more of a spin-off than a reboot, so I doubt we'll get a 'new' Buffy in that sense.

Unless it'll be like James Bond? That could be fun. :)

[makd.livejournal.com]

Neat articles; thanks for sharing.

[elisi]

You're welcome!