It's all about EMPOWERMENT
May. 21st, 2003 07:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rabid1stWARNING!! SPOILERS FOR BUFFY FINALE AHEAD...
ALSO, RABID ON PERSONAL SOAPBOX....
PHILOSOPHY PROXIMITY ALERT!!! PHILOSOPHY PROXIMITY ALERT!!! ;-D
It's no secret among my nearest and dearest that I did not like the Finale of Buffy. Something I do not have in common with too many other people (about 1/3 of the Spike loving audience to be exact). But leave it to the good folks at Band of Buggered to finally open my eyes as to WHY I didn't like it. Someone raving about the finale at BoB (and puzzling the literal heck out of me with the praising) said "It's all about empowerment."
And that clicked. Yes, I could see that theme. I could see it clearly in the work from the opening moments of the show...to the final scene. And then a few other central Whedon themes began to spring out at me from the darkness...abuse, loneliness, pain, neglect, betrayal, self-reliance and being in the middle of something that is so big and scary that you can't even begin to imagine how you can win against it. The original Whedon quote about Buffy in the dark alley...the one about how we follow the girl as she is followed, knowing that she is doomed...and then suddenly she is the one in control.
This was the theme of BtVS all along then: Empowerment. And it was reintroduced in S7 when the big bad announced "It's all about the Power." My problem with all of this is when I heard that I laughed. Because I was sure Joss Whedon wasn't serious. Because life isn't, of course, all about the power. But as I struggled to understand the finale and as I saw other people glow at it. I saw that indeed BtVS WAS all about the power. Spike was his own GLOWY thing. He was finally empowered...not a loser. He didn't need anyone else in the end. And it was beautiful. It is this very concept that frees people from abusive situations. You can be your own hero....you can love yourself.
And as a theme it both didn't suck and was very sad. So, we are all right here...the work is a good thing...but it is incomplete. See, I was hoping for too much from Joss. The view of power is an interesting one. But what you eventually come to know...Goddess Willing...is that you NEVER have power. Which is NOT to say that you are never EMPOWERED. It is, of course, important to be empowered. To be in charge of your own inner life. Many people never feel that way. Most people feel less empowered than they are. BtVS is going to appeal on that level. Buffy herself is empowered with all of this strength BUT she never really is FILLED WITH THE POWER.
She is very much like an abused woman. Taking the hits and living in the martyrdom. And that is why so many people wanted her to just wake up and appreciate the GLORY OF BEING THE SLAYER. "You are powerful," people would say. And I would say, "Yes, but she is cut off so what good is her power." Turns out though that the theme was: "You are Powerful." I will say it is good that Joss takes her a step beyond THAT stage in the end. He does leave the door open on the idea of "not being cut-off." In my fluffy Rabid world I like to think that is the true meaning of the Buffy "eyes opening wide/hands on fire" thing...that her wall was melted and she was no longer CUT-OFF. But that could just be me looking for something that really isn't in the work. In the end, Joss makes her less alone and yet in the end it doesn't satisfy me. And the reason it didn't is well...because...been there, done that.
This, sadly, is a view of people who come out of abusive situations badly wounded. I, personally, was raised by wolves, the stories I could tell you...but...
There is a place...and it is a good place, where you go after you are beaten down...and you find your own strength. But, far too many people stay in that place...and bask. And they miss out on the second part of life...the LOVE PART. They are tough. They are strong. They are all alone. So, basically Joss Whedon and I have differing philosophies at work here. What he considers compassion for his character...I find shallow...incomplete...a work unfinished. I truly believe neither Spike nor Buffy will find someone out there in life that they can TRUST more than they could trust each other. And so they will never be in a position to LOVE again at that level.
But shipper feelings aside, when the FIRST EVIL said, "It's all about the Power." I assumed it wasn't. Because I already knew the power struggle was an illusion. We are all trying to feel, understand or master power. This is primal. At the animal level of our self esteem. We all want to be in control. But in the end LIFE isn't about being in control. Life is about NOT being in power. And being a complete human being is all about LOVE.
If you make your life about power...then your struggle is eternal. It never ends. And when you take your last breath, you have nothing to show for your life. All of us will be ground under the merciless heel of time and most of us won't even leave an echo of memory behind when we go. I was in a power battle for years and years. And well, I still am fighting myself...just like everyone else. But what finally fulfills is the ability to reach out to others. The key is to really care...to let down your wall...and face the people in your life (even the ones that have hurt you) with compassion.
Yes, everyone should be empowered. Nobody should be knocked down by life. And certainly nobody should be knocked down by anyone else. But AFTER empowerment...or actually PART of empowerment...is finding hope. Hope that you can trust, love and let down your guard. Hope that there is someone you can rely on BESIDES yourself. Hope that one day, you won't need power to be safe. It isn't that one person has more power than another that matters. What matters is the trust, love and compassion the people have for each other.
And so, okay...I am a singer of the praises of love. I believe it transforms. I believe it should NEVER be blind or silent. I believe trust and love should be rewarded with trust and love. Distance yourself from those who harm you and embrace those who care. And FEEL. I believe it is our capacity to love that unites us all. It is our quest for power (personal, national, political, interpersonal) that alienates us. I believe it is important to be able to come to the place where you can face life with Love instead of Power. This is the message of a number of religions for a good reason. Even though, yes, most of the PEOPLE in those religions are searching for power.
I was hoping that Joss Whedon was going to use Season Seven to deliver a message about the value of love. Because I assumed Buffy was ALREADY empowered. But in the end, she wasn't...she was just starting on her path. And I can see that in the work. It is true, Buffy was responding to her circumstances. She never believed in herself. It made me sad in the end to understand that about her and about Joss Whedon's message.
But really...seeing the reactions to the message...I am okay with it...because so very many people (especially fans of Buffy) are at that starting off place...the place where personal empowerment is the most important thing. They are standing at a scary threshold, looking out at life, and they want to feel like they can handle whatever comes. In a recent interview, Joss talks about working with "drunks" and this is like that work...very much like it...he is trying to let people know they have the power inside them. I, too, have done that (worked with the addicted I mean) and it teaches something important: basically, people have to feel empowered FIRST...before they are able to love.
But still...It isn't all about Power. You can trust me on this one.
ALSO, RABID ON PERSONAL SOAPBOX....
PHILOSOPHY PROXIMITY ALERT!!! PHILOSOPHY PROXIMITY ALERT!!! ;-D
It's no secret among my nearest and dearest that I did not like the Finale of Buffy. Something I do not have in common with too many other people (about 1/3 of the Spike loving audience to be exact). But leave it to the good folks at Band of Buggered to finally open my eyes as to WHY I didn't like it. Someone raving about the finale at BoB (and puzzling the literal heck out of me with the praising) said "It's all about empowerment."
And that clicked. Yes, I could see that theme. I could see it clearly in the work from the opening moments of the show...to the final scene. And then a few other central Whedon themes began to spring out at me from the darkness...abuse, loneliness, pain, neglect, betrayal, self-reliance and being in the middle of something that is so big and scary that you can't even begin to imagine how you can win against it. The original Whedon quote about Buffy in the dark alley...the one about how we follow the girl as she is followed, knowing that she is doomed...and then suddenly she is the one in control.
This was the theme of BtVS all along then: Empowerment. And it was reintroduced in S7 when the big bad announced "It's all about the Power." My problem with all of this is when I heard that I laughed. Because I was sure Joss Whedon wasn't serious. Because life isn't, of course, all about the power. But as I struggled to understand the finale and as I saw other people glow at it. I saw that indeed BtVS WAS all about the power. Spike was his own GLOWY thing. He was finally empowered...not a loser. He didn't need anyone else in the end. And it was beautiful. It is this very concept that frees people from abusive situations. You can be your own hero....you can love yourself.
And as a theme it both didn't suck and was very sad. So, we are all right here...the work is a good thing...but it is incomplete. See, I was hoping for too much from Joss. The view of power is an interesting one. But what you eventually come to know...Goddess Willing...is that you NEVER have power. Which is NOT to say that you are never EMPOWERED. It is, of course, important to be empowered. To be in charge of your own inner life. Many people never feel that way. Most people feel less empowered than they are. BtVS is going to appeal on that level. Buffy herself is empowered with all of this strength BUT she never really is FILLED WITH THE POWER.
She is very much like an abused woman. Taking the hits and living in the martyrdom. And that is why so many people wanted her to just wake up and appreciate the GLORY OF BEING THE SLAYER. "You are powerful," people would say. And I would say, "Yes, but she is cut off so what good is her power." Turns out though that the theme was: "You are Powerful." I will say it is good that Joss takes her a step beyond THAT stage in the end. He does leave the door open on the idea of "not being cut-off." In my fluffy Rabid world I like to think that is the true meaning of the Buffy "eyes opening wide/hands on fire" thing...that her wall was melted and she was no longer CUT-OFF. But that could just be me looking for something that really isn't in the work. In the end, Joss makes her less alone and yet in the end it doesn't satisfy me. And the reason it didn't is well...because...been there, done that.
This, sadly, is a view of people who come out of abusive situations badly wounded. I, personally, was raised by wolves, the stories I could tell you...but...
There is a place...and it is a good place, where you go after you are beaten down...and you find your own strength. But, far too many people stay in that place...and bask. And they miss out on the second part of life...the LOVE PART. They are tough. They are strong. They are all alone. So, basically Joss Whedon and I have differing philosophies at work here. What he considers compassion for his character...I find shallow...incomplete...a work unfinished. I truly believe neither Spike nor Buffy will find someone out there in life that they can TRUST more than they could trust each other. And so they will never be in a position to LOVE again at that level.
But shipper feelings aside, when the FIRST EVIL said, "It's all about the Power." I assumed it wasn't. Because I already knew the power struggle was an illusion. We are all trying to feel, understand or master power. This is primal. At the animal level of our self esteem. We all want to be in control. But in the end LIFE isn't about being in control. Life is about NOT being in power. And being a complete human being is all about LOVE.
If you make your life about power...then your struggle is eternal. It never ends. And when you take your last breath, you have nothing to show for your life. All of us will be ground under the merciless heel of time and most of us won't even leave an echo of memory behind when we go. I was in a power battle for years and years. And well, I still am fighting myself...just like everyone else. But what finally fulfills is the ability to reach out to others. The key is to really care...to let down your wall...and face the people in your life (even the ones that have hurt you) with compassion.
Yes, everyone should be empowered. Nobody should be knocked down by life. And certainly nobody should be knocked down by anyone else. But AFTER empowerment...or actually PART of empowerment...is finding hope. Hope that you can trust, love and let down your guard. Hope that there is someone you can rely on BESIDES yourself. Hope that one day, you won't need power to be safe. It isn't that one person has more power than another that matters. What matters is the trust, love and compassion the people have for each other.
And so, okay...I am a singer of the praises of love. I believe it transforms. I believe it should NEVER be blind or silent. I believe trust and love should be rewarded with trust and love. Distance yourself from those who harm you and embrace those who care. And FEEL. I believe it is our capacity to love that unites us all. It is our quest for power (personal, national, political, interpersonal) that alienates us. I believe it is important to be able to come to the place where you can face life with Love instead of Power. This is the message of a number of religions for a good reason. Even though, yes, most of the PEOPLE in those religions are searching for power.
I was hoping that Joss Whedon was going to use Season Seven to deliver a message about the value of love. Because I assumed Buffy was ALREADY empowered. But in the end, she wasn't...she was just starting on her path. And I can see that in the work. It is true, Buffy was responding to her circumstances. She never believed in herself. It made me sad in the end to understand that about her and about Joss Whedon's message.
But really...seeing the reactions to the message...I am okay with it...because so very many people (especially fans of Buffy) are at that starting off place...the place where personal empowerment is the most important thing. They are standing at a scary threshold, looking out at life, and they want to feel like they can handle whatever comes. In a recent interview, Joss talks about working with "drunks" and this is like that work...very much like it...he is trying to let people know they have the power inside them. I, too, have done that (worked with the addicted I mean) and it teaches something important: basically, people have to feel empowered FIRST...before they are able to love.
But still...It isn't all about Power. You can trust me on this one.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-05-23 11:55 am (UTC)--gobi from BoB
(no subject)
Date: 2003-05-23 04:19 pm (UTC)You wrote: "If you make your life about power...then your struggle is eternal. It never ends. And when you take your last breath, you have nothing to show for your life. All of us will be ground under the merciless heel of time and most of us won't even leave an echo of memory behind when we go. I was in a power battle for years and years. And well, I still am fighting myself...just like everyone else. But what finally fulfills is the ability to reach out to others. The key is to really care...to let down your wall...and face the people in your life (even the ones that have hurt you) with compassion."
Good point. Furthermore, it occurred to me that the theme was also about 'choices' and what you choose to do with the 'power' once you have it. In Buffy's case, she chose to share it and it proved to be a winning move. One of the messages was that taking it all for yourself (like GeneralBuffy did in earlier episodes) is not of the good (channeling the Buffster here ;)).
getting off the soapbox now,
gobi