Old news: lj is dead. Everyone is crazy busy, or they have other reasons not to be here. No one has time to read those huge meta posts we used to write once upon a time. But maybe we can all find ten minutes to do this:
FREE-FOR-ALL META COMMENT-A-THON!
(
Read more... )
Comments 994
Reply
( ... )
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
by kwritten
( ... )
Reply
( ... )
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Spike consciously pretends to be uneducated, unaware of many cultural tropes, both from "high brow" and "low brow" culture. But sometimes he forgets to perform, and does things like calling Jonathan "Spock" or automatically reacting to Giles' Shakespeare quote. I'd like to read anything about this kind of performance. Why does he do it? When does he slip? How does he slip? What could've been his education?
Reply
Reply
I see his feigned ignorance as part of the mask. He hated the person he was as human - cultured, genteel and easily wounded - and decided to remake himself as someone tough and strong, adopting the street thug mask because it fit into his notion of what "tough and strong" should be.
Definitely agreed, but it brings another question: why does he pretend he doesn't know popular culture? Surely a street thug can know some sci-fi, and yet when he visits the Trio, he ostensibly pretends to not be aware of anything they refer to. I think it's because he wants to make a point that he's nothing like them, because they're "losers"?
Also, it's interesting that the only fiction he ever admits to consuming is "Passions" XDDDDDDD.
I wonder if Giles expected Spike to pick up on his Shakespeare. Because he didn't look surprised at all.
Reply
I'm not so sure about that. I mean, I'm hardly an expert on what constitutes a thug. ;) But the popular perception seems to be that sci-fi fans are "geeks" and, in general, pretty smart. They're fans of science, which implies a certain level of education. I think that, in Spike's mind, a "thug" like him would be a fan of Bruce Lee films, explosions and Rambo movies. Action is fine; sci-fi action is for nerds.
Also, it's interesting that the only fiction he ever admits to consuming is "Passions"
Which is, let's face it, pretty low-brow. So it fits the profile. :D
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment