Matthew Pateman

This book assesses Joss Whedon’s contribution to US television and popular culture. Examining everything from his earliest work to his most recent tweets and activist videos, it explores his complex and contradictory roles as both cult outsider and blockbuster filmmaker. Crucially, the book insists on the wider industrial, technological, political and economic contexts that have both influenced and been influenced by Whedon, rejecting the notion of Whedon as isolated television auteur. Using key source material, with exclusive access to drafts of many of the episodes across Whedon’s career, as well as unique correspondence with Whedon collaborator Jane Espenson, this book offers unparalleled access to the creative process that helped produce the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dollhouse and Firefly. Energetic, engaging and informed by detailed scholarship and theoretical rigour, the book is not just an essential addition to the study of Whedon, but a timely and important re-invigoration of television studies in general.

The book examines each of Barnes' novels under his own name, indicating how his treatment of common themes in inventive structures helps to invigorate both the themes and the novel form itself. The book provides a brief introductory overview of Barnes' career and then offers a discussion of each of the novels written in his own name. Focusing on the novels themselves, the chapters offer close readings that seek to highlight the dominant ideas of each text. These range across such areas as narrative inventiveness, questions of love, notions of truth and justice, friendship and betrayal, cynicism, faith, politics, and art. While each novel is talked about in its own right, the book aims to demonstrate that Barnes' writings constantly attempt to push the limits of the novel form, however subtly, and that, as such, he is one of the most important writers in Britain today.

This book assesses Joss Whedon’s contribution to US television and popular culture. Examining everything from his earliest work to his most recent tweets and activist videos, it explores his complex and contradictory roles as both cult outsider and blockbuster filmmaker. Crucially, the book insists on the wider industrial, technological, political and economic contexts that have both influenced and been influenced by Whedon, rejecting the notion of Whedon as isolated television auteur. Using key source material, with exclusive access to drafts of many of the episodes across Whedon’s career, as well as unique correspondence with Whedon collaborator Jane Espenson, this book offers unparalleled access to the creative process that helped produce the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dollhouse and Firefly. Energetic, engaging and informed by detailed scholarship and theoretical rigour, the book is not just an essential addition to the study of Whedon, but a timely and important re-invigoration of television studies in general.

The book examines each of Barnes' novels under his own name, indicating how his treatment of common themes in inventive structures helps to invigorate both the themes and the novel form itself. The book provides a brief introductory overview of Barnes' career and then offers a discussion of each of the novels written in his own name. Focusing on the novels themselves, the chapters offer close readings that seek to highlight the dominant ideas of each text. These range across such areas as narrative inventiveness, questions of love, notions of truth and justice, friendship and betrayal, cynicism, faith, politics, and art. While each novel is talked about in its own right, the book aims to demonstrate that Barnes' writings constantly attempt to push the limits of the novel form, however subtly, and that, as such, he is one of the most important writers in Britain today.

"Organized into two sections, this volume offers an examination of the show. Issues such as values, ethical choices and the implications of one's actions are discussed. The final chapter summarizes what Buffy has to say about today's society. An appendixoffers a chronological list of episodes"--Provided by publisher.