Reading Joss Whedon

In an age when geek chic has come to define mainstream pop culture,

few writers and producers inspire more admiration and response than

Joss Whedon. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Much Ado About Nothing,

from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog to The Avengers, the works of

Whedon have been the focus of increasing academic attention. This collection

of articles represents some of the best work covering a wide array of

topics that clarify Whedon's importance, including considerations of narrative

and visual techniques, myth construction, symbolism, gender, heroism,

and the business side of television. The editors argue that Whedon's work

is of both social and aesthetic significance; that he creates "canonical television."

He is a master of his artistic medium and has managed this success

on broadcast networks rather than on cable.

From the focus on a single episode to the exploration of an entire season,

from the discussion of a particular narrative technique to a recounting

of the history of Whedon studies, this collection will both entertain and

educate those exploring Whedon scholarship for the first time and those

planning to teach a course on his works.