Ms. Karin Lenzhofer

Doctoral Candidate

Institute for Media and Communication Studies

University of Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt,

Austria

karin_lenzhofer@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

"Buffy's Fantasies"

[Click on the link above to see this paper's placement in the SCBtVS Program.]

 

Since Buffy is a fantasy series, what would be more obvious than taking a closer look at Buffy fantasies, both the realm of fantasy of the series itself and the fantasies that fans are inspired to by the series, its themes and characters. For me, Buffy fantasies are primarily female fantasies since the fans I take into consideration are predominantly female and, moreover, because most of the fanfiction, music videos and fanart is produced by female fans and fantasists. I would like to give an insight into the wide variety of fantasies that fans have in connection with Buffy and show how fascinating and fantastic these fantasies can be. In doing so, my focus is on fanart for it is especially apt for finding out about fantasies that are inspired by Buffy, ranging from empowering, feminist and romantic fantasies to Cinderella, bad girl, subversive and queer fantasies. All these fantasies are closely linked to desires and longings of female fans that are expressed in fanart. Fanart is able to show the creative and productive side of recipients, the fantasies that are projected into the series, as well as the inspiring, emancipating and liberating potential of Buffy, the impact fantasies have on the reality and identity of fans, especially in terms of empowerment by mobilizing desires in empowering directions (alternative concepts of girlhood, femininity and masculinity, supernatural and magical powers, queer sexuality), and furthermore fantasies (certain scenes, episodes, relationships) that particularly capture the imagination of fans, resonating with their own feelings, dreams, fears, and wishes.