By Jill Yesko , University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-3890
Posted 3-1-07
.
GREENSBORO, NC – Scholars and members of the “Buffyverse” from as far away as England are expected to attend a conference hosted by UNCG that explores themes in the hit television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
Dr. Rhonda Wilcox, professor of English at Gordon College and the founder and co-editor of Slayage: The Online Journal of Buffy Studies and author of “Why Buffy Matters” will present the keynote address.
The conference, which is the culmination of a year-long series of Buffy studies lectures and study groups, will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 16, at Elliott University Center at UNCG.
The public is welcome at no charge for the Wilcox lecture which will be held at 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Elliott University Center. All other events require registration.
Celebrated by Salon.com as “the smartest show on television,” “Buffy” remains popular among fans and scholars despite going off the air in 2003. The series, which ran for seven seasons, chronicled the life of Buffy Anne Summers, a seemingly average high school student chosen by fate to battle evil forces. Imbued with supernatural powers, Buffy struggles to be a mythic heroine while confronting all-too-human teenage issues such as dating and relating to her parents.
“There are hundreds of academics working on Buffy studies,” said Wilcox, a 1973 UNCG graduate who originated the academic field of Buffy studies. “People are inspired and fascinated by this show.”
For more information or to register for the conference, contact the Women’s and Gender Studies program at (336) 334- 5673 or visit http://wgs.uncg.edu. The conference is sponsored by the UNCG Women’s and Gender Studies program, the Department of English and University Libraries.
