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Joss Whedon and math
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| ert |
Posted on August 29 2009 11:06 PM
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Location: Denmark
Posts: 1388
Joined: 2005-03-11
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Anyone ever noticed Joss Whedon hating on math on his shows? For the non-TV geeks, Joss Whedon is the genius behind TV such as Buffy, Angel, Dollhouse and Firefly.
He has stated his hate for math a few times. Quote: "I suck at math".
Also, I think he kind of made Xander (on Buffy) dyscalculic, unaware of its existence. Xander talks about hating math a lot, stating that he knows he's smart, but scores show that he lacks in the areas of math and spatial intelligence. That's SOME statement. Also being tutored by Willow, and joking about sucking at math through the whole series.
Also on Buffy, Spike's age is different every time they mention it. He's been both 126 and 200 years old! It's the same with Angel.
Joss commented on that a long time ago, I just found out.
Joss Whedon, about time descrepancies related to Angel's age, wrote: Let me clear up this whole timeline confusion once and for all. People seem to be tripping over themselves and the explanation is really not all that complicated. So, for the record. I suck at math (joss, Oct 13 22:27 1998).
Oh, and Dawn (Buffy) hated math too, also got tutored by Willow.
Hmmm, found a quote from one of the Xander hates math scenes;
Xander: Forget geometry, I don't care
from The Pack (Season 1) Next Clip in Episode
XANDER: I'm not getting this.
WILLOW: It's simple, really. See, 'The bisector of a vertex is the line that divides the angle at that vertex into two equal parts.'
XANDER: It's like a big blur, all these numbers and angles.
WILLOW: It's the same stuff from last week. You had it down then.
XANDER: Why do I need to learn this?
WILLOW: 'Cause otherwise you'll flunk math?
XANDER: Explain the part where that's bad.
WILLOW: You remember, you fail math, you flunk out of school, you end up being the guy at the pizza place that sweeps the floor and says, 'Hey, kids, where's the cool parties this weekend?' We've been through this. Do you have a headache? (reaches up to him)
XANDER: (shakes her off) Yeah, and I think I know what's causing it. (throws his geometry book into the trash) Ah! That's better, it goes right to the source of the pain.
WILLOW: Xander...
XANDER: Look, forget it, okay? I don't get it. I won't ever. I don't care. (storms off)
WILLOW: We can finish this another time.
(Wait, that's a scene from MY life too. And notice Willow saying he had it down last week)
... I'm just sayin'!
Edited by ert on August 29 2009 11:21 PM |
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| CheshireKat |
Posted on August 30 2009 12:15 AM
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Member
Location: United States
Posts: 1860
Joined: 2008-11-14
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That's really interesting, I wonder if anyone has ever brought dyscalculia to Whedon's attention? That might be something worth putting into a fan letter. It certainly sounds like he's been creating dyscalculic characters, mirroring his own difficulties with math, without even realizing it!
"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." - Eric Hoffer |
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| Addy |
Posted on August 30 2009 07:06 AM
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Location: Foggy San Francisco
Posts: 255
Joined: 2009-08-18
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Do any of the characters on Firefly talk about math at all? I'm thinking not ... River's good at it, obviously, and see what it did to her brain!
Oooh, I would be so proud if he were one of us!
squidoo.com/mathld
squidoo.com/writi...
squidoo.com/LDsid...
www.AddaptAbiliti...
www.wellorderedch... |
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| moonagedaydream |
Posted on August 30 2009 07:30 AM
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Member
Location: Canada
Posts: 14
Joined: 2009-08-23
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I like that he does that. I feel that a lot of geek culture puts emphasis on aptitude or love for math and science, but being a geek is so much more than that! |
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| ert |
Posted on August 30 2009 07:40 AM
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Member
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1388
Joined: 2005-03-11
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AddaptAbilities wrote:
River's good at it, obviously, and see what it did to her brain!
I didn't even think of that. But of course. Math is evil! Haha.
moonagedaydream wrote:
I like that he does that. I feel that a lot of geek culture puts emphasis on aptitude or love for math and science, but being a geek is so much more than that!
I knowww.
Edited by ert on August 30 2009 07:41 AM |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on August 30 2009 11:56 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3063
Joined: 2008-12-31
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Addapt....hubby and I recently saw Firely and the movie and it rocked!  But that's interesting, I didn't watch the other shows so I hadn't caught that- |
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| reverend blamo |
Posted on August 31 2009 10:45 AM
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Location: Island of Misfit Toys
Posts: 620
Joined: 2007-10-25
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Hmmm, I learn something new everyday.
(and I learned that I am a TV geek also...I suspected so)
"I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello |
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| Bonnie |
Posted on September 24 2009 05:39 AM
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Location: California
Posts: 48
Joined: 2007-01-10
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JAYNE: Ten percent of nothing is -- let me do the math here -- Nothing, and nothing, carry the nothing.
Edited by Bonnie on September 24 2009 06:53 AM |
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| Addy |
Posted on September 24 2009 07:53 AM
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Member
Location: Foggy San Francisco
Posts: 255
Joined: 2009-08-18
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I recently watched Season 2 of Buffy. In Episode 19, "I Only Have Eyes For You", Buffy is being chatted up by a classmate who thinks they were in Algebra together. Buffy's not sure she remembers Ben or the math class:
"Sorry, I pretty much repress anything with numbers."
Yup
squidoo.com/mathld
squidoo.com/writi...
squidoo.com/LDsid...
www.AddaptAbiliti...
www.wellorderedch... |
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