It was a snarky comment by Anya, a wonderfully written, brilliantly delivered comment but still a snarky one.

Actually, she meant it quite sincerely. Being "unamerican" by Anya's definition isn't something I'd take offense at.

Zoe, what everyone said. There's a lot of snark here. It's probably in the etiquette guide. It'll take a seismic shift to make it go away.

Yes, based on a reworking of mythology which is 100% European.

Um. Not quite sure where you're going with this. If you mean the vampire thing, it's my understanding that there are vampire myths in many non-European cultures. The pulp horror genre from which BtVS draws so much is both European and US-based - certainly Hammer House of Horror produced many classics, but there are plenty of cheesy US schlock horror movies and comics from the same era. There's also plenty of pulp genre stuff from other non-European sources.

Regardless - the show itself is American. It's also crammed with irony and wordplay, and lots of the cultural references are American. Including, it seems, the resonances of the term "UnAmerican" and the suffix "-ista".

I certainly don't dispute your right to raise the subject, Zoe. I just don't share your perspective on it. But I'm tired and grumpy and bag-like, so I may not have Captain Logic steering my tugboat right now.

I think the UnAmerican thread is relatively quiet right now (well, until today) because new episodes are not currently showing yet, right? At least, I'm pretty sure they're not in the UK or Australia, which are the biggest UnAmerican demographic here, and poor Israel seems never to get anything. No new episodes = pretty quiet. Well, quiet for Buffistas.

Yes, based on a reworking of mythology which is 100% European.

Really not going anywhere, honest. Feirce and fiery protection of ancient myths is something of a Celtic character trait I guess, pretty much has to be cos we're still here.

May I suggest, though, that saying vampire myths are 100% European is like saying that Christianity is 100% Middle Eastern? I mean, it did originate there, but it has become somewhat more universal as time goes by. And, of course, American culture derives from many sources, and one of the major ones is European.

No new episodes = pretty quiet.

So, how 'bout that World Cup?

You know what?

Yes, based on a reworking of mythology which is 100% European. It would do no harm to acknowledge your sources.

The mythology is a setting in which to explore the pop-culture references, some of which will be highly USian in nature, others of which will be more universal. This doesn't mean that calling the show primarily American in nature fails to acknowledge that the foundation mythology comes from all over the place, up to and including Europe, Asia, Africa, and pre-Columbian America. And besides:

At the end of the day this board is predominantly American and the Jossverse shows are American and crammed with popular culture references which are primarily US-based.

Was said by a woman in Yorkshrire. 'Tisn't her culture either.

Zoe, what everyone said. There's a lot of snark here. It's probably in the etiquette guide. It'll take a seismic shift to make it go away.

And puns. And entendres. So, if you think of it in terms of the culture that has formed in this particular environment, this is an almost perfect thread title. Double references to the shows, several layers of meaning.

IFG.

Regardless of the non-US derivation of the various vampire myths (which Joss & co have cheerfully reinvented to their own liking) the show draws upon a whole host of sources, and the dialogue is densely packed with references to US popular culture as well as to more esoteric and highbrow sources. BtVS, at least in the earlier seasons, took pulp horror flicks and pulp teen movies as its main points of reference, whilst AtS initially drew upon more Noirish, Chandlerish sources for plots and atmosphere.

x-post.

May I suggest, though, that saying vampire myths are 100% European is like saying that Christianity is 100% Middle Eastern? I mean, it did originate there, but it has become somewhat more universal as time goes by. And, of course, American culture derives from many sources, and one of the major ones is European.

Yes and no christianity has been spreading for around 2000 years vampire myths aren't that old. And although America has a myriad of cultural roots they have only been reworking them in movies for the last 50 years or so. Taking myths from a source and reworking them doesn't make them American it's like saying that "MacDonald" is an American name because it is an American cultural reference as well and Oops that cat's escaped! I'm not saying that vampires are not big in American culture but I have a be nice to your sources issue.