and Religion
Shannon Craigo- Snell’s article “What Would Buffy Do? Feminist Ethics and Epistemic Violence” raises a lot of controversial concerns as well as some positive aspects. Buffy is described as a moral exemplar (Snell 1), she is the perfect example of someone who has great morals. Because of this she is compared to Jesus. The acronym WWJD, which means “what would Jesus do” has changed for fans as WWBD, “what would Buffy do”. Buffy is a saviour in her own way, destroying evil vampires to protect the human race. Not only have Buffy fans created this acronym but they also have something called a “Buffyverse” which is like a bible to them. Like the actual bible, the Buffyverse takes evil seriously and demonic language is use to show the social issues and personal problems (Snell 2). The show symbolizes Christianity in the way of the battle between good and evil and Buffy represents a Christ-like figure who is violent. The similarities between Buffy and Jesus are quite visible throughout the show, Snell gives such examples like, "befriending outcasts, gathering a band of devoted followers, wanders the desert, is tempted by the possibilities of her own power, sacrifices herself to save mankind, harrows hell and is raised from the dead" (Snell 2). It is not hard for Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans to idolize over Buffy, she is a female who is attractive, aggressive and kills the “bad guys” not only is she idolized but also can be role model for other girls and women. Buffy fights evil to save the people around her a well as her loved ones, she also does not boast in the the glory of fighting by herself, she also fights with her friends by her side. Buffy appears as a typical female, wearing skirts and makeup and nice hairdos, but although she appears as being this stereotypical female, she is also powerful, strong and violent. This shows how girls can possess the traits of men even though they may look like they are weak or too feminine. Snell states that in the series finale, "Buffy shares her slayer- powers with women and girls everywhere" (Snell 4). In other words, giving females the power to be what they want to be with confidence and prowess, to beat the stereotypes.
Here is an example of "What Would Buffy Do?" merchandise.
Here is an example of Buffy fighting. Although she is sick she beats the weak feminist stereotype. (Season 2 episode 18).
Once again sex is linked to violence in yet another vampire franchise. Snell provides two examples of how the two are linked together. Vampires throughout the seasons like giving and receiving pain in a sadomasochistic way. In season three, episode 14 entitled, “Bad Girls”, Xander comes to talk to Faith after she kills her first human, she thinks he is there to have sex with her and gets him into a sexual position and almost kills him (Snell 5). Another example is when Buffy is brought back from heaven which is season three, episode 15 entitled, “Consequences” she engages in violent sex with the vampire Spike. Buffy is only using Spike so she can feel alive and to just feel rebellious. Buffy was happy in heaven and when she got brought back she thought she was being punished something so she figured someone like Spike was all she deserved. So not having not feeling happiness or any emotion, Buffy pushed the limit to find emotion. However, “in the end it is presented as a shameful, self-destructive relationship which Buffy must walk away from” (Snell 6). Violent relationships are nothing to be proud of whether you love the other person or not. It is not healthy for the body, mind or soul. One should feel loved while engaging in sexual intercourse with another person not too feel wild and careless and hurt.
Stuller also looks at how sex and violence can be linked. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is known as being a, “dark romance” meaning that the male protagonists are depicted as being bad and dangerous. Since the male protagonists are vampires this automatically makes them “natural predators and their female lovers as prey” (Stuller 92). Not only are the males dangerous but they are also represented as sex objects or objects of desire in the show. The males in the show are shown either undressed or undressing just as much as the females of the show. Their desirable bodies lead women to want them although the vampires are violent.
Here is an example of a scene with Buffy and Spike that helps to show how violence is linked to love and sex. (Season 6 episode 9).
Both men are quite attractive and so provides a sense of sex appeal to viewers, showing them that vampires are attractive.
Jennifer Stuller discusses how vampires can be both good and evil in her book, Fan Phenomena: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Human nature is questioned when it comes to Angel and Spike within the series. Angel is considered a good vampire who is the love interest for Buffy. Angel is cursed with having a human soul and must resist the urge to feed off of humans and to resist the temptation to kill. "Angel has a lot of remorse for victimizing people in the past which motivates him to assist Buffy in her slaying of vampires" (Wikipedia). Angel’s character is “anchored to religious notions of the soul” (Stuller 80). Which means it makes Christians ponder whether vampires are actually decent beings. But then there is Spike. Spike is your typical vampire villain, but upsets the clear lines of good and evil. Spike may be evil but he is able to fall in love with Buffy despite not having a soul, he cooperates with the Scoobies but yet “embraces his viciousness despite recovering his soul” (Stuller 80). So now Spike’s character upsets the Christian beliefs of the soul. How can someone so evil and dangerous still be a hopeless romantic?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer has two homosexual characters, Willow Rosenberg and Tara Maclay. These characters raise the moral Christian values since to be homosexual is considered as being a sin. Although this is frowned upon, fans of the series especially members of LGBTQ loved the relationship that Willow and Tara shared. The courage of Willow and Tara also can give the LGBTQ community hope. When Willow tells Buffy about her relationship with Tara, Buffy is at first shocked but accepts her friend despite her sexual preference. Likewise with Tara she is accepted into the Scoobies and is considered to be family to them. Stuller states, “Episodes such as these convey understanding for LGBTQ individuals who live in a world overrun with sexual discrimination and intolerance. For someone who may be unsure about his or her own sexuality, or wondering if he or she should reveal their own sexuality to a friend or family member, the episodes in which Buffy shows Tara and Willow as welcomed by their loved ones are undoubtedly inspirational” (103). Acceptance of LGBTQ have changed over the years, people have learned that the LGBTQ are no different than the rest of us and that they are still good people despite the Bible calling them sinners which Conservative Christians still hold true and other viewers who have a closed-mind to accepting anything but traditional heterosexual relationships. However, times have changed and showing lesbian characters on the show, reveals how the LGBTQ community has slowly been accepted even since the airing of Buffy the Vampire on television.
Here is a video showing clips of Willow and Tara, just to reveal the love they share in the show.
Director/producer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Wheldon is an atheist himself but the fans surrounding the success of the show are like religious followers. The show contains “specific religious traditions and beliefs in the supernatural” (Stuller 135). Pop culture fandom is known as contemporary religion in the sense that religion takes over and manipulates the brain and makes people part of something bigger than life and is fulfilling and like popular vampire phenomena this deems true. Shared religion is what brings people together even if that may be a shared belief in the supernatural. In the show, the shared belief of vampires, demons and monsters is what brings the Scoobies together. According to bicultural science of religion scholars, Stuller says, “ The reason that religion bound early communities together was chiefly because belief in supernatural moral agents put limits on unwanted behaviour” (Stuller 137). This ideology can be reflected in Buffy the Vampire Slayer when the gang comes together when there are demonic threats to their society.
