Week Ten - Cult TV

How does Buffy deconstruct traditional literary notions of good and evil?

Reading through Beth Braun’s critical study on ‘The Ambiguity of Evil in Supernatural Representations’, she states that Buffy is a good example, but not a new example of “using supernatural settings and characters to play out narratives of good versus evil,” Braun (2000, p.1). She goes onto say that hundreds of films and literacy examples have focused on the exact same theme. Yet, referring back to Buffy as an example of good versus evil, we can see that by mixing this whole good versus evil theme with the likes of teenager ‘angst’, how this theme is a lot “less fixed,” (Week Ten Slide Show, Slide 6). This whole idea of good versus evil, as suggested, has been slightly deconstructed in comparison to traditional ‘good versus bad’ notions.

One example of this in Buffy is where ‘good’ and ‘bad’ becomes a lot less defined. Good characters such as Buffy herself, express emotions of anger and bitterness towards ‘Angel’ as she feels as though she has been betrayed by his change in ‘demeanour’ and ‘character’ since making love to him, something that he cannot help due to a curse he is under. Even Braun talks about this idea stating that “good characters may develop in frightening sinister ways; villainous ones surprisingly reveal complex and even selfless motivations,” Braun (2000, p.1). So this whole idea of Good characters and Bad characters is slightly more ambiguous.

“Although initially portrayed as a dark and somewhat morally ambiguous character, Angel quickly became a romantic interest for Buffy.” Braun (2000, p.2). Here we see that Angel has already undertaken a change from evil to good as he initially like Braun suggests, was an evil character who used to go round sucking innocent peoples blood. Angel eventually makes love to Buffy; “however the curse that gave him his soul states that if he ever experiences a moment of perfect happiness his vampire nature would return.” Here again we also see another change in Angel, from good back to evil. “Angelus begins to kill again and tries to destroy Buffy. Buffy struggles to come to terms with the idea that Angel is now her enemy,” (Slide 19). So like stated earlier, this whole idea of good and evil being fixed terms are challenged and changed from that of traditional ideas which have been portrayed in similar literacy genres.

Braun (2000, p.3) sums this whole idea up nicely stating that “what makes Buffy the Vampire Slayer different from many current television offerings is that it portrays these psychoanalytically charged themes so effectively through the use of supernatural mythology.” She also mentions how this “moral ambiguity” is also reflected throughout the “development” of other main characters on the show. Mainly referencing Anya, (a non-human) who “was once an immortal and avenging demon,” to the sensitive band member Oz who, for three nights of every month, transforms into a werewolf are fine examples of this whole moral ambiguity idea portrayed throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer. “Current episodes continue this theme of the shifting nature of good and evil, as characters are portrayed as sometimes making not only bad choices but also morally wrong choices,” Braun (2000, p.3).

Reference List

Braum, B. (2000) The X-files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The ambiguity of evil in supernatural
representations. Retrieved 18 October, 2005 from: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0412/is_2_28/ai_64688900