How does Buffy deconstruct traditional literary notions of good and evil?
Braum (2005) best sums up the deconstruction of traditional literary notions of good and evil with her comments that within these shows the human and un human characters both display decent and demonic traits and the qualities of good and evil are continually moving. I think that as the narrative moves along and the characters take on good and evil traits it allows the viewer to connect with the characters on a deeper and more personal level.
In what way is Buffy influenced by the romantic gothic tradition? Yet how does Buffy also provide a contemporary critique of this tradition?
Buffy is raises the issue of science and morality in the continually developing technological world just as did Mary Shelley with Frankenstein. Rose (2002, p.133) mentions how Mary Shelley would quite probably have appreciated the narrative arc surrounding The initiative and the creature Adam, Buffy and the Scooby Gang as this was a modern take on Mary Shelley's Romantic ideology.
Buffy provides a contemporary critique by telling the story in a female narrative with the hero having considerable powers while still holding onto the theme of humanity delving into and playing around with areas of science of which we know very little about or what consequences such actions may bring upon us. Buffy also highlights many of the issues surrounding relationships, love and the personal trials and tribulations of today's youth
How do you think Buffy has influenced the contemporary vampire drama "True Blood and the "Twilight" series novels and films?
While I have not seen True Blood I feel that Buffy paved the way for Twilights characters to develop and grow while going through and exploring such things as morality, good and evil, sexuality, jealousy among other feelings. In one of the twilight movies Edward Cullen is a vampire who refrains from drinking human blood, I see this as following along the same as the vampire character Angel in Buffy who has a human soul and feels like humans do.
Some good initial comments - perhaps the first response could have been developed more as there is a lot that could have been said about this re the Buffy episodes "The I in team" and " & "Goodbye Iowa" with the latter episode really pushing the "I don't know who the bad guys really are - maybe I'm a bad guy" focus (See the quotes in the PP). Good second response - the notion of the individual vs the collective/community is also worth mentioneing here. Frankenstein goes it alone, as does Walsh and they both come to sticky ends (have you read the novel - it's great) Buffy initially tries to go solo, but eventually realises that the value of the collective (the Scooby gang) - and that the power to fight the forces of evil (whatever that might be metaphorically) essentially comes from a combined effort.
ReplyDeleteI havnt't read the novel but i certainly intend to read it and many other novels as well. Popular Genres has certainly made me view literature at a whole new level and allowed me to develope an understanding and respect of the writers and their amazing abilities.
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