Buffy and Angel were at the height of pop culture not too long ago and was a brilliant mythology written by the great Joss Whedon (who seems to love killing his own characters off). I'm a proud fan and yes, male? It can be a little embarrassing to admit just how many books and articles I have read about the television show, but I find many of the unlearned didn't take it seriously because of the title, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." It's a clever oxymoron of sorts... She a chosen one to save the world and she has the strength and wisdom passed down through the ages... and her name is Buffy (that's comedy).If you try to put your enthusiasm into words, people look at you funny. Unless they are one of the lucky ones who have actually seen the show, and then their eyes light up with glee.
As one critic put it, "Buffy" is the most religious show on TV, (although I'd say The Simpson should take that title - seriously) a "secular universe saturated with grace." There are many spiritual metaphors concerning the slayer's personal spirituality, to an examination of what could be called the show's prophetic themes: saving the world and deliverance from evil. Buffy can be examined as a self-sacrificing savior; as can her catchphrase 'death is a gift'; the power of friendship; and the necessity of going through negative emotions.
"Buffy is a Christ figure, but only insofar as she is constantly averting the apocalypse through self-sacrifice. On Buffy, people atone for their own sins. Redemption is hard work and it us up to us. Redemption is a process requiring action; words are not enough. There's no salvation by grace in the Buffyverse. Angel and other characters find salvation only in work, self-sacrifice, and courageous choices."
"Buffy is all about confronting our dark sides and learning to live comfortably--or at least co-exist nonviolently--with our monster selves. Many people would rather deny their dark shadow, pretend it isn't there. But ignoring it entirely, according to the show, is a dangerous as allowing it to rule our lives. As Willow learns she doesn't have to be a bigger, badder badass than the source of all badness. She needs to control the darkness so it does not control her. In the end she discovers that it's enough just to be Willow, with all of her complexiities, all of her darkness, and her much stonger goodness." (pages 117-118) Click book picture above to source it from Amazon.
Well, I could go on and on about buffy, but I won't. All I can say is that it's a good pop-cultural way of sorting through all sorts of spiritual odds and ends to find what is good and beautiful. Actually I will go on a bit more. This is a respond to your request EekyJo, It's a long list and I trimmed it down from the original 150 - I can't seem to hedge off anymore - so here's the 71:
Everything I've learned I learnt from "Buffy The Vampire Slayer":
- TV is the idiot box. The computer is the good box.
- Testosterone is the great equalizer; it turns all men into morons.
- The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
- Variety is the spice of bad.
- Blood is life. It's what makes you warm, makes you hard, makes you other than dead.
- Don't eat the principal.
- Strong is fighting. It's hard and it's painful and it's every day, but it's what we have to do.
- Love makes you do the wacky.
- Always carry a beeper in case the apocalypse comes.
- A good day to break up with someone is any day but Valentine's Day or your wedding day.
- The world is what it is. We fight. We die. Wishing doesn't change that.
- Be careful what you wish for. And whom you make wishes to.
- There comes a time when you either have to move out of your parents' basement or buy yourself a Klingon costume and just go with it.
- Live in the now.
- Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.
- Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever. But get over it or pretty soon you won't have the friends you have now.
- There is no problem that cannot be solved by chocolate.
- Home schooling: it's not just for scary religious people anymore.
- All men are beasts.
- Want. Take. Have.
- Sarcasm is an end in itself.
- Stalking a girl is not a turn-on.
- Beer is bad. And also foamy.
- Magic and medicine don't mix.
- There's nothing like getting your ass kicked to make your ass hurt.
- People in love are always a little crazy. And a little dangerous.
- There are a lot of different kinds of families.
- It's not always about you. Unless you're MothandRust.
- Find out the returns and exchanges policy on all gifts.
- Tell people you love them over and over until it makes everyone uncomfortable, just in case.
- Life is like becoming vampire: it's a whole big sucking thing.
- The geeks shall inherit the earth. Or possibly conquer it.
- In life you can either do things the hard way or...actually, there's just the hard way.
- Smart chicks are hot.
- Sometimes life is one big scavenger hunt.
- It is a statistical impossibility for a teenage girl to unplug a phone.
- Schools are just factories, spewing out mindless little automatons... Who go on to be very valuable and productive members of society and you should go.
- Never kiss your best friend. (Exemption for impending death situations.)
- Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. No, really.
- They don't make angry mobs like they used to.
- No matter how good it sounds, a robot is not a good substitute for a real relationship.
- Tact is just not saying true stuff.
- Saying "as long as nothing bad happens" is the ultimate jinx.
- Society has rules and boundaries and an endzone.
- Everyone has an evil twin.
- Chicks really dig that billowy-coat-king-of-pain thing.
- Vengeance is not justice.
- You always hurt the ones you love.
- Life's a show and we all play our part.
- Dancing and songs don't always lead to hugs and puppies.
- Witty repartee will throw off your enemies.
- Life's not a song. Life isn't bliss. Life is just this: it's living.
- Always laugh in the face of danger. And then hide until it goes away.
- Everyone should get a chance to watch and mock and laugh.
- Logic has no place in a rant.
- Men like sports. Men watch the action movie. They eat of the beef and enjoy to look at the bosoms.
- Graduation is a pointless ceremony where you sit around and listen to boring speeches till you get a little piece of paper that says you graduated, which you already know.
- The "he started it" defense only works in six-year-old court.
- The earth never opens up and swallows you when you want it to.
- To forgive is an act of compassion. It's not done because people deserve it. It's done because they need it.
- Some lies are necessary.
- Loneliness is about the scariest thing there is.
- There are three kinds of people that no one understands: geniuses, madmen, and guys that mumble.
- Bruises fade but cowardice has an unlimited shelf life.
- When you leave someone at the alter, it's really hard to go back to dating her.
- Lesbians are really less about the hating of men and more about the girl-on-girl action.
- Sometimes the most adult thing you can do is ask for help when you need it.
- It is sometimes possible to save the world with just words, love, and a yellow crayon.
- Love is pain. The slayer forges strength from pain. Love, give, forgive, risk the pain.
- There's only one thing on this earth more powerful than evil. And that's us.
- You think you know. What's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.
2 comments:
Huh? Buffy? What? What'd I say? What request?
Huh?
Lost.
Oh and I'm gonna steal the blog.
Lol! Buffy....nah..
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