4. Introduction to the
Slayer
Joss Whedon writer/director of BtVS
• Wanted to reverse horror film conventions
• Subvert the idea of the little blonde girl that gets
killed
• Created a film Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
and then a TV Series (1997-2003)
5. Introduction to the
Slayer
BtVS reverses Horror Film Formula
– Emphasis on feminine
– Buffy holds the power
– Female Gaze
• Objectification of Women absent
6. Introduction to the Slayer
• Anti-patriarchal
• Focus on this world
– Friends and family important
– Focus on individual and community
• The vampires follow traditional
religious traditions
• Anti-myth
11. Buffy as Christ-Figure
• Prophecy: Buffy’s coming was prophesized as
well as her death.
• Chosen: Buffy the only one able to save us -
“she alone can stand against the vampires,
the demons, and the forces of darkness.”
• Destiny - her selection as Slayer, her role, not
an accident.
• Suffering, death are prices Buffy pays to fulfill
her destiny.
12. Buffy as Christ-Figure
• Casts out demons: Buffy destroys demons with
wooden stakes (Christ uses exorcisms)
• Sacrifice: Buffy’s Gethsemane moment in “Prophesy
Girl” - like Christ, sacrifices self anyway.
• Love of friends, family, humanity motivates self
sacrifice
• Sacrifice of others, also - Angel’s death
• Others also willing to die - not exclusive to Buffy -
Dawn’s death would also serve purpose
• Buffy’s plan, not divine plan
13. Buffy as Christ-Figure
• Death: Buffy dies twice – each time
prevents “an apocalypse.”
• Buffy’s death necessary -
prophesied, needed to stop evil of
The Master from taking over the
world.
• Returns stronger than ever - evil
defeats itself through death of Buffy.
14. Buffy as Christ-Figure
• Buffy’s second death – closes portal to Hell,
saves the world.
• Told, “death is her gift” - giving her life is
her gift to humankind.
• Heaven must be attained via own actions, if
at all - Buffy is not gateway to heaven - she
is gateway to life in the world - this-worldly
focus.
• “The hardest thing in this world is to live in
it. Be brave. Live.”
15. Buffy as Christ-Figure
• Buffy - sacrifices the love of her life -
Angel - flees her “life” by running
away to LA
• Descends into emotional hell
• She leads homeless, runaway
teenagers, the abused, the exploited
from “Hell” in “Anne”
16. Buffy as Christ-Figure
• Buffy’s Resurrection(s): Buffy’s first
resurrection - love, loyalty of friend
(Xander) – mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation (no divine interference)
• Buffy’s second resurrection Willow’s
magic spell.
• Died, went to heaven, pulled back to
Earth - Musical episode: “I live in Hell
/ ‘cause I’ve been expelled/ from
Heaven.
17. Buffy as Christ-Figure
• Buffy as a feminist Christ: Final sacrifice = her
“chosen” stature - she shares her power with
women all over the world
• Shared power = multiplied power
• Women’s power breaks male exploitation pattern
(first slayer chained by men; power shared through
women’s magic)
• Women’s power defeats First Evil = this-worldly
salvation.
• Saves all women to be strong
• Salvation through empowerment, social
engagement, community.
18. Buffy as Christ-Figure
Tangible Cheerleader, Lives with
Mother, Arrives at new
school
Service to Lesser,
sometimes ungrateful
Not liked by Cordillia
Central Central character A Willing Sacrifice Kills herself twice
Outsiders Not part of the popular group Innocent ?
Divinely Sourced and
Tasked
Chosen One A Cruciform Pose ?
Alter Egos High School Student/Slayer Cross Associations Use of Crucifixes
throughout
Special Normal Special Powers Miracles and Signs Dreams/vision,
exorcism (?)
Twelve Associates Scooby Gang Simplicity ?
The Holy Age Overcomes many
apocalypses
Poverty Middle class, episode
“Anne”
A Betrayer Associate Spike tries to rape Buffy Jesus’ Garb: Physical and
Spiritual
? (White Sheet)
A Sexually Identified
Woman
(Reversal) Angel Blue Eyes Green eyes
A Pointing Prophet or
Baptism
Prophecy of Chosen One Holy Exclamations ?
Decisive Death and
Resurrection
Dies and Resurrected Season
One and Five
Initials No
Triumphalism Death stops apocalypse
