In what way is Buffy influenced by the romantic gothic tradition? Yet how does Buffy also provide a contemporary critique of this tradition?
Buffy has been influenced by the romantic gothic ideology and it also provides a critique of this tradition. Rose (2002, p. 133) states that “Buffy adopts and adapts many romantic gothic conventions”. Buffy conveys romantic ideology in new contexts as well as new terms. Traditionally it is seen that literary romanticism is expressed by showing admiration for a male or admiration for a female and a typical storyline showing that the hero struggles while competing or dealing with the opposing forces or the villains. As Rose (2002), explains that these opposing forces are conflicting pulls of social VS antisocial, emotion VS intellectual and most importantly or in Buffy’s case nature vs technology, though emotion VS intellect also applies to Buffy in a greater sense.
Buffy who is a female hero creates a feminine narrative in itself and introduces a misunderstood romantic hero. In Buffy the importance of science and technology is taken for granted and then adding the whole idea of military and its potential is also used as a subject.
In Buffy the site where the science experiments are carried out is actually a secret military operation.Then the story has a twist to it when Buffy becomes more involved in the good and handsome guy, Riley Finn, who is professor Meggie’s teaching assistant. Rose (2002), states that the romantic ideology in Buffy lies within itself. Rose (2002, p.138), asserts that “Romantic ideology suggested that answers were found within and the individual took on primary importance”. Rose (2002), also writes that Buffy the rewrite of Shelly’s story also involves reimagining of the Romantic hero.
Rose, A (2002) Of creatures and creators: Buffy does Frankenstein, in R.Wilcox &D. Lavery (eds) Fighting the forces: what’s at stake in Buffy the vampire slayer. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer and the Romantic Gothic. AUT Screening: Buffy The Vampire Slayer: ‘The battle between good and evil’
Buffy certainly does critique these ideas!
ReplyDeleteBuffy is blonde and ditzy, and the heroine of the show. She also is quite insensitive to the feelings of her friends (quite unhero-like if you ask me). She continually wants to give up her Slayer status and often would rather think about boys.
And yes, these boys are often the very people she should steer clear from, and often lead her into more trouble. For example, Angel - who she battles quite a few times in both Buffy and the series Angel. There is Spike, who despite having a sensitivity chip is also clearly an arrogant bad boy. Riley, who appears perfectly suited, works for the bad guys and is under their influence all the time, leadind to more complications. And to further push the boundaries of the romantic gothic genre, this very concept of "good guy/bad guy" is void in Buffy. Except for Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (in which the reader dislikes the good guy and cheers for the monster), most traditional stories have very clear cut examples of good vs bad. These are blocks of black and white. In Buffy, they are more ahades of grey. As pointed out above, the good guy (Buffy) is constantly doing annoying/silly things, and the bad guys I often feel sorry for. This is especially shown in the Angel scenario. When Buffy has to kill Angel, its unbearable viewing because it plays with all the emotions and our very core ideas of good and evil. Buffy extends and redraws the boundaries.
Oh I definitely agree with Helen on the roles the men play in Buffy's life. These 'romantic' companions of Buffy's all possess the tradition gothic romance attributes, - such as they are quite traditional men having to overcome Buffy being as powerful as them. And Buffy adds the contemporary side to this with her 'ditzy' character. Buffy seems to always be having sexual encounters which would be the contemporary to romance as it would have been more conservative in a tradition setting. Aaifa has mentioned the opposing forces from Rose (2002) looking at emotion vs. intellect Buffy the Vampire Slayer series altogether portray these issues around teenage love, thinking with your heart vs. your brain, and commitment in adult relationships. This is shown through many of the characters such as Buffy, Angel, Spike and Willow.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting discussion of the opposing forces found in Buffy as related to the romantic gothic genre, though it could have been useful to develop your discussion of these in more detail. Good use of the primary texts.
ReplyDeleteBuffy critiques this tradition!
ReplyDeleteAt first, she is a blode gril with energy.although she is determined and justica, she is not hero-looking.she likes to asking quesation just like a kid. that's not normal hero does. in the readitional way, hero should be poeweful(Buffy is a girl who are petit flirt), and intelligent(she is little bit absent minded), Buffy is not like that, she is even in a oppsite way of being a hero.