Buffy Essay Collections
by Roz Kaveney; Rhonda V. Wilcox and David Lavery
Reading the Vampire Slayer: An
Unofficial Critical Companion to Buffy and Angel
Editbed by Roz Kaveney
Fighting the Forces: What's at
Stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Edited by Rhonda V. Wilcox and David Lavery
  “I
had never been quite as seduced by a television show before.” —
Roz Kaveney
Each of these books consists of a series of essays by
writers who approach the program from various critical and analytical
angles. Reading the Slayer is shorter and somewhat less ponderous.
The introduction contains an excellent overview of the program and its
themes, although Kaveney saw more lust at play in Buffy-land than I did
(Faith wanted Buffy? Maggie Walsh wanted Riley? Ethan and Giles were lovers?).
Other essays in the volume look at Buffy or Angel
(or both) through feminist and Marxist lenses; analyze its use of humour
and its treatment of time and space; discuss the slash fiction phenomenon;
and assess the talent of the actors. Particularly interesting was the
comparison to East Asian cinema, in that it's the only time I can remember
the original movie being praised above the series. (Kristy Swanson in
the film did her own stunts; her fights were much more expressive than
Sarah Michelle Gellar's fake ones. Apparently.)
Also notable was “What You Are: What's to Come,”
which successfully predicts that the resurrected Buffy's sexuality would
be become “liminal” and that she'd be battling her dark side
(because, don'tcha know, that always happens with these darn resurrections).
The essays in Fighting the Forces take similar
approaches, but the greater number of essays means more points of view.
For example, the undeniably positive feminist messages in the show noted
by various essayists are counterbalanced by those who analyze the denigration
of mothers; point out that Buffy is only allowed to express her anger
in socially acceptable ways; and describe ways in which Kendra was treated
as a tragic mulatta figure.
Particularly fun in this collection were the essays
were those on techniques used to “undemonize” the supporting
characters such as Cordelia, Spike, and Anya over time; the insightful
analysis of how dreams are used in the series (including some discussion
of the all-dream episode, “Restless”); and the ways in which
the show has responded directly to fan comments and fan fiction —
for example, magically pairing up Buffy and Spike (way before that
seemed like a plausible development), inserting Jonathan as hero for an
episode (as in “Mary Sue” types of fan fiction), and bringing
back the popular vamp Willow.
If you're a Buffy fan, and you like this kind of stuff,
you'll find essays to enjoy in both of these volumes.
See also
Review of The
Simpsons and Philosphy: The D'Oh of Homer
Buffy the Vampire
Slayer Television reviews
Angel Television
reviews
Buffy Season
2 DVD review
Buffy Season
4 DVD review
Buffy sessions at the Popular
Culture Conference
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