1. According to Braun (2000), the liaison between Buffy and Angel demonstrates the “emotional complexity of many ordinary human relationships” (para. 9). She also states that the series in general “demonstrates adult love quite well in its exploration of the aggression that accompanies intimate love relationships” (para. 10).In what ways do you think Buffy the Vampire Slayer achieves this?
2. The forces of darkness in Buffy, including vampires, demons and monsters are often symbolic of the experiences we encounter as we move from adolescence into adulthood. How can Buffy’s relationship with Angel be discussed in this way?
3. Why is the use of symbolism or metaphor, as seen in Buffy, often a more engaging or meaningful way to explore human experiences?
4. How does Buffy the Vampire Slayer play around or question traditional stereotypes often seen in more traditional forms of television?
5. The week 11 screenings contain evidence of the “moral ambiguity within the main characters” (Braun 2000, para. 15). Can you discuss this and provide examples from the screenings?
Hello everyone. I believe that all have a nice long weekend, except Maho who has been hospitalized. I hope she’ll get well soon. Anyway, I’d like to discuss Q 1 first. I also think that the love between Buffy and Angel reflects the complexity of real human personality and relationships. Buffy gave her virginity to Angel on her 17th birthday, Angel was fated to lose his soul and turn evil again at the moment he felt perfect happiness. As a result, Buffy has faced to fight with her wholehearted lover. It demonstrates that intimate love relationship should be required strong responsibility for their all good or bad deed and the transformative power of love could bring inner strength. So, anticipating the victory over the forces of darkness ultimately derives not from supernatural power but from human love. It is universal true that love actually has both sides of love itself and hatred, but always true love gain the final victory over the hatred.
I’m still answering to Q1. Many people may have experienced or see that men’s previously passionate love for women turned overnight into contempt and aggression, especially after having sexual intercourse. It may demonstrate one of the man’s characteristics of lust for conquest. Or it can be powerful metaphor for one of masculinity culture that continued to seek something to until be satisfied. However, Braun (2000) explains, “The act of sex was for both Buffy and Angel a fundamental break from their previous idealization of their respective object, and for both splitting occurred.” Yes, the splitting could be good and evil. Buffy’s lost her virginity can be the border between good and bad. Nevertheless, I don’t know the reason why my interpretation inclines to blame on man’s selfish love. What’s wrong with me?
Q.2 I think there’s no clear line of distinction into adulthood from adolescence. However, we often found that many people underwent an agonising turning point when they move from adolescence to adulthood. This is because, adult should take strong responsibility for not only themselves but also their own families as well as communities in real world. In that transition stage, although adolescences try to establish their own autonomy and identity, they are likely taking risks that are highly dangerous. The reason may be that they are used to relying on the family for all of their needs, but now, it’s time to be independent. Yet, they have lack of experience of dealing with difficulties involving real life matters such as drugs, alcohol, sexual desire and even violent crime. What is more, they don’t seem to manage their emotional mood swing that is typical characteristic for adolescence. Therefore, painful endurance to overcome the forces of darkness in adolescence is the only way to become adult as if Buffy is going through tough relationship with Angel after making love. It indicates that how adult should take responsibility for whatsoever they’ve done.
I agree with you on question 1 that one thing we can see from Buffy is that after having sex, a nice boyfriend could turn into a real devil. Not that I've experienced it myself ;)
Moreover, in their relationship, I saw other similarities which can be found in any couple. They were deeply in love, yet because there is no an absolute good or evil person, sometimes they hurt each other, unintentionally or on purpose.
For instance, after having sex, Angel had turned into true evil, 'Angelus' and temporarily lost his 'good' side. His action, killing innocent people, hurt Buffy deeply. However, Buffy, still in love with him, "believed that she had the power to reverse her error". (Braun 2000, p.68)
It reminds me that sometimes we hurt the ones we love and sometimes they hurt us, but because of love, we can never easily let go. We embrace the pain and try to find a way to make things better, the way Buffy thought she could brought back her beloved Angel.
Nevertheless, like in every relationship, there are lines which, once crossed, tender love could turn into aggression. In one episode when Angelus killed Buffy's friend, she was determined that she had to be more violent and revenge for her friend's death.
They had been so deeply in love, thus they were aggressive rivals when things had changed. In Thai, we'd say 'the more you love, the more you hate' to explain when one's passionate feeling turns into hatred. The extremely strong feeling for them is still there, it only changes its face, like what Braun stated on page 69 that both Buffy and Angel had the 'great love and great aggression toward each other'.
Hello! Grace and Jean. I‘ve finish reading you guys'comments. Actually the first question made me think a lot. How should I think about Angel? He is only a vampire? Or we should think about he is also a human being? I think that you guys tended to see Angel is only a man. And the relationship between Angel and Buffy is only to be explained as “intimate lovers”. Sorry, I am not mean to offend. I just want answer this question in an objective viewpoint. I agree with you guys’ viewpoints. I will talk about it later.
Braun (2000) states that “Angel’s shift from good to evil occurred because of sex. Viewers next saw Buffy as Angel, his vampiric natural fully restored, attacked a woman outside his apartment “(Braun, 2000). Buffy gave her virginity to Angel in her 17 years old birthday. Why? I think that they both fall in love with each other. So, Angel also loves Buffy before they have sexual activity.
Also, Braun (2000) states that “On the show, Angelus is clearly the aggressor, so Buffy’s violent response to him is understandable. The act of sex was for both Buffy and Angel a fundamental break from their previous idealization of their respective objects” (Braun, 2000). Obviously, Angel is an aggressor of their love. He became an enemy of Buffy. Although Buffy still loves Angel, she has to face to kill off Angel as same as other Vampire. She had her first sex with Angel. Every body will be remembered this with a deep gratitude. Buffy also does. I think that it’s so hard for her to face to this cruel fact. It also hurt Buffy so much.
Based on this viewpoint, I would like to say I agree with Grace. It also demonstrate that “adult love quite well in its exploration of the aggression that accompanies intimate love relationships” as Braun (2000) stated. Buffy gave a violent response to his lover, Angel. Everybody will understand she do this. Actually I think that Buffy also feels contradictorily in the bottom of her heart. She has to kill Angel, but she still loves him. So it reflects that complexity of human relationships.
I have to say something tonight, my last chance. Question One. Buffy the Vampire Slayer tells us that Angel, a vampire, who had been cursed by ...; his human soul was restored in his immortal an bloodthirsty body s a result. The bad within him, his aggression was neither his nature nor his choice. Where were they from? We don't know. The Fisrt qualified and perfect sex between Buffy and Angel implies the very closed relationship (more than the body desire) between humans similar as the relationship between a mother and her infant. The moment when we feel like very closed to someone is the moment when conflict starts. I believe this is simply because we are all different individuals. Lots of time, I can't even agree with myself. Doen't matter how closed humans are, we don't seem to have the capacity to own someone else. Distance creates beauty. The sky is blue and peaceful because it is far away from us.
Buffy believed herself to be the cause of Angel's transformation, and furthermore as the slayer she believed that she had the power to reverse her error. This makes the complex relationship even worse. Can somebody be responsable for somebody's life? I don't believe that. Buffy the Vampire Slayer doesn't seem agree with that idea either. We may be able to help people, but it is hard to save people.
"Good" is definitely from love. But "bad" is from the unknown curse???
I think that Buffy gives her virginity to Angel is their turning point from adolescence into adulthood. And this relates Question 2. It is also Angel's shift from good to evil.The circumstances of Angel's splitting call to mind the trauma of infantile weaning, as Buffy's lost virginity shares with weaning the percieved loss of the good object - the nurturing breast and the "good" Angel. (para. 8)
The sexual penetration - adulthood caused Angel's rebirth as a vampire, and represents either Buffy's attempt to make up for the damage she has done or triumph over the perceived bad object.
9 comments:
1. According to Braun (2000), the liaison between Buffy and Angel demonstrates the “emotional complexity of many ordinary human relationships” (para. 9). She also states that the series in general “demonstrates adult love quite well in its exploration of the aggression that accompanies intimate love relationships” (para. 10).In what ways do you think Buffy the Vampire Slayer achieves this?
2. The forces of darkness in Buffy, including vampires, demons and monsters are often symbolic of the experiences we encounter as we move from adolescence into adulthood. How can Buffy’s relationship with Angel be discussed in this way?
3. Why is the use of symbolism or metaphor, as seen in Buffy, often a more engaging or meaningful way to explore human experiences?
4. How does Buffy the Vampire Slayer play around or question traditional stereotypes often seen in more traditional forms of television?
5. The week 11 screenings contain evidence of the “moral ambiguity within the main characters” (Braun 2000, para. 15). Can you discuss this and provide examples from the screenings?
6. Did you enjoy the Buffy episodes this week?
Hello everyone.
I believe that all have a nice long weekend, except Maho who has been hospitalized.
I hope she’ll get well soon.
Anyway, I’d like to discuss Q 1 first.
I also think that the love between Buffy and Angel reflects the complexity of real human personality and relationships. Buffy gave her virginity to Angel on her 17th birthday, Angel was fated to lose his soul and turn evil again at the moment he felt perfect happiness. As a result, Buffy has faced to fight with her wholehearted lover. It demonstrates that intimate love relationship should be required strong responsibility for their all good or bad deed and the transformative power of love could bring inner strength. So, anticipating the victory over the forces of darkness ultimately derives not from supernatural power but from human love. It is universal true that love actually has both sides of love itself and hatred, but always true love gain the final victory over the hatred.
I’m still answering to Q1.
Many people may have experienced or see that men’s previously passionate love for women turned overnight into contempt and aggression, especially after having sexual intercourse. It may demonstrate one of the man’s characteristics of lust for conquest. Or it can be powerful metaphor for one of masculinity culture that continued to seek something to until be satisfied.
However, Braun (2000) explains,
“The act of sex was for both Buffy and Angel a fundamental break from their previous idealization of their respective object, and for both splitting occurred.” Yes, the splitting could be good and evil. Buffy’s lost her virginity can be the border between good and bad. Nevertheless, I don’t know the reason why my interpretation inclines to blame on man’s selfish love. What’s wrong with me?
Q.2
I think there’s no clear line of distinction into adulthood from adolescence.
However, we often found that many people underwent an agonising turning point when they move from adolescence to adulthood. This is because, adult should take strong responsibility for not only themselves but also their own families as well as communities in real world.
In that transition stage, although adolescences try to establish their own autonomy and identity, they are likely taking risks that are highly dangerous. The reason may be that they are used to relying on the family for all of their needs, but now, it’s time to be independent. Yet, they have lack of experience of dealing with difficulties involving real life matters such as drugs, alcohol, sexual desire and even violent crime. What is more, they don’t seem to manage their emotional mood swing that is typical characteristic for adolescence. Therefore, painful endurance to overcome the forces of darkness in adolescence is the only way to become adult as if Buffy is going through tough relationship with Angel after making love. It indicates that how adult should take responsibility for whatsoever they’ve done.
Hi Grace,
I agree with you on question 1 that one thing we can see from Buffy is that after having sex, a nice boyfriend could turn into a real devil. Not that I've experienced it myself ;)
Moreover, in their relationship, I saw other similarities which can be found in any couple. They were deeply in love, yet because there is no an absolute good or evil person, sometimes they hurt each other, unintentionally or on purpose.
For instance, after having sex, Angel had turned into true evil, 'Angelus' and temporarily lost his 'good' side. His action, killing innocent people, hurt Buffy deeply. However, Buffy, still in love with him, "believed that she had the power to reverse her error". (Braun 2000, p.68)
It reminds me that sometimes we hurt the ones we love and sometimes they hurt us, but because of love, we can never easily let go. We embrace the pain and try to find a way to make things better, the way Buffy thought she could brought back her beloved Angel.
Nevertheless, like in every relationship, there are lines which, once crossed, tender love could turn into aggression. In one episode when Angelus killed Buffy's friend, she was determined that she had to be more violent and revenge for her friend's death.
They had been so deeply in love, thus they were aggressive rivals when things had changed. In Thai, we'd say 'the more you love, the more you hate' to explain when one's passionate feeling turns into hatred. The extremely strong feeling for them is still there, it only changes its face, like what Braun stated on page 69 that both Buffy and Angel had the 'great love and great aggression toward each other'.
Question 1
Hello!
Grace and Jean. I‘ve finish reading you guys'comments. Actually the first question made me think a lot. How should I think about Angel? He is only a vampire? Or we should think about he is also a human being? I think that you guys tended to see Angel is only a man. And the relationship between Angel and Buffy is only to be explained as “intimate lovers”. Sorry, I am not mean to offend. I just want answer this question in an objective viewpoint. I agree with you guys’ viewpoints. I will talk about it later.
Braun (2000) states that “Angel’s shift from good to evil occurred because of sex. Viewers next saw Buffy as Angel, his vampiric natural fully restored, attacked a woman outside his apartment “(Braun, 2000). Buffy gave her virginity to Angel in her 17 years old birthday. Why? I think that they both fall in love with each other. So, Angel also loves Buffy before they have sexual activity.
Also, Braun (2000) states that “On the show, Angelus is clearly the aggressor, so Buffy’s violent response to him is understandable. The act of sex was for both Buffy and Angel a fundamental break from their previous idealization of their respective objects” (Braun, 2000). Obviously, Angel is an aggressor of their love. He became an enemy of Buffy. Although Buffy still loves Angel, she has to face to kill off Angel as same as other Vampire. She had her first sex with Angel. Every body will be remembered this with a deep gratitude. Buffy also does. I think that it’s so hard for her to face to this cruel fact. It also hurt Buffy so much.
Based on this viewpoint, I would like to say I agree with Grace. It also demonstrate that “adult love quite well in its exploration of the aggression that accompanies intimate love relationships” as Braun (2000) stated. Buffy gave a violent response to his lover, Angel. Everybody will understand she do this. Actually I think that Buffy also feels contradictorily in the bottom of her heart. She has to kill Angel, but she still loves him. So it reflects that complexity of human relationships.
I have to say something tonight, my last chance. Question One. Buffy the Vampire Slayer tells us that Angel, a vampire, who had been cursed by ...; his human soul was restored in his immortal an bloodthirsty body s a result. The bad within him, his aggression was neither his nature nor his choice. Where were they from? We don't know.
The Fisrt qualified and perfect sex between Buffy and Angel implies the very closed relationship (more than the body desire) between humans similar as the relationship between a mother and her infant. The moment when we feel like very closed to someone is the moment when conflict starts. I believe this is simply because we are all different individuals. Lots of time, I can't even agree with myself. Doen't matter how closed humans are, we don't seem to have the capacity to own someone else. Distance creates beauty. The sky is blue and peaceful because it is far away from us.
Buffy believed herself to be the cause of Angel's transformation, and furthermore as the slayer she believed that she had the power to reverse her error. This makes the complex relationship even worse. Can somebody be responsable for somebody's life? I don't believe that. Buffy the Vampire Slayer doesn't seem agree with that idea either. We may be able to help people, but it is hard to save people.
"Good" is definitely from love. But "bad" is from the unknown curse???
Hi Grace,
I think that Buffy gives her virginity to Angel is their turning point from adolescence into adulthood. And this relates Question 2. It is also Angel's shift from good to evil.The circumstances of Angel's splitting call to mind the trauma of infantile weaning, as Buffy's lost virginity shares with weaning the percieved loss of the good object - the nurturing breast and the "good" Angel. (para. 8)
The sexual penetration - adulthood caused Angel's rebirth as a vampire, and represents either Buffy's attempt to make up for the damage she has done or triumph over the perceived bad object.
I am going to like Buffy the Vampire. It talks about something in my mind recently.
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