Library Research Project

Library Research Project

Television series : Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Braun, Beth. "The X -Files And Buffy The Vampire Slayer : The Ambiguity Of Evil In Supernatural

Representations". Journal of Popular Film and Television 28.2 (2000): 88-94. Web.

The major argument of the article The X-Files and Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The ambiguity of evil in supernatural representation written by Beth Braun is mainly about the analysis of moral ambiguity that spread through the representation of each characters in the shows. The research is then narrowed to the theory of psychoanalysis, studied by Melanie Klein.

The obscurity of the characters in both television series are found to be intersected in both ambiguous sexuality and morality ways; where sexual tension within characters is the main subject in driving the narrative. This can be seen from Angel's adjustment from good to evil that happened due to sex, also the relationship of Angel and Buffy clearly indicates the tension between love and aggression that is mostly portrayed in amorous relationship. While in The X-Files, the ambiguity of the characters is more profound since the hero transformed from good to evil; FBI agent Dana Scully, who shifted into an evil alien.

Not only that, the author includes the Klein's theory of 'good' and 'bad' mother in analysing the show where the dramatic and transformation events for both television series, as claimed by Klein, are symbolic to it. For instance, Klein claims that the character of Buffy reflects the infant's dilemma, where she was forced to accept the fact that her lover embodied malevolence which targeted toward her, and the issues of 'good' and 'bad' mothers in the X-Files is argued to be prominent in the way females and males sexuality are being portrayed. 250 words

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Owen, A. Susan. "Vampires, Postmodernity, And Postfeminism: Buffy The Vampire Slayer". Journal of Popular Film and Television 27.2 (1999): 24-31. Web.

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