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Buffy more than just a vampire slayer
By JIM KELLY
Tuesday, July 3, 2007

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Lakehead University professors J. Michael Richardson and J. Douglas Rabb are taking a serious look at “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.
“In short, there is much more going on than just silly fantasy stories for kids,” Richardson said during an interview.
Arguably, most fans of the show are in it for the entertainment value and are not interested into probing beyond “the silly fantasy stories,” but Richardson and Rabb are taking a stab at it.
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is an Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated American cult television series that initially aired from March 10, 1997 until May 20, 2003.
It was created by writer-director Joss Whedon. The series narrative follows Buffy Anne Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a line of young women chosen by fate to battle against vampires, demons and the forces of darkness.
Like previous slayers, Buffy is aided by a Watcher, who guides and trains her.
Unlike her predecessors, Buffy surrounds herself with a circle of loyal friends who become known as the Scooby Gang.
In their book, “The Existential Joss Whedon: Evil and Human Freedom in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and Serenity”, Richardson and Rabb delve into complex philosophic topics such as existentialism, ethics and moral choices.
The book examines the major works of Whedon, a contemporary American television and film screenwriter.
Richardson said he and Rabb want to put it right.
“We wrote this book largely because we didn‘t think that the other couple of dozen books on Buffy quite got things right, the way we thought they should be,” he said.
“They tend to focus on old-fashioned notions of the hero as an isolated individual fighting injustice. It‘s a notion derived from the John Wayne Western.”
And, let‘s not forget Gary Cooper in High Noon, or the Terminator, or Spiderman.
If there‘s a lesson in the book, Richardson said, it‘s that Whedon is suggesting that a heroine or hero fighting the evil forces fare better when they have help.
“Buffy does better when she enlists the help of her friends, some of whom are computer nerds or powerful witches,” Richardson said.
And, after reading the book, Richardson and Rabb are hoping fans of Buffy can get an understanding of how a creative person like Whedon can use narrative to explore and explain complex issues.
“I hope that those who read the book enjoy it, and if they are not Whedon fans, they give Buffy, Firefly, or Serenity a chance,” Richardson said.
“And if they are fans, that our book might encourage a slightly different way of regarding the shows.”
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