Full Description
Joss Whedon once identified himself as an "angry, hard-line atheist" who is nevertheless "fascinated by the concept of devotion." While organized religion seems to hold no satisfactory answers for Whedon, his dedication to exploring the meanings of faith and belief can be seen in many of the characters he has created for such works as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, and Fray. This work examines a variety of Whedon's characters and discusses what can be learned from their struggles and discoveries regarding religion and belief.
Part One focuses on the characters' search for purpose, revealing how Dawn, Spike, and Angel attempt to define the meaning of their lives in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel. Part Two focuses on family, examining the unconventional family dynamic in Whedon's comic book miniseries Fray and television series Firefly. Part Three centers around the concept of redemption, using Angel's Doyle, Firefly's Malcolm Reynolds and Shepherd Book, and Buffy's Faith Lehane to examine the characters' search for salvation and their own acceptance of their past actions. Finally, Part Four focuses on the harmful potential of religious zealotry, revealing the negative aspects of absolute belief through Firefly's River and Buffy's Caleb. A primary source guide follows the main text, providing the writer, director, and air date of each television episode, along with publication data for Whedon's print works, including the in-publication "Season 8" comic books for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Contents
Table of Contents
Author's Note
Introduction
Part 1. Purpose: The Road to Damascus
1. What's a Key Without a Lock?: Dawn and the Promise of Purpose
2. Growing After Death: Angel, Spike and the Evolution of the Soul
Part 2. Family: A Place at the Table
3. Coming Apart, but Moving Forward: Magic Twins and Older Sisters in Fray
4. A Family of Believers, Just Not in the Same Thing: Faith in the Firefly Family
Part 3. Redemption: The Past Is Not a Prison
5. The One That Almost Got Away: Doyle and
Fish Story
6. "I Got No Rudder": Navigating the Sea of Faith with
Malcolm Reynolds
7. The Depth of Shadows: Redemption and Doubt
Shepherd Book
8. Prodigal Daughter: Faith and Homecoming
Part 4. Zealotry: Blood and Fire
9. Burning River: Witchcraft and the "Other" in Firefly
10. No Girls Allowed: Caleb and the Evils of Misogyny
Conclusion: Buffy Goes (Back) to School
Chapter Notes
Primary Sources—Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Primary Sources—Angel
Primary Sources—Firefly
Primary Sources—Other
Bibliography
Index
