BtVS: A Fireman, When the Floods Roll Back
aka 'A Deconstruction of Society's Demonization of Women'
It's a theme that's more subtle in the earlier seasons, but they let us know right from the beginning that season seven is going to be more explicit. Buffy's explanation to Dawn in Lessons is a way of using the power that women are 'allowed' to have against people who seem to have more (' ( Read more... )
It's a theme that's more subtle in the earlier seasons, but they let us know right from the beginning that season seven is going to be more explicit. Buffy's explanation to Dawn in Lessons is a way of using the power that women are 'allowed' to have against people who seem to have more (' ( Read more... )
Comments 8
Next comes Tara. In the fifth season episode, Family, we see an clear connection between Tara and Buffy. At this point, Tara is an unknown to Buffy, a representative of a purely female (sapphic) power. Tara is what we see after Buffy wakes up, Tara is what Buffy is, in her heart -- protective and kind, fierce and loving. Female and possessing of a great inner power, and of great love and forgiveness. But Tara can't tell her that -- Buffy has to find it out for herself.
I never thought about that before, but with Tara and the first slayer as Buffy's dream guides, it definitely shows the two sides of herself that Buffy needs to balance. Joss using Tara to represent the side of Buffy that the first slayer would have her deny.
And, above all, it implies that Buffy's true job is to protect and aid, not attack and destroy. Buffy says that she will stand against the fire after the water leaves. She will protect the vulnerable places.*nods* That's how I've always seen ME portraying Buffy. Right ( ... )
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Thank you. I love your icon! Buffy...
*sigh*
*nods* That's how I've always seen ME portraying Buffy. Right from the start sharing the slaying with Willow and Xander was a theme. And then there's Intervention when we hear that it's love that is her strongest weapon.
It's the thing that makes Buffy different from what other Slayers were allowed to be.
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Perhaps a corollary to Buffy growing into and accepting the traditionally male, leadership role in S7 was the way Xander took on the traditionally female supportive role. Didn’t he want to be a fireman in 6th grade? I did love the way he kept being dismissed as just the guy who mends the windows and yet when he was struck down the house fell down with him.
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Perhaps a corollary to Buffy growing into and accepting the traditionally male, leadership role in S7 was the way Xander took on the traditionally female supportive role.
*nods*
So true. In fact, I've always felt that there are two primary gender messages that Joss sends -- women can be strong without being 'bitches' and men can be gentle without being weak. Each as important as the other.
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