“Buffy” wisdom ~ Hope for troubled times

05 Tuesday Sep 2017

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Inspiration, Story, TV Shows

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Anthony Head, Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawn Summers, hope, human spirit, humanity, Inspiration, James Marsters, Joss Whedon, Michelle Trachtenberg, Nicholas Brendon, peace, Rupert Giles, Saint Francis prayer, Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Spike, writers, Xander Harris

Remarkable as it may seem, Joss Whedon‘s BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER is still (after 14 years) a gold standard for many writers.

This is because, in spite of the window dressings of vampires, monsters, magic, and witchcraft, the heart of the story was always rooted in the human condition.

The secret to the show’s meaningfulness and longevity stems from Whedon’s purpose. The reasons “why” Whedon writes touch our universal core. They are primal.

Hope amidst adversity

If you haven’t watched this series, you’re in for a treat when you do. In the mean time, to get you on the same page: Bad things happen…a lot. For good reasons too:

You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them peril, you find out who they really are. ― Joss Whedon

We’ve all had personal difficulties, some of us may have had to wade through some pretty dark times. We can all relate to Buffy’s perils and hardships…on some level. Especially with the state of our world and the current affairs we witness on a daily basis.

Just as real as the adversities Buffy faced, was the undying light of the human spirit. It was hope guiding them to vanquish darkness and find their way to safety.

Yes. I know it’s fiction. But it resonates with with us because it’s primal. Whedon used the following musical score to convey this universal truth…no matter your faith. Though the words were written centuries ago, they bring hope to our modern times too.

Prayer of St. Francis ~ Sarah McLachlan

Music as Character ~ Buffy Wasn’t Just About Slaying Vampires

06 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Character, Music, Story

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Character, Elizabeth Fais, Joss Whedon, Music, Once More With Feeling, Prayer of St. Francis, Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Michell Gellar, Story

Music that Shaped Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Joss Whedon inspired many a writer (myself included) with his panache for strong story, witty dialog, and quirky characters in his irreverent series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

What’s easy to overlook, though, is how Whedon broke new ground with music in the series. To the point where music became a character integral to the story.

Take the Bronze. Sunnydale’s hippster nightclub. Of 144 episodes of the series, 66 have at least one scene at The Bronze. Each of those scenes featured live bands, playing original music. [Wikipedia] By the third season, groups were clamoring to be featured in an episode of Buffy.

But the Bronze’s live music wasn’t just a convenient plot device; it also shaped the mood and tone of the show. New bands from the Los Angeles area were showcased, as well as more well-known artists such as Aimee Mann, Splendid, Cibo Matto, Angie Hart, Michelle Branch, K’s Choice, Garbage and Nerf Herder. [Wikipedia]

The bands that took the stage at The Bronze weren’t everything, though. The musical scores that flowed through the seven season run, gave depth of story and emotion in equal measure.

Every Buffy fan has their musical favorites. Here are a couple of mine…

Prayer of St. Francis ~ Sarah McLachlan

Try as I might, I couldn’t pick just one favorite song from the classic musical episode, Once More With Feeling, in Season Six, so I opted for the trailer. If you haven’t seen the episode, do it NOW. It’s utterly brilliant. All the more so, when you realize the story, music, and lyrics were all written by Joss Whedon himself!