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Buffy and the Heroine's Journey: Vampire Slayer as Feminine Chosen One
The worlds of Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and other modern epics feature the Chosen One--an adolescent boy who defeats the Dark Lord and battles the sorrows of the world. Television's Buffy the Vampire Slayer represents a different kind of epic--the heroine's journey, not the hero's.
This provocative study explores how Buffy blends 1990s girl power and the path of the warrior woman with the oldest of mythic traditions. It chronicles her descent into death and subsequent return like the great goddesses of antiquity. As she sacrifices her life for the helpless, Buffy experiences the classic heroine's quest, ascending to protector and queen in this timeless metaphor for growing into adulthood.
This provocative study explores how Buffy blends 1990s girl power and the path of the warrior woman with the oldest of mythic traditions. It chronicles her descent into death and subsequent return like the great goddesses of antiquity. As she sacrifices her life for the helpless, Buffy experiences the classic heroine's quest, ascending to protector and queen in this timeless metaphor for growing into adulthood.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
6 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Estelle Frankel
113 books245 followersValerie Estelle Frankel is the author of 88 books on pop culture, including Doctor Who - The What, Where, and How; The Villain's Journey, History, Pop Culture, and Hidden Meanings in Hamilton; and How Game of Thrones Will End. Many of her books focus on women’s roles in fiction, from her heroine’s journey guides From Girl to Goddess and Superheroines and the Epic Journey to books like Star Wars Meets the Eras of Feminism and Fourth Wave Feminism in Science Fiction and Fantasy. She's editing a series on Jewish Science Fiction for Rowman & Littlefield. Once a lecturer at San Jose State University, she now teaches at Mission College and is a frequent speaker at conferences. Come explore her research at www.vefrankel.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 29, 2012
I love Buffy. I love watching Buffy, reading about Buffy, taking quizzes about Buffy, all things regarding Buffy. I was prepared to love this book. I really tried very hard, but most of the things I love so much about Buffy were largely missing from this book. I can't fault an academic text for being, well, academic and totally research-y, but I'm concerned about this book's ability to connect with its audience. Who is the audience for an academic text about Buffy? I think an academic audience might find the subject matter, a teen-pop television show, problematic. I think the average Buffy fan would find it pretty dry and dense, as I did. So, where does this book find its fans? Buffy scholarship, just judging by the immense amount of texts devoted to analyzing the crap out of the show, is a legitimate field, but I don't know if it's large enough to supply a fervent demand for this type of book.
The content, Frankel's theory that Buffy completes the classic Hero's Journey in the first three seasons of the show, then goes on to tackle the Heroine's Journey, is extensively researched and seems legitimate. I am willing to buy Frankel's premise, although my knowledge of classic Heroines is admittedly limited. Her arguments are founded in fact and she has a mile-long bibliography to back up her assertions. She points out aspects of Buffy's character that I had never considered. What I did have a problem with is her claims that the other characters in Buffy's ensemble cast are merely shadows or facets of Buffy herself. I believe each character on the show is a full-dimensional human being, all of whom learn and grow over the series. They are not just "slices of Buffy" whose purpose is to enhance Buffy's own character.
The danger in analysis of a fictional saga or any work of fiction for that matter, is in ascribing meaning and symbolism to events, word choices, clothing choices, etc. that the author may not have ever intended. Sometimes a gray shirt is just a cute thing the wardrobe department found at a thrift store, not necessarily indicative of Buffy's incorporating both lightness and darkness into her character. Maybe it is, though. Maybe I'm wrong. However, Frankel's text struck me as, again, maybe too analytical, detailed and...research-y.
The content, Frankel's theory that Buffy completes the classic Hero's Journey in the first three seasons of the show, then goes on to tackle the Heroine's Journey, is extensively researched and seems legitimate. I am willing to buy Frankel's premise, although my knowledge of classic Heroines is admittedly limited. Her arguments are founded in fact and she has a mile-long bibliography to back up her assertions. She points out aspects of Buffy's character that I had never considered. What I did have a problem with is her claims that the other characters in Buffy's ensemble cast are merely shadows or facets of Buffy herself. I believe each character on the show is a full-dimensional human being, all of whom learn and grow over the series. They are not just "slices of Buffy" whose purpose is to enhance Buffy's own character.
The danger in analysis of a fictional saga or any work of fiction for that matter, is in ascribing meaning and symbolism to events, word choices, clothing choices, etc. that the author may not have ever intended. Sometimes a gray shirt is just a cute thing the wardrobe department found at a thrift store, not necessarily indicative of Buffy's incorporating both lightness and darkness into her character. Maybe it is, though. Maybe I'm wrong. However, Frankel's text struck me as, again, maybe too analytical, detailed and...research-y.
March 21, 2015
Buffy as Campbell's hero(ine)'s journey with a big scoop of Jungian psychology. Bonus points for including season 8!
October 13, 2013
(Full disclosure: I received a free advanced review copy of this book through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program.)
The Slayer Who Would Be Queen
A newbie Buffy fan like myself, I was super-excited when copies of Valerie Estelle Frankel’s Buffy and the Heroine's Journey: Vampire Slayer as Feminine Chosen One were offered up for review through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program. At the time I was just finishing up Season Seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and picking up Season One of the comics, so the timing was perfect – fresh as the material was in my head.
Frankel didn’t discover the show until long after the final episode had aired; but, once she did, she was quick to devour it all: BtVS, Angel, and the comics. As she watched, she also worked on an impromptu, 100-page draft comparing Buffy’s trials and tribulations to the classic hero’s journey, as described by mythologist Joseph Campbell. Eventually her thesis grew into Buffy and the Heroine's Journey.
A “monomyth” that can be found in the great epics of every culture (see, e.g., Hercules, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter), the Hero’s Journey takes a somewhat predictable path – beginning with the call to adventure and ending with the “freedom to live” – during the course of which the protagonist gains wisdom and self-knowledge and successfully grows into a fully integrated adult. Of course, many adventures are had along the way: the hero battles with (and triumphs over) a Dark Lord (his Shadow) who threatens the world; he meets his Princess, goddess of the forest and embodiment of the earth’s magic; and he battles monsters of all shapes and sizes. Perhaps he’s also accompanied by a trustworthy friend or two, who function as outward reflections of his inner self.
As articulated in a handy chart by Frankel, Campbell’s Hero’s Journey includes:
* World of Common Day
* Call to Adventure
* Refusal of The Call
* Supernatural Aid
* Crossing The First Threshold
* Belly of the Whale
* Road of Trials
* Meeting with The Goddess
* Woman as Temptress
* Atonement with The Father
* Apotheosis
* The Ultimate Boon
* The Refusal of the Return
* The Magic Flight
* Rescue from Within
* Return
* Master of Two Worlds
* Freedom to Live
In contrast, Frankel offers up a different – but oftentimes parallel - outline of The Heroine’s Journey:
* World of Common Day
* Call to Adventure: A Desire to Reconnect with the Feminine
* Refusal of The Call
* The Ruthless Mentor and the Bladeless Talisman
* Crossing the First Threshold: Opening One’s Senses
* Sidekicks, Trials, Adversaries
* Wedding the Animus
* Facing Bluebeard
* Sensitive Man as Completion
* Confronting the Powerless Father
* Descent into Darkness
* Atonement with the Mother
* Apotheosis through Accepting One’s Feminine Side
* Reward: Winning the Family
* Torn Desires
* The Magic Flight
* Reinstating the Family
* Power of Life and Death
* Ascension of the New Mother
As you can see, many of the points on these paths are quite similar, with nearly all of the differences hinging upon the hero’s gender. (Paging Captain Obvious!) For example, while the male hero has daddy issues (the mother being largely absent), the heroine is plagued with mommy problems – and a weak father (and/or father figure), to boot. Whereas the hero will be seduced by a woman (“Woman as Temptress”), the heroine must remain vigilant against intimate partner violence (“Facing Bluebeard”). The hero meets and falls in love with a mysterious princess/goddess who introduces him to the magic of nature, whereas the heroine must wed the animus – her dark, masculine Shadow Self.
Drawing upon the whole of Buffyverse canon – the 1992 film, seven seasons of Buffy, five seasons of Angel, and Seasons One and Eight of the comic – Frankel elucidates the ways in which Buffy’s journey functions as a “perfect example” (I’m paraphrasing) of The Heroine’s Journey. Xander (passionate, practical) and Willow (innocent, intelligent) can be read as aspects of Buffy’s self, manifested externally, which must be nurtured and protected at all costs. Giles is both a manly guardian of knowledge and a (physically) powerless father (figure; Buffy’s actual father is both powerless and largely absent from her life). Maggie Walsh and Glory are Terrible Mothers – destructive forces that Buffy must avoid succumbing to. Whereas Joyce vacillates between a Good Mother and a mother who is at best oblivious to her daughter’s needs, Tara acts as a surrogate Good Mother in the wake of Joyce’s death; after Tara is murdered, Buffy must integrate Tara’s goodness into her own psyche, so that she can care for her little sister/adopted daughter Dawn. As Buffy confronts and defeats increasingly disturbing and powerful opponents – absorbing their darkness into her Self – she matures. So do her weapons: from a common crossbow (which allows to her keep a relatively safe distance from vamps), to a masculine, army-issued rocket launcher, culminating in the ultra-powerful, ultra-ancient scythe, which helps to unleash the power of the feminine so that all women are potential slayers.
A common criticism I’ve seen in previous reviews is that Frankel’s Heroine’s Journey doesn’t differ significantly from Cambell’s Hero’s Journey – or at least not enough to merit a whole new model. Here, I have to agree – although I wonder if my limited knowledge of mythology might be at fault. Perhaps understandably (this is after all a book about Buffy!), Frankel only devotes one chapter to explaining Cambell’s model; unless you have prior knowledge of the model, all you’re left with is a bare bones sketch. Based on my limited understanding, Frankel’s model simply seems like a reflection of Cambell’s in which the gender of the hero (and, likewise, sidekicks, villains, parents, lovers, etc.) is flipped. Even so, it makes for an interesting framework from which to dissect Buffy’s journey.
This brings me to another issue with these models: they limit gender to two distinct polar opposites, thus erasing everyone who doesn’t identify as one or the other. In reality, gender (and sexuality; both models assume heterosexuality) is much more fluid than this. Why have a hero/heroine’s journey? Why not just one journey for everyone, one which recognizes that we all struggle with things like parents, adolescence, romantic relationships, finding one’s place in the world, etc.?
Likewise, many readers take issue with the deeply sexist nature of these models: for example, men are equated with science and rationality, while women are connected to the natural earth and the unexplainable magic found within. While identifying “Mother Nature” as a source of feminine power might seem feminist (yay girl power?), think again. What do we do with the earth: land, water, air? We colonize it. Exploit it. War over its resources. Pollute, waste, consume. Drill, mine, frack. We take and take until there’s nothing left – and then we discard it and move on.
By equating women – and, to a larger extent, nonhuman animals – with nature and the earth, we objectify them; position them as an object – an unsentient “it” – ripe for oppression and exploitation. The earth is not gendered; it’s no more female than it is male. To claim otherwise is to do a disservice to women everywhere.
And as for science and reason being the province of men? Please. Not even worth a rebuttal.
That said, I don’t think the sexism lies with the author (although it’s certainly possible that she believes these things; I don’t claim to know either way!), but with the models themselves. Based on centuries- (even millennia!) old stories, Cambell’s Hero’s Journey is bound to reflect existing gender biases; and, modeled as it is on Campbell’s outline, so is Frankel’s. Still, inasmuch as modern stories are influence by ancient myths and archetypes, these models persist as useful tools with which to examine contemporary pop culture narratives. Joss Whedon himself reports that he studied Cambell’s Hero’s Journey in school.
A rebuttal of the model’s sexist gender assumptions, however brief, would have been nice – but perhaps beyond the scope of this book.
If you can get around the “woman as nature, nature as woman” theme, grating as it is by chapter 13, Buffy and the Heroine's Journey is an engaging and enjoyable read. While it is an academic text, the jargon is kept to a manageable minimum. (If you studied psychology in college, many of the Jungian terms will come flooding back to you. Jungian psychology: while it makes for an intriguing mythological discussion, an analytical psychologist is the last person I’d recommend to Buffy to help treat her depression. After a Freudian psychoanalyst, that is.) Prior experience with mythology and the Hero’s Journey is helpful, but not necessary. On a scale of Ben Bella’s Smart Pop series to The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, I’d rate Buffy and the Heroine's Journey somewhere in the middle in terms of difficulty.
Pro tip: If you haven’t yet read the comics but would like to, you can skip the book’s final chapter without detracting from your understanding of Frankel’s theory.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2012/09/28/...
The Slayer Who Would Be Queen
A newbie Buffy fan like myself, I was super-excited when copies of Valerie Estelle Frankel’s Buffy and the Heroine's Journey: Vampire Slayer as Feminine Chosen One were offered up for review through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program. At the time I was just finishing up Season Seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and picking up Season One of the comics, so the timing was perfect – fresh as the material was in my head.
Frankel didn’t discover the show until long after the final episode had aired; but, once she did, she was quick to devour it all: BtVS, Angel, and the comics. As she watched, she also worked on an impromptu, 100-page draft comparing Buffy’s trials and tribulations to the classic hero’s journey, as described by mythologist Joseph Campbell. Eventually her thesis grew into Buffy and the Heroine's Journey.
A “monomyth” that can be found in the great epics of every culture (see, e.g., Hercules, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter), the Hero’s Journey takes a somewhat predictable path – beginning with the call to adventure and ending with the “freedom to live” – during the course of which the protagonist gains wisdom and self-knowledge and successfully grows into a fully integrated adult. Of course, many adventures are had along the way: the hero battles with (and triumphs over) a Dark Lord (his Shadow) who threatens the world; he meets his Princess, goddess of the forest and embodiment of the earth’s magic; and he battles monsters of all shapes and sizes. Perhaps he’s also accompanied by a trustworthy friend or two, who function as outward reflections of his inner self.
As articulated in a handy chart by Frankel, Campbell’s Hero’s Journey includes:
* World of Common Day
* Call to Adventure
* Refusal of The Call
* Supernatural Aid
* Crossing The First Threshold
* Belly of the Whale
* Road of Trials
* Meeting with The Goddess
* Woman as Temptress
* Atonement with The Father
* Apotheosis
* The Ultimate Boon
* The Refusal of the Return
* The Magic Flight
* Rescue from Within
* Return
* Master of Two Worlds
* Freedom to Live
In contrast, Frankel offers up a different – but oftentimes parallel - outline of The Heroine’s Journey:
* World of Common Day
* Call to Adventure: A Desire to Reconnect with the Feminine
* Refusal of The Call
* The Ruthless Mentor and the Bladeless Talisman
* Crossing the First Threshold: Opening One’s Senses
* Sidekicks, Trials, Adversaries
* Wedding the Animus
* Facing Bluebeard
* Sensitive Man as Completion
* Confronting the Powerless Father
* Descent into Darkness
* Atonement with the Mother
* Apotheosis through Accepting One’s Feminine Side
* Reward: Winning the Family
* Torn Desires
* The Magic Flight
* Reinstating the Family
* Power of Life and Death
* Ascension of the New Mother
As you can see, many of the points on these paths are quite similar, with nearly all of the differences hinging upon the hero’s gender. (Paging Captain Obvious!) For example, while the male hero has daddy issues (the mother being largely absent), the heroine is plagued with mommy problems – and a weak father (and/or father figure), to boot. Whereas the hero will be seduced by a woman (“Woman as Temptress”), the heroine must remain vigilant against intimate partner violence (“Facing Bluebeard”). The hero meets and falls in love with a mysterious princess/goddess who introduces him to the magic of nature, whereas the heroine must wed the animus – her dark, masculine Shadow Self.
Drawing upon the whole of Buffyverse canon – the 1992 film, seven seasons of Buffy, five seasons of Angel, and Seasons One and Eight of the comic – Frankel elucidates the ways in which Buffy’s journey functions as a “perfect example” (I’m paraphrasing) of The Heroine’s Journey. Xander (passionate, practical) and Willow (innocent, intelligent) can be read as aspects of Buffy’s self, manifested externally, which must be nurtured and protected at all costs. Giles is both a manly guardian of knowledge and a (physically) powerless father (figure; Buffy’s actual father is both powerless and largely absent from her life). Maggie Walsh and Glory are Terrible Mothers – destructive forces that Buffy must avoid succumbing to. Whereas Joyce vacillates between a Good Mother and a mother who is at best oblivious to her daughter’s needs, Tara acts as a surrogate Good Mother in the wake of Joyce’s death; after Tara is murdered, Buffy must integrate Tara’s goodness into her own psyche, so that she can care for her little sister/adopted daughter Dawn. As Buffy confronts and defeats increasingly disturbing and powerful opponents – absorbing their darkness into her Self – she matures. So do her weapons: from a common crossbow (which allows to her keep a relatively safe distance from vamps), to a masculine, army-issued rocket launcher, culminating in the ultra-powerful, ultra-ancient scythe, which helps to unleash the power of the feminine so that all women are potential slayers.
A common criticism I’ve seen in previous reviews is that Frankel’s Heroine’s Journey doesn’t differ significantly from Cambell’s Hero’s Journey – or at least not enough to merit a whole new model. Here, I have to agree – although I wonder if my limited knowledge of mythology might be at fault. Perhaps understandably (this is after all a book about Buffy!), Frankel only devotes one chapter to explaining Cambell’s model; unless you have prior knowledge of the model, all you’re left with is a bare bones sketch. Based on my limited understanding, Frankel’s model simply seems like a reflection of Cambell’s in which the gender of the hero (and, likewise, sidekicks, villains, parents, lovers, etc.) is flipped. Even so, it makes for an interesting framework from which to dissect Buffy’s journey.
This brings me to another issue with these models: they limit gender to two distinct polar opposites, thus erasing everyone who doesn’t identify as one or the other. In reality, gender (and sexuality; both models assume heterosexuality) is much more fluid than this. Why have a hero/heroine’s journey? Why not just one journey for everyone, one which recognizes that we all struggle with things like parents, adolescence, romantic relationships, finding one’s place in the world, etc.?
Likewise, many readers take issue with the deeply sexist nature of these models: for example, men are equated with science and rationality, while women are connected to the natural earth and the unexplainable magic found within. While identifying “Mother Nature” as a source of feminine power might seem feminist (yay girl power?), think again. What do we do with the earth: land, water, air? We colonize it. Exploit it. War over its resources. Pollute, waste, consume. Drill, mine, frack. We take and take until there’s nothing left – and then we discard it and move on.
By equating women – and, to a larger extent, nonhuman animals – with nature and the earth, we objectify them; position them as an object – an unsentient “it” – ripe for oppression and exploitation. The earth is not gendered; it’s no more female than it is male. To claim otherwise is to do a disservice to women everywhere.
And as for science and reason being the province of men? Please. Not even worth a rebuttal.
That said, I don’t think the sexism lies with the author (although it’s certainly possible that she believes these things; I don’t claim to know either way!), but with the models themselves. Based on centuries- (even millennia!) old stories, Cambell’s Hero’s Journey is bound to reflect existing gender biases; and, modeled as it is on Campbell’s outline, so is Frankel’s. Still, inasmuch as modern stories are influence by ancient myths and archetypes, these models persist as useful tools with which to examine contemporary pop culture narratives. Joss Whedon himself reports that he studied Cambell’s Hero’s Journey in school.
A rebuttal of the model’s sexist gender assumptions, however brief, would have been nice – but perhaps beyond the scope of this book.
If you can get around the “woman as nature, nature as woman” theme, grating as it is by chapter 13, Buffy and the Heroine's Journey is an engaging and enjoyable read. While it is an academic text, the jargon is kept to a manageable minimum. (If you studied psychology in college, many of the Jungian terms will come flooding back to you. Jungian psychology: while it makes for an intriguing mythological discussion, an analytical psychologist is the last person I’d recommend to Buffy to help treat her depression. After a Freudian psychoanalyst, that is.) Prior experience with mythology and the Hero’s Journey is helpful, but not necessary. On a scale of Ben Bella’s Smart Pop series to The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, I’d rate Buffy and the Heroine's Journey somewhere in the middle in terms of difficulty.
Pro tip: If you haven’t yet read the comics but would like to, you can skip the book’s final chapter without detracting from your understanding of Frankel’s theory.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2012/09/28/...
March 13, 2025
A bit too much Jungian discussion for my liking, however it did make me want to look more into this "heroine's journey", since I'm supremely aware of the "hero's journey". A lot of interesting points were made, and I really enjoyed the discussions surrounding costumes and colour.
April 10, 2014
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is/was one of my favorite TV shows. I’ll admit, the movie… was very cheesy and turned me off. But then, one night while bored and needing something to escape into, I ended up watching one of the season 2 episodes. From that moment on, I was hooked. I devoured the series faithfully from season 1 to season 5. As my life grew more complicated (as Buffy’s did), the seasons became harder for me to watch due to appointments and meetings. I haven’t even read Season 8.
I was at PantheaCon in 2012 when I met Valerie Estelle Frankel, the author of this book. She and I were talking tarot and she mentioned to me that she had written this book. I got so excited that I asked her for an electric copy, because I really wanted to read it and review it. And although it has taken me two years (in a way, following my own heroine’s journey through my tarot and writing lives), here’s my thoughts.
Buffy and the Heroine’s Journey takes the reader on a adventure through the Buffyverse. This book examines the heroine’s journey, which is very different than the hero’s journey, and uses the Buffy movie, 90’s TV series, and the comics created by Joss Whedon to frame the narrative. It’s as entertaining as it is instructive.
The hero’s journey has a special place in my heart as a writer and a scholar. I have read a lot about it. In school, they don’t talk a lot about the Heroine’s Journey. While each has some parallels— it feels like the hero has an easier time and is more linear, while the heroine goes through this long, convoluted process that isn’t always easy or happy. In fact, you could say that it’s very complex, just like us women! Frankel does a great job framing the information of both Buffy (from season 1 to the comic season 8) and the idea of a Heroine’s journey in such a way that makes both accessible as an introduction and to seasoned pros.
Re-reading about Buffy brought many of the episodes and more memorable scenes back into my head. I want to watch the whole series over again, now that I have been enlightened with this perspective. There were many things that confused me about Buffy back when I watched it. Things and scenes that made me uncomfortable. Things that paralleled with my own life, and Frankel’s book helped show me why these things had to happen. It made me grateful and I can now say, “ah, I understand it now when this happens in the series.”
I’m impressed, Frankel did her research. It oozes from the text. I thought I was a fan girl who spoke to others on end about aspects of this series. Frankel really dove into the mythology, the subtext, and made an amazing book. However, there are bits in this book that are confusing and a bit too scholarly. There were many times where I had to re-read sections over to grok what she was getting at. Sometimes, reading the book felt like reading a college text book and it was hard to push forward. I am glad I did because this is an important book.
Bottom Line:
Scholars and fans of Buffy will want to read this book. Heck, anyone interested in learning more about why Joss Whedon is the best at what he does needs to read this book. To end with Frankel’s own words, “Buffy, a modern classic like Harry Potter or Star Wars, will surely last. It will be repackaged, rereleased, and most of all rewatched by long-time and new fans the world over. Because like Harry Potter and Star Wars, it’s the classic Chosen One story complete with humor and real characters the audience loves. But it’s also something special and far too rare on television—the classic quest of the heroine.” (Excerpt From: Valerie Estelle Frankel. “Buffy and the Heroine's Journey.” ePub version, iBooks.)
I was at PantheaCon in 2012 when I met Valerie Estelle Frankel, the author of this book. She and I were talking tarot and she mentioned to me that she had written this book. I got so excited that I asked her for an electric copy, because I really wanted to read it and review it. And although it has taken me two years (in a way, following my own heroine’s journey through my tarot and writing lives), here’s my thoughts.
Buffy and the Heroine’s Journey takes the reader on a adventure through the Buffyverse. This book examines the heroine’s journey, which is very different than the hero’s journey, and uses the Buffy movie, 90’s TV series, and the comics created by Joss Whedon to frame the narrative. It’s as entertaining as it is instructive.
The hero’s journey has a special place in my heart as a writer and a scholar. I have read a lot about it. In school, they don’t talk a lot about the Heroine’s Journey. While each has some parallels— it feels like the hero has an easier time and is more linear, while the heroine goes through this long, convoluted process that isn’t always easy or happy. In fact, you could say that it’s very complex, just like us women! Frankel does a great job framing the information of both Buffy (from season 1 to the comic season 8) and the idea of a Heroine’s journey in such a way that makes both accessible as an introduction and to seasoned pros.
Re-reading about Buffy brought many of the episodes and more memorable scenes back into my head. I want to watch the whole series over again, now that I have been enlightened with this perspective. There were many things that confused me about Buffy back when I watched it. Things and scenes that made me uncomfortable. Things that paralleled with my own life, and Frankel’s book helped show me why these things had to happen. It made me grateful and I can now say, “ah, I understand it now when this happens in the series.”
I’m impressed, Frankel did her research. It oozes from the text. I thought I was a fan girl who spoke to others on end about aspects of this series. Frankel really dove into the mythology, the subtext, and made an amazing book. However, there are bits in this book that are confusing and a bit too scholarly. There were many times where I had to re-read sections over to grok what she was getting at. Sometimes, reading the book felt like reading a college text book and it was hard to push forward. I am glad I did because this is an important book.
Bottom Line:
Scholars and fans of Buffy will want to read this book. Heck, anyone interested in learning more about why Joss Whedon is the best at what he does needs to read this book. To end with Frankel’s own words, “Buffy, a modern classic like Harry Potter or Star Wars, will surely last. It will be repackaged, rereleased, and most of all rewatched by long-time and new fans the world over. Because like Harry Potter and Star Wars, it’s the classic Chosen One story complete with humor and real characters the audience loves. But it’s also something special and far too rare on television—the classic quest of the heroine.” (Excerpt From: Valerie Estelle Frankel. “Buffy and the Heroine's Journey.” ePub version, iBooks.)
August 14, 2012
***I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a review
This book is a must-read for not only die-hard Buffy fans, but anyone who writes fantasy novels or is interested in symbolic meaning. I loved the focus on the heroine’s journey as opposed to the hero model popularised by Joseph Campbell, and I also learnt a great deal which I can apply in my own writing. I always felt that Buffy was a strong character for young girls to admire and after reading this I understand why. Sadly, in my opinion there is no other heroine of Buffy’s calibre in popular culture at the moment, but books like this might help to address this disturbing lack.
Frankel does a fantastic job of first outlining the heroine’s journey in comparison with the hero’s journey, and then exploring in great detail how it is developed in the Buffy series’. I love to dig beneath the surface and find hidden meanings, and I just lapped this book up. The academic style of writing may not be to everyone’s taste, but concepts are explained clearly and there is no difficult jargon used. The meticulous research and knowledge of Buffy is very obvious.
After reading this I want to go back and watch Buffy again from the very first episode. I didn’t know that the series continued in comic form and it was very interesting to read about the new developments in Series 8 . I take heart from Frankel’s conclusion that “Buffy, a modern classic like Harry Potter or Star Wars, will surely last. It will be repackaged, rereleased, and most of all rewatched by long-time and new fans the world over.”
When I was teaching English I often thought about developing a unit on the series, and this book would have been a great resource. Hopefully other teachers will discover it. I also hope the author writes more books on the fascinating subject of the heroine’s journey because it is at the heart of so many stories and myths throughout history. In her own words:
“The heroine’s journey, like the hero’s, is the quest for identity, to become the best “self” possible by exploring the dark side and learning to wield its awesome, impolite, rule-breaking strength. Only thus can the child grow to adulthood, becoming the awesome savior of herself and the world around her.”
For an exploration of the archetypal heroine’s journey through the lens of popular culture you won’t find any better than this.
This book is a must-read for not only die-hard Buffy fans, but anyone who writes fantasy novels or is interested in symbolic meaning. I loved the focus on the heroine’s journey as opposed to the hero model popularised by Joseph Campbell, and I also learnt a great deal which I can apply in my own writing. I always felt that Buffy was a strong character for young girls to admire and after reading this I understand why. Sadly, in my opinion there is no other heroine of Buffy’s calibre in popular culture at the moment, but books like this might help to address this disturbing lack.
Frankel does a fantastic job of first outlining the heroine’s journey in comparison with the hero’s journey, and then exploring in great detail how it is developed in the Buffy series’. I love to dig beneath the surface and find hidden meanings, and I just lapped this book up. The academic style of writing may not be to everyone’s taste, but concepts are explained clearly and there is no difficult jargon used. The meticulous research and knowledge of Buffy is very obvious.
After reading this I want to go back and watch Buffy again from the very first episode. I didn’t know that the series continued in comic form and it was very interesting to read about the new developments in Series 8 . I take heart from Frankel’s conclusion that “Buffy, a modern classic like Harry Potter or Star Wars, will surely last. It will be repackaged, rereleased, and most of all rewatched by long-time and new fans the world over.”
When I was teaching English I often thought about developing a unit on the series, and this book would have been a great resource. Hopefully other teachers will discover it. I also hope the author writes more books on the fascinating subject of the heroine’s journey because it is at the heart of so many stories and myths throughout history. In her own words:
“The heroine’s journey, like the hero’s, is the quest for identity, to become the best “self” possible by exploring the dark side and learning to wield its awesome, impolite, rule-breaking strength. Only thus can the child grow to adulthood, becoming the awesome savior of herself and the world around her.”
For an exploration of the archetypal heroine’s journey through the lens of popular culture you won’t find any better than this.
August 10, 2012
Women, for a long time have been portrayed as the weaker gender . The helpless female in the Harlequin Mills and Boons, Bella Swan in the Twilight Saga as we read in Book #2 , she mopes around and is empty without Edward around . It is like he was her life-source. Think of all the movies you have watched where the women have been portrayed as weak , helpless insignificant roles ?
With the introduction of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games Trilogy , Suzanne Collins sparked a light which brought back a new line of hero's in the forms of heroines. The type of female who isn't helpless , who is strong and yes - she is the one who can proudly sing to any guy "Anything you can do, I can do better". The character of Katniss reminded Girls and Women , that we too are strong and are not all weak. We have Velma in Scooby-Doo , Xena Warrior Princess played by a New Zealander nonetheless , Veronica Mars , Nancy Drew. Though who was one of the original kick-butt females , it was none other than Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy was brought to us when we still lived in a world where Vampires didn't sparkle and they weren't nice people- well not all of them were anyway as with Buffy came along Angel played by the hunky David Boreanaz.
Author Valerie Frankel has written a book that focuses on the TV Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and her role at being the Ultimate Female. Buffy and The Heroine's Journey is the perfect read for all those fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and those girls who loved the fact that Buffy represented the character of a Strong female , one that didn't need the guys to come and save her every time she fell into trouble and mayhem.
Her Book Buffy and The Heroine's journey chronicles through Buffy's timeline from the very first episode of the series right till the last screening , we read as Buffy transforms from an awkward Cheerleader/Vampire Hunter to a Knife-wielding action girl.
If you know anyone who is a Buffy fan or if you are writing a thesis on Girls in Literature as the Heroine's then this is the perfect book for you.
With the introduction of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games Trilogy , Suzanne Collins sparked a light which brought back a new line of hero's in the forms of heroines. The type of female who isn't helpless , who is strong and yes - she is the one who can proudly sing to any guy "Anything you can do, I can do better". The character of Katniss reminded Girls and Women , that we too are strong and are not all weak. We have Velma in Scooby-Doo , Xena Warrior Princess played by a New Zealander nonetheless , Veronica Mars , Nancy Drew. Though who was one of the original kick-butt females , it was none other than Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy was brought to us when we still lived in a world where Vampires didn't sparkle and they weren't nice people- well not all of them were anyway as with Buffy came along Angel played by the hunky David Boreanaz.
Author Valerie Frankel has written a book that focuses on the TV Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and her role at being the Ultimate Female. Buffy and The Heroine's Journey is the perfect read for all those fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and those girls who loved the fact that Buffy represented the character of a Strong female , one that didn't need the guys to come and save her every time she fell into trouble and mayhem.
Her Book Buffy and The Heroine's journey chronicles through Buffy's timeline from the very first episode of the series right till the last screening , we read as Buffy transforms from an awkward Cheerleader/Vampire Hunter to a Knife-wielding action girl.
If you know anyone who is a Buffy fan or if you are writing a thesis on Girls in Literature as the Heroine's then this is the perfect book for you.
November 9, 2012
I love reading books on cultural criticism that present different perspectives on the books and shows that I read. So, as a long time fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I was drawn to this book that looks at a variation of the mythical structure in the Heroine's Journey (basically the female version of the Hero's Journey presented by Joseph Campbell).
The Heroine's Journey, while similar to the Hero's Journey, differs in many ways. One example is the concept of long sleep or decent into darkness (familiar in Sleeping Beauty, Persephone, Snow White, and others) in which the heroine gathers strength and wisdom before the final battle. Other tropes include battling the Dark Mother and seeking wisdom from female sources.
The concept of the Heroine's Journey was fascinating to me in and of itself (and now I'm interested in reading [From Girl to Goddess: The Heroine's Journey Through Myth and Legend, which discusses this in more general terms), but seeing it applied along with along with mythical tropes to Buffy was fascinating. The book walks through all the seasons of Buffy, including not only the TV series, but also the disconnected movie and the ensuing eighth season comic books. Frankel's work did exactly what I hoped it would, presented new ways of looking at the show I loved, allowing me to appreciate it from a new perspective, while also presenting new mythological concepts for me to apply to other books and shows that I enjoy (as well as giving me an opportunity to apply them in my own writing.
The Heroine's Journey, while similar to the Hero's Journey, differs in many ways. One example is the concept of long sleep or decent into darkness (familiar in Sleeping Beauty, Persephone, Snow White, and others) in which the heroine gathers strength and wisdom before the final battle. Other tropes include battling the Dark Mother and seeking wisdom from female sources.
The concept of the Heroine's Journey was fascinating to me in and of itself (and now I'm interested in reading [From Girl to Goddess: The Heroine's Journey Through Myth and Legend, which discusses this in more general terms), but seeing it applied along with along with mythical tropes to Buffy was fascinating. The book walks through all the seasons of Buffy, including not only the TV series, but also the disconnected movie and the ensuing eighth season comic books. Frankel's work did exactly what I hoped it would, presented new ways of looking at the show I loved, allowing me to appreciate it from a new perspective, while also presenting new mythological concepts for me to apply to other books and shows that I enjoy (as well as giving me an opportunity to apply them in my own writing.
July 11, 2014
Buffy and the Heroine's Journey takes the reader through Buffy's journey from movie Buffy through to the Season Eight comics (which I knew nothing about) discussing this heroine's journey as the Chosen One. Similar in some ways to the epic journeys of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, but so different in other ways as Buffy goes from high school to college to adulthood and the various feminine archetypes in the early and late seasons. As the back cover states, "Buffy blends 1990s girl power and the path of the warrior woman with the oldest of mythic traditions." This is the focus of this in-depth study into her character.
As a fan of the Buffy the Vampire series and its spin-off Angel, I was eager to read this book, especially after enjoying Frankel's books on Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Frankel deeply explores Buffy's journey. How she fought against the patriarchy. How unlike other heroes who went it alone, she builds a team who help her battle evil throughout the series. It explores Buffy's relationships with her mother, her sister, each of her friends, her romances with Angel, Riley, and Spike, and her father-daughter type relationship with Giles. This book delves into Buffy's relationship with other slayers like Kendra and Faith, and her role as she trains potential slayers to prepare for an epic battle.
This is an academic look at a cult favorite. It's deep. It's intense. But it's worth the time to read it. I found Buffy and the Heroine's Journey by Valerie Estelle Frankel totally fascinating and am glad to add it to my Buffy collection.
As a fan of the Buffy the Vampire series and its spin-off Angel, I was eager to read this book, especially after enjoying Frankel's books on Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Frankel deeply explores Buffy's journey. How she fought against the patriarchy. How unlike other heroes who went it alone, she builds a team who help her battle evil throughout the series. It explores Buffy's relationships with her mother, her sister, each of her friends, her romances with Angel, Riley, and Spike, and her father-daughter type relationship with Giles. This book delves into Buffy's relationship with other slayers like Kendra and Faith, and her role as she trains potential slayers to prepare for an epic battle.
This is an academic look at a cult favorite. It's deep. It's intense. But it's worth the time to read it. I found Buffy and the Heroine's Journey by Valerie Estelle Frankel totally fascinating and am glad to add it to my Buffy collection.
May 9, 2012
This is an excellent book about how Buffy's progression as a character through the original movie, the tv series, and the Season 8 comic book follows the arc of a heroine's journey. As someone who loves Buffy and is always fascinated by archetypal studies, this book was right up my alley.
It's easy to see the growth of Buffy's character over the years, but this book really breaks down the critical steps in her life -- and without denying the uniqueness of each of the vivid supporting characters, it shows how each of them function as aspects of Buffy's Self as she strives for maturity, balance and fully realized heroism.
Unlike some of the "Whedon studies" books out there, this is not an intensely academic analysis. Instead, it's easily accessible by general readers, many of whom may find it a good introduction to the basic Jungian concepts of Anima and Animus, the Shadow, and etc.
Ultimately, it heightened my appreciation of a show I already love.
It's easy to see the growth of Buffy's character over the years, but this book really breaks down the critical steps in her life -- and without denying the uniqueness of each of the vivid supporting characters, it shows how each of them function as aspects of Buffy's Self as she strives for maturity, balance and fully realized heroism.
Unlike some of the "Whedon studies" books out there, this is not an intensely academic analysis. Instead, it's easily accessible by general readers, many of whom may find it a good introduction to the basic Jungian concepts of Anima and Animus, the Shadow, and etc.
Ultimately, it heightened my appreciation of a show I already love.
July 3, 2012
As a big fan of Buffy, I have to say I really enjoyed this book. In the beginning I was skeptical and worried that if it tore down my favorite heroine, I wouldn't like it just out of sheer loyalty. But I found that the book was well written and supportive of it's conclusions and ideas. Even when it cast Buffy in a not so favorable light at certain points in her journey, I still found that I could understand and agree with these points. It was definitely a very interesting read and made me view Buffy in a different light. I found myself at numerous points in my reading, wanting to go back and watch episodes it referenced so I could re-experience what the book was saying with these new insights in mind. I would definitely recommend this for fans of Buffy as it brings a new joy to the series and a new way of experiencing something that I have seen so many times.
December 17, 2012
Why read: Received from LibraryThing Early Reviewers
What impressed me: Nothing.
What disappointed me: I don't know what I expected going into this book, but whatever it was, I didn't get it. Calling this book dry is generous. I love Buffy. All aspects of Buffy. But somewhere in comparing Buffy's life to that of the pattern of the heroine's journey in myth, all that was Buffy was lost and all that remained was academic theory. Gone was the wit that drove the series and with it my ability to read the book without falling asleep. While I believe the author had good intentions and a wealth of knowledge, she failed to grasp the true appeal of Buffy - our ability to relate to her.
Recommended: Absolutely not.
What impressed me: Nothing.
What disappointed me: I don't know what I expected going into this book, but whatever it was, I didn't get it. Calling this book dry is generous. I love Buffy. All aspects of Buffy. But somewhere in comparing Buffy's life to that of the pattern of the heroine's journey in myth, all that was Buffy was lost and all that remained was academic theory. Gone was the wit that drove the series and with it my ability to read the book without falling asleep. While I believe the author had good intentions and a wealth of knowledge, she failed to grasp the true appeal of Buffy - our ability to relate to her.
Recommended: Absolutely not.
October 31, 2016
I've been reading this for a Buffy class and it's obsession with Jungian theory just annoyed me. I much prefer Wilcox and Jowetts works.
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