Faculty Publications

Giving Evil a Name: Buffy's Glory, Angel's Jasmine, Blood Magic, and Name Magic

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Slayage: The International Journal of Buffy

Volume

12-13

Issue

1-2

Abstract

In Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) and Angel (1999-2004), words are not something to be taken lightly. A word read out of place can set a book on fire (“Superstar” 4.17) or send a person to a hell dimension (“Belonging” A2.19); a poorly performed spell can turn mortal enemies into soppy lovebirds (“Something Blue” 4.9); a word in a prophecy might mean “to live” or “to die” or both (“To Shanshu in L.A.” A1.22). Research is often the first order of the day when the Scooby Gang or Angel Investigations is presented with a new problem, and much of that research involves classifying demons in order to understand and control them, or discovering exactly the right spell for a situation, or deciphering the precise meaning of ancient prophecies. Lisa K. Perdigao theorizes that Buffy’s power resides as much in her command over language as in her physical strength, and quotes Overbey and Preston Matto: “Buffy is able to survive longer than otherSlayers because she is embedded in language and because she embodies language” (83). And as Caroline Ruddell reminds us in her study of Willow, through magic, words themselves become speech acts (par. 31).

Department

Rod Library

Original Publication Date

1-1-2015

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