Buffy The Vampire Slayer

While channel surfing on a lazy summer day, I came across a rerun of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the 1990s series starring a vampire-dusting heroine with the physique of a model and the wit of Gloria Steinem.

Despite the fact that I’ve never watched much television, I fell in love with the characters, the supernatural elements, and the symbolic elements of theology. I proceeded to watch every episode, and now I’m a stake-wielding slayer wanna-be.

To those who have yet to enter the world of Buffy fandom, the series may seem like trivial sci-fi entertainment for teenagers. However, scholars agree that Buffy was a revolutionary concept that had a profound impact on society with its message of female empowerment.

The original mission statement of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was to employ supernatural elements as metaphors for personal anxieties, particularly those associated with young adulthood. Those demons and vampires weren’t just thrown in for fun — each manifestation of evil was symbolic of a particular issue in high school life, and Buffy conquered them all.

The characters matured, and season four took on new, unexplored topics in television. Buffy was one of the first shows to embrace the idea of a lesbian relationship, and it has since been viewed as a TV revolution by the gay community.

Perhaps the most influential element of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was Buffy herself. She was tiny, she was blonde, and she kicked serious vampire butt. In other words, Buffy was a feminist heroine.

Joss Whedon, the creator of the series, developed Buffy the Vampire Slayer to showcase a strong, female role model — something that he felt was severely lacking in mainstream television. As the plot developed, Joss introduced other powerful female characters like Willow, Tara, and Faith. These women defeated the "damsel in distress" stereotype and paved the way for shows like Charmed and Alias.

Babbling fans aren’t the only ones eager to promote Buffy as a modern feminist icon. Scholars have taken interest in the show, holding conventions and conferences to discuss its impact on society.

College students majoring in everything from journalism to psychology can take courses in "Buffy studies," a part of media studies that analyzes the show’s symbolism and content.

Though the show went off the air in 2003, Buffy the Vampire Slayer lives on with reruns, DVD collections, novels, and a community of dedicated fans.

These Buffy-lovers may not have slayer strength or magic powers, but they have been inspired by the show’s context, characters, and emotional appeal.

Watching Buffy makes us realize that even a petite blonde can slay some vamps and start a revolution, empowering us as she saves the world yet again.