Themes of Eastern Philosophy and dualism in Buffy and Angel?

[SnoopDoug]

I'm a Christian, but I have no qualms about enjoying the philosophical concepts expressed in Buffy and Angel. It seems to me that there's an almost Taoist presupposition throughout these two shows: male and female, good and evil, order and chaos. These are dualistic expressions, which are by no means exclusive to Taoism, but are at least entirely consistent with it.

For example, Giles mentions to Ethan Rayne that their friendship ended the moment that Ethan began worshiping chaos. Has anyone else interpreted the shows this way?

 

[kittenpoker]

I think the show could be seen through a myriad of religious and philosophical lenses. Certainly taoism - as you mentioned the pairing of opposites (the love between a vampire and a slayer for example) also there's a certain emphasis on the journey rather than the destination (the mission doesn't end)

Also buddhism as there is a large karmic component....

As well as Christianity - in the whole seeking redemption theme...

Polytheistic religious themes appear as well in the way that there seem to be many and not just one god.


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[SnoopDoug]

Those are some good points. I'm skeptical that the writers included much Christian philosophy in their redemption motifs, however. Christianity tends to be a grace-centered religion/philosophy. If you ask for forgiveness after a life of wickedness and you actually become righteous, there's no need to provide a good work for every wicked deed committed. This, of course, is Angel's dilemma. He has to perform so many good deeds in order to redeem himself. Christianity just isn't like that.

Nevertheless, I agree with the rest of your points. 🙂

 

[ninelives]

I can't think of any similarities but I thought I'd mention this as I find it an interesting contradiction between Taoist teachings and Buffy.

In 'What's my Line, Part 2' there is this conversation between Buffy and Kendra:

Buffy: (looks Kendra in the eye) That would be anger you're feeling.

Kendra: What?

Buffy: You feel it, right? How the anger gives you fire? A Slayer needs
that.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Taoism teaches the opposite, that anger in martial arts is a weakness.

 

[Zeppelin92]

Yes, but you're referencing a still fairly young and inexperienced Buffy. Season 7 Buffy was very much aware that while fighting you needed to use the enemies greater strength to your own advantage. There's a specific fighting style that goes along with that, which I can't even remember lol.

Other than that, Angel the Series seemed to deal a lot with cosmic Balance. You had the Powers That Be and Whistler which were entities trying to make sure the Balance was kept at all times between Good and Evil. The First tried to use the sudden shift balance to carry out it's own agenda in season 7. I don't know a great deal about Eastern philosophies, but the whole 'Ying-Yang' theme seemed to run strong throughout both series'.

 

[Blaze]

This stuff is pretty interesting. I don't know a lot about religions so it's always cool to see the different themes people find in Buffy.

I think it'd be hard to pinpoint to one religion though, mostly because I think the show wasn't written in order to fallow one religion in particular. Meaning, it'd be pretty easy finding reasons as to why or why not it fallows that religion.

 

[janas]

The presence of crosses, cemeteries, churches, (just think holy water for protegere from the evil one) certainly implies a component of the Judeo-Christian matrix. In Ats, I think there is also the influence of humanistic-existential philosophy. The man only who fights against demons (often their own inner demons) that is tossed by the opposing force of fate, but in the end he will win (after losing thousand times) ..and he will become man, because what makes us human is our ability to make choices, and this frail man will be forgiven!

 

[ninelives]

The Tao Te Ching does translate to the Way and it's Power and Btvs is a lot about power. It had never occurred to me to take into account that Buffy has grown a lot since then, good example. In tai chi it's to use the opponent's 'strength' against them, not their 'power' which I think is different but your right that is what Buffy meant when she used the word.

I think Taoism says that latent power or te comes to the person when one becomes aligned with the forces of Yin and Yang or nature (the way). Giles tells Willow that she is connected to a great power whether she feels it or not. This is sort of the same I think.

With Angel's existentialism it also concerns the isolated individual facing the feared unknown. Taoism as well says that we should embrace the unknown.