Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon [Paperback]

K. Dale Koontz (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786434767 | ISBN-13: 978-0786434763 | Publication Date: February 26, 2008

Joss Whedon once identified himself as an "angry, hard-line atheist" who is nevertheless "fascinated by the concept of devotion." While organized religion seems to hold no satisfactory answers for Whedon, his dedication to exploring the meanings of faith and belief can be seen in many of the characters he has created for such works as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, and Fray. This work examines a variety of Whedon's characters and discusses what can be learned from their struggles and discoveries regarding religion and belief. Part One focuses on the characters' search for purpose, revealing how Dawn, Spike, and Angel attempt to define the meaning of their lives in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel. Part Two focuses on family, examining the unconventional family dynamic in Whedon's comic book miniseries Fray and television series Firefly. Part Three centers around the concept of redemption, using Angel's Doyle, Firefly's Malcolm Reynolds and Shepherd Book, and Buffy's Faith Lehane to examine the characters' search for salvation and their own acceptance of their past actions. Finally, Part Four focuses on the harmful potential of religious zealotry, revealing the negative aspects of absolute belief through Firefly's River and Buffy's Caleb. A primary source guide follows the main text, providing the writer, director, and air date of each television episode, along with publication data for Whedon's print works, including the in-publication "Season 8" comic books for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon interestingly combines analysis of Whedon's work in television, film, and comic books. This volume has perhaps the most wide-ranging coverage of Whedon's various productions yet written, dealing with all the major works in several media. Primarily arranged as in-depth discussions on specific characters, the book is accessible and laced with humor-as any book on Whedon should be. Yet the purpose within the humor is clear: each chapter demonstrates the serious moral lessons to be derived from these fascinating texts. With thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, and wit, K. Dale Koontz preaches the gospel of Joss Whedon." --Rhonda V. Wilcox, founding editor, Critical Studies in Television

"K. Dale Koontz writes about the spiritual and moral dimensions of Joss Whedon's imaginary media worlds Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly/Serenity, and the comic-book Fray with insight, verve, and humor. Koontz goes beyond asking 'What would Buffy do?' and considers what Dawn, Spike, Faith, Caleb, Doyle, Mal, Book, and River would do, informed by a panoramic knowledge of world religions. All the big questions are here, and answers both expected unexpected. If you didn t already know that Whedon's shows are serious fun, you will when you ve read this book" --Elizabeth L. Rambo, associate professor of English, Campbell University and on the editorial board of Slayage: the Online International Journal of Buffy Studies

"A valuable addition to Whedon studies...a valuable contribution." --Mythlore

About the Author

Practicing lawyer K. Dale Koontz is a communications instructor at Cleveland Community College in Shelby, North Carolina.

Product Details

• Paperback: 241 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (February 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786434767
• ISBN-13: 978-0786434763
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,475,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Choice to Believe from an Atheist, June 10, 2011

By 

K2inMB "Karen" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon (Paperback)

I thought this book was very thoughtful in that, like Sheppard Book, it didn't insist that belief meant faith in God. "When I talk about faith [Mal], why do you always think I'm talking about God?" This book makes that discussion evenhandedly, even though the author has a decidedly religious leaning. In the words of Henry Drummond in Inhereit the Wind, "Religion is suppose to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, not scare people to death."

Atheists and agnostics are often left out of the belief and goodness equation, as if their beliefs aren't deeply held, personal and moral. Questioning or not believing in a diety is not easy in this society, no matter how good a person you are. Whedon defies those prejudices by creating characters who, like society, believe in different things and are bad or good because of who they are, not what they choose to present to others. Therefore, Caleb is bad and Angel and Spike become/are good.

The PTC (Parents Television Council), a right wing quasi-religious group, routinely ranked Buffy and Angel in the 10 worst TV shows for teens because, for example, the show portrayed Buffy losing her virginity at 17, totally missing the point that the show actually showed the perils of doing so (I went all the way and now he won't call me). This book avoids that kind of prejudice and talks about moral issues as adults should, as difficult issues of conscience often leading to different places.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Whedonesque Book, September 8, 2008

By 

Alison B. Coons (Albuquerque) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon (Paperback)

Anyone who is a committed Joss Whedon Fan should really enjoy this book. While it falls into the are of literary criticism, it provides a lot of insight into the machination mind of Mr. Whedon (who is an astonishing man) and his characters.

I was left with a sense of gratification that there are multitudes of folks out there who know that while the shows are fun or sad or action packed and a host of other entertaining things, the one thing they are not is shallow.

I learned a lot about characters I am not (yet) all the familiar with and left the book headed for my dvds. The only thing I could have wished for was a discussion of the incredible chaaracter development of Wesley from Buffy to the last episode of Angel.

Loved the cover too!