« Brouillard sanglant » sur Sunnydale !

The "Buffyverse" (the universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, 1997-2003) has greatly fascinated the public—from its original core audience to the entire age range over the seasons—to the point that it has undergone a whole series of generic and transmedia mutations, i...

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Main Author: Isabelle-Rachel Casta
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Association Française de Recherche sur les Livres et les Objets Culturels de l’Enfance (AFRELOCE) 2011-06-01
Series:Strenae
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Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/strenae/295
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author Isabelle-Rachel Casta
author_facet Isabelle-Rachel Casta
author_sort Isabelle-Rachel Casta
collection DOAJ
description The "Buffyverse" (the universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, 1997-2003) has greatly fascinated the public—from its original core audience to the entire age range over the seasons—to the point that it has undergone a whole series of generic and transmedia mutations, in order to prolong and diversify the pleasure of the experience. The "Urtext" of BtVS was a completely failed film, which became "cult" by the contrast between its bitter failure and the dazzling success of the series, a series which itself will be the object of a spin-off between the main work and a poor imitator, Angel, centered on the character of the romantic vampire with whom the slayer is infatuated. On the other hand, about fifty novels will be developed around the original screenplays, creating what is called an "extended universe," through a multitude of alternative realities where the characters move. From derivative products to "fanzines," from video games to regularly appearing "quizzes," and from "guides" to the soundtrack edition, a whole industry is unfolding around the "scooby gang" (Buffy and her best friends), long after the official end of the show (2003), to keep alive the effervescence and passion aroused by this story of love and death, typical of the best sort of stories dark fantasy can produce. The director himself, forever in love with his heroine, continues to "draw" her in comic book form, sketching out an already mythical "eighth season," perhaps as a way to forget the impossibility of continuing the show with his lead actress, Sarah Michelle Gellar, on whom everything depended. This study thus aims to show how and why this series has aroused such enthusiasm, such fervor—and how its transmedia dissemination contributes to its cult of fans. Initially targeting 12 to 15-year-olds, the series has gradually self-regenerated to reach the heights of intimate drama, thwarted passion and heroic loneliness, exceeding its initial "roadmap" by far, to strike at the hearts of millions of viewers. A polysensorial enchantment: perhaps this is how rewritings, fanfiction, films and comics enter into synergy, to make us forget the irreversible finality of a tragic destiny...
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spelling doaj-art-ceccf9e502ef43e49781773ebb7047bb2025-08-20T02:20:10ZfraAssociation Française de Recherche sur les Livres et les Objets Culturels de l’Enfance (AFRELOCE)Strenae2109-90812011-06-01210.4000/strenae.295« Brouillard sanglant » sur Sunnydale !Isabelle-Rachel CastaThe "Buffyverse" (the universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, 1997-2003) has greatly fascinated the public—from its original core audience to the entire age range over the seasons—to the point that it has undergone a whole series of generic and transmedia mutations, in order to prolong and diversify the pleasure of the experience. The "Urtext" of BtVS was a completely failed film, which became "cult" by the contrast between its bitter failure and the dazzling success of the series, a series which itself will be the object of a spin-off between the main work and a poor imitator, Angel, centered on the character of the romantic vampire with whom the slayer is infatuated. On the other hand, about fifty novels will be developed around the original screenplays, creating what is called an "extended universe," through a multitude of alternative realities where the characters move. From derivative products to "fanzines," from video games to regularly appearing "quizzes," and from "guides" to the soundtrack edition, a whole industry is unfolding around the "scooby gang" (Buffy and her best friends), long after the official end of the show (2003), to keep alive the effervescence and passion aroused by this story of love and death, typical of the best sort of stories dark fantasy can produce. The director himself, forever in love with his heroine, continues to "draw" her in comic book form, sketching out an already mythical "eighth season," perhaps as a way to forget the impossibility of continuing the show with his lead actress, Sarah Michelle Gellar, on whom everything depended. This study thus aims to show how and why this series has aroused such enthusiasm, such fervor—and how its transmedia dissemination contributes to its cult of fans. Initially targeting 12 to 15-year-olds, the series has gradually self-regenerated to reach the heights of intimate drama, thwarted passion and heroic loneliness, exceeding its initial "roadmap" by far, to strike at the hearts of millions of viewers. A polysensorial enchantment: perhaps this is how rewritings, fanfiction, films and comics enter into synergy, to make us forget the irreversible finality of a tragic destiny...https://journals.openedition.org/strenae/295feminismtransmedia storytellingfantasyteenagervampirismtv show
spellingShingle Isabelle-Rachel Casta
« Brouillard sanglant » sur Sunnydale !
Strenae
feminism
transmedia storytelling
fantasy
teenager
vampirism
tv show
title « Brouillard sanglant » sur Sunnydale !
title_full « Brouillard sanglant » sur Sunnydale !
title_fullStr « Brouillard sanglant » sur Sunnydale !
title_full_unstemmed « Brouillard sanglant » sur Sunnydale !
title_short « Brouillard sanglant » sur Sunnydale !
title_sort brouillard sanglant sur sunnydale
topic feminism
transmedia storytelling
fantasy
teenager
vampirism
tv show
url https://journals.openedition.org/strenae/295
work_keys_str_mv AT isabellerachelcasta brouillardsanglantsursunnydale