Televised Morality: The Case of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

By Gregory Stevenson

(click to enlarge)	Hamilton Books
	List Price: $46.00   Paper 0-7618-2833-8 / 978-0-7618-2833-4   2004 316pp European customers click here

"In a context in which a theological assessment of culture is often absent, Stevenson serves as an exemplary guide showing Christians how to engage culture on a substantial and discerning level even when they may not agree with everything [in it] "—Kenneth Cukrowski, Abilene Christian University, Restoration Quarterly

The increasing frequency of moralist critiques of television shows is an acknowledgment of television's growing role in the shaping of a culture's moral values. Yet many moralist critiques misconstrue the full moral message of a show due to a restrictive focus on sex, violence, and profanity. Televised Morality explores the nature of moral discourse on television by using "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as a case study. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" has simultaneously been heralded as one of the most morally sophisticated shows on television and one of the most morally corrupt. The program offers a fascinating look into the divergent issues involved in the moral evaluation of television today. Stevenson argues that analysis of this show's moral vision, its methods of moral reasoning, and its narrative function reveal the complexity of moral discourse on television and provides a good model for the moral critique of other television shows.

About the Author
Gregory Stevenson holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University. He is Professor of Religion in the Department of Religion and Bible, Rochester College, Michigan.

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