Analysis #1: “Buffy vs. Edward: Twilight Remixed”

“Buffy vs. Edward: Twilight Remixed”

A YouTube user by the name of “rebelliouspixels” chose to create a remix of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight in June of 2009. A remix, by design, is postmodern: taking from two sources not originally created by the author, then working them into a collage of sorts to span a new “original” idea—in this case, rebelliouspixels literally edited the two videos together, as if it were one cohesive story. Rebelliouspixels makes a call to one’s ethos and pathos while simultaneously providing catharsis for the audience.

According to Aristotle, a poet is merely representing ideas, concepts, and events. These things are represented “either as they were or are, or as they are said to be or seem to be, or as they ought to be” (92). If one applies this critical theory to rebelliouspixel’s “Buffy vs. Twilight” remix, she will notice that rebelliouspixel is both representing various aspects of “Twilight” which the average reader will not point out. Rebelliouspixels critiques Edward as he is, while showing us how this “Twilight” universe ought to be.

Edward is thought to be a romantic, humble, loving individual. His character has developed somewhat of a cult following amongst girls and women around the world—truly horrifying concept to think about when one looks to rebelliouspixel’s remix. The author exposes Edward as what he truly is: a predator, a pedophile, abusive, sexist, and a stalker, simply to name a few. Through the ingenious use of art through editing, rebelliouspixel is not merely telling the audience what they need to know, but showing. We are captivated based on ethos and pathos: it is shown how unethical Edward’s behavior is; it is shown, by guiding the viewer’s emotions against Edward, how much we should be weary of his character.

As a counterpart, Buffy is shown exactly how she is often portrayed: as a strong, reliable, capable, non-naïve woman. She is an extreme contrast to Bella, the main character of Twilight (and Edward’s love interest), who is not only naïve, but codependent, severally lacking in personal identity, weak, and completely reliant upon [male] approval.

Rebelliouspixels takes another step in showing us how the Twilight world ought to be. While exposing the nature of Edward and Buffy, the author simultaneously explores what the “Twilight” universe would be like if it were written by someone with considerably less delusional “romantic” ideals. Buffy and Edward go back and forth throughout the video, with Buffy wittily hitting all of Edward’s faults with a variety of comebacks.

Eventually, the audience is left with a sense of catharsis. The catharsis is immediate at the beginning of the video—with Buffy pitted against the antagonist, Edward—and grows until the end, when Buffy stakes Edward.

“Buffy vs. Edward” is extremely successful when looked at through the lens of Aristotle’s critical theories in his work, “Poetics.” It contains catharsis—which is always a good thing for Aristotle—as well as shows the viewer the way someone truly is and how things ought to be. Perhaps by taking a more critical approach to such examples of popular culture, one may be able to enrich their own life, effectually determining the difference between a disillusioned romantic ideal and someone who is not a predator, pedophile, abusive, sexist, or stalker.

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Works Cited

Buffy vs. Edward: Twilight Remixed.



Murray, Penelope and T.S. Dorsch. Classical Literary Criticism. Penguin Books. 2004.



Wexler, Steven. Lecture Series. California State University, Northridge. Northridge, CA. July 2009.




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