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"I Made a Promise to a Lady": Critical Legal Pluralism as Improvised Law in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

W.A. Adams

Published: 2010-05-06

This article analyzes "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," a popular television series, in order to explore the concept of critical legal pluralism as improvised law. The series provides numerous examples of the improvised nature of law as the social construction of legal meaning. Spike is an evil vampire, yet viewers readily accept a character arc in which Spike, motivated by chivalry, vows to protect a human being even at the expense of his own existence.

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Improvisation is, simply put, being and living this very moment. No one can hide in music, and improvising in music is to be truly in this very moment and being completely yourself, with all your qualities and faults. It is probably the most honest state for a human being to be in.

– John McLaughlin in an interview with Daniel Fischlin.