Vampires – Ever since, they exist in human belief. During the ages the image of the vampire underwent a massive change. Simply regarding the different genres in which the cinematic vampire appears it becomes clear that those changes are primarily based on the changes in society.
The following is aimed at describing these changes and exploring their causes by analyzing the vampire’s characteristics in its relation to the respective cultural background. First, the origin of the vampire myth will be discussed. Furthermore the most popular literary character originating from the Gothic horror genre, Count Dracula by Bram Stoker, will be examined to point out the changes of the vampire image as well as the cultural message behind the figure Dracula. The paper will take an additional look at the development of the concept of the vampire and the underlying cultural trends by analyzing the early cinematic vampires Count Orlok from Nosferatu and Dracula by Tod Browning.
Finally, the work will create a reference to the present image of the vampire by analyzing Edward Cullen, the protagonist in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. The result of the analysis is intended to reflect the changeableness of the vampire concept as well as show to what extent the vampire can be used as a medium to represent the respective societal needs, trends and changes.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE ORIGIN OF THE MYTH OF VAMPIRISM
3. THE LITERARY VAMPIRE IN HIS BEGINNING: BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA
4. DRACULA GOES HOLLYWOOD
4.1 THE FIRST FILMINGS: THE VAMPIRE AS MONSTER
4.2 VAMPIRISM MEETS POP-CULTURE: THE TWILIGHT – HYPE
5. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this seminar paper is to analyze the evolution of the vampire figure throughout history and across different media, examining how this character reflects changing societal needs, cultural trends, and fears. The study explores the transition from folkloric myths to literary manifestations and eventually to modern pop-culture representations.
- Etymological and cultural origins of the vampire myth.
- Victorian era analysis of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and its reflection of gender roles and sexual morality.
- Cinematic transformation of the vampire as a monster in early horror films like Nosferatu and Dracula.
- Modern reinvention of the vampire as a socially acceptable role model in the Twilight series.
- Vampirism as a medium for social criticism and political reflection.
Excerpt from the Book
3. THE LITERARY VAMPIRE IN HIS BEGINNING: BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA
It is not a novelty that the content of myths changes over time just like the society does in which they are passed on. The most popular example which affected the content of the further transmission relating to the vampire-myth is Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Written and published in 1897, towards the end of the Victorian era, and inspired by Vlad the Impalar, also known as Vlad Drăculea, a historical figure who cruelly ruled Wallachia from 1456 to 1462, Stoker created the literary figure of Count Dracula and “imaginatively connected Vlad’s taste for bloodshed with vampirism and named his nineteenth-century vampire after the fifteenth century ruler.” (Wyck Good, van 1997: 408)
But Stoker did not only create one of the most famous vampires in the history of literature by starting the “tradition of the sophisticated vampire who preys on beautiful women, does not [...] appear in a mirror, [or] has the ability to shift his shape into a wolf or a bat”. (Burnham Bloom 2010: 146) He also reflected the Victorian culture. Bram Stoker’s novel places, next to the bloodthirsty count, a strong focus on the aspect of sexuality. During a time when sexuality was repressed and decried, Stoker’s Dracula constitutes “the representative of sexual excess, [who] has a mesmerizing effect on upon woman, freeing them from moral constrains which inhibit their sexual passion.” (Reed 1988: 64)
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the vampire as a mirror of societal change and introducing the key analytical texts from Stoker to Meyer.
2. THE ORIGIN OF THE MYTH OF VAMPIRISM: Discusses the etymological roots and the diverse cross-cultural folklore surrounding blood-drinking revenants as explanations for the unknown.
3. THE LITERARY VAMPIRE IN HIS BEGINNING: BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA: Examines how Stoker utilized the vampire to address Victorian anxieties regarding sexuality, morality, and the emergence of the "New Woman."
4. DRACULA GOES HOLLYWOOD: Analyzes the cinematic adaptation of the vampire as a political metaphor for xenophobia and historical fear, contrasted with the modern, idealized vampire of the Twilight series.
5. CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the findings to affirm that the vampire serves as a flexible medium that consistently adapts to reflect the fears and desires of contemporary society.
Keywords
Vampire, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Twilight, Edward Cullen, Cultural Studies, Literary Criticism, Victorian Era, Folklore, Pop-Culture, Sociology, Gender Roles, Horror Genre, Myth, Social Criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how the concept of the vampire has evolved over time, serving as a cultural medium that mirrors the fears, desires, and societal changes of different eras.
Which primary themes are analyzed in the work?
The key themes include the origin of vampire myths, the reflection of Victorian moral and gender anxieties, the political undertones in early horror cinema, and the commodification of the vampire in modern pop culture.
What is the main research question of this study?
The research explores the changeableness of the vampire concept and seeks to determine to what extent this figure functions as a medium for representing societal needs and trends.
Which methodological approach is utilized?
The author employs a cultural studies approach, analyzing literary and cinematic texts in their respective socio-historical contexts to identify deeper cultural meanings.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The body covers the historical folkloric origins, the literary foundation by Bram Stoker, the early cinematic monsters of the 20th century, and the transition to the romanticized vampires in contemporary literature.
Which keywords are essential to characterize this paper?
The most relevant terms include Vampire, Cultural Studies, Victorian Era, Dracula, Twilight, Social Criticism, and Myth.
How does the author interpret Count Orlok from Nosferatu?
The author interprets Count Orlok as a visual metaphor for the German fear of the 'other', particularly referencing the rising anti-Semitism in Germany during the 1920s.
Why is Edward Cullen considered a "role model" in this analysis?
Unlike his predecessors, Cullen is described as an idealized figure who promotes middle-class values, self-control, and moral integrity, providing a sense of stability for a young target audience.
- Quote paper
- Agnetha Hinz (Author), 2013, Vampirism. An Evolution from Myth to Societal Hype, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/302888
