Dracula: The novel written by Bram Stoker in 1897. It was one most popular in its genre and created great moral panic as it touches on themes such as the role of women in Victorian culture, sexual conventions, immigration, colonialism, and post-colonialism. Even though it was not the first of its kind via genre wise it defined the vampire form and started a chain reaction. In today’s society when hear about the ultimate vampire, Count Dracula springs to mind. The image of a vampire portrayed as an aristocratic man.
During the time the book was written it wasn’t popular straight away. On may infer this to be because during the time it was realised, audiences preferred good adventure story. The Daily Mail review of 1 June 1897 proclaimed it a classic of Gothic horror. Stoker's novel played upon fears of sexuality, blood, and the nebulous period between life and death.
The novel became popular during the 20th century and directors began to adapt the novel into a moving text. However through each adaptation the genre changed and from classic horror and became a hybrid with a mix of romance and fantasy.
Dracula is different to my text because Dracula is seen to be the perfect villain whereas Edward is the tragic hero. Over time the role of the vampire has changed from bad to good. Vampires like Dracula enjoy being inhuman and causing and inflicting pain onto their pray however in today’s world vampires like Edward are becoming total opposites and having to fight the urge to drink human blood. We are now introduced to vampires that are “vegetarian” meaning the only drink the blood of animals.
From the image above we can see the true horror of Dracula. The stance that both characters are in connotes to us that Dracula has the most power as the females facial expressions connotes that she is paralysed. His facial expression connotes to us that he is being aggressive and forceful therefore connoting the power he has over her. The picture also gives off a sexual side. The female has one hand on her breast with Draculas on top connoting the sexual frustration between them both, also giving us a hint to how the story was to create a sense of fear of sex in the time the film was created. The pose itself if a sexual position which is well known in today world and would have been then too, as they are standing up connoting sex could potentially happen anywhere. Nosferatu
Nosferatu the Vampyre is a 1979 West German vampire horror film written and directed by Werner Herzog. It is a stylistic remake of the 1922 German Dracula adaptation. The genre of this is a hybrid between horror and fantasy. Once again the orginal association of vampires being connected with the horror genre has been changed into a hybrid and no longer just a classical horror. This is similar to my text as Twilight is also a hybrid of horror and fantasy. Interview with a vampire.
Interview with a vampire shows clear differences between how the vampire genre begun to change. Characters like Louis de Pointe du Lac start to change the vampire representation and start to become the “good guy” thus attracting its female audience. They begin to feel sorry for the character and begin experiencing a sense of sympathy and attractiveness towards them. The film also has the genre of romance within it. Thus creating a hybrid genre and giving the romantic side a more active role.
Conclusion
In the past, most vampire films were based on the novel Dracula. In modern film, more and more changes have been made to the traditional vampire legend until in many films the vampires no longer play by the old rules. In the filmTwilight the vampires break from traditional lore in almost every way possible. Though a romantic movie, these vampires do not play by any of the traditional Dracula-type movie rules. They come out in the daytime, don’t sleep in coffins, have reflections in mirrors, and don’t drink human blood. In the past few decades vampire movies have become more creative, but they have also lost part of the tradition that made them unique. The past vampire genre texts all have deep connotations of sex and sexual intercourse. This was to scare it audience from sexually transmitted diseases. The idea was that the vampire was the disease and that it would kill in the end. In today’s society audiences are more open to sex and are pressured into it because it is “cool”. Films like Twilight help to portray the same message as it did back in its day but also promotes abstinence. By having a vampire who doesn’t drink human blood connotes to its audience that sex isn’t that great and it connotes being in a relationship the odd kiss and cuddle will still be fulfilling. Also it helps to reinforce traditional rules of pre martial sex.
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