Vampires are mythical creatures that have surely become a giant part of American culture or society. The myth of the vampire (from which I know) started with Vlad the Impaler, or Dracula. He was the Prince of Wallachia in Romania. He was part of a heavy resistance against the Ottoman Empire. He had some successes but he is most well known for his treatment of enemies. He often impaled his enemies on a stick, which is to say, he left a sharp pole in the ground and left his enemies upon it (I’d use a picture but it’d probably be edited :[ ). He then left the bodies to rot. This creates a very cruel and terrible image for the vampire to follow.
Vlad was the inspiration for one of the most well known vampires of all time, Count Dracula. As we see in the quintessential vampire book, Dracula, the vampire is a black arts studying, cunning, sneaky, and blood-sucking creature. He has super natural strength, shape-shifting powers (he can turn into a bat, a rat, a wolf, vapor, and fog), cannot be harmed by conventional means, and can be rejuvenated by the drinking of blood. He was said to only be killed by decapitation and a wooden stake to his heart. He often appeared as on older fellow but grew younger as he drank more blood. He did have flaws as he was; weak in sunlight, driven away by crucifixes, garlic and sacramental bread, and not able to pass over running water unless it is at low or high tide.
As much as these vampire traits have been established, the American culture now sees the vampire in a completely different light. Instead of the terrifying murderer Dracula, we now have vampires like Edward Cullen. Edward has the same basic traits of Dracula as he has supernatural strength and ability, craves to drink blood, and he is affected by sunlight (sparkling = weakening?). But the image of the vampire has been tainted so that now teenage girls want a vampire to protect them and be their lover instead of the murderous rage of Dracula. This is a good example of how American culture and entertainment works. One good book (I’ve never read Twilight but I can assume that it is a good book for entertainment purposes) can change the outlook of one of the most famous and iconic characters in all of mythology. I may be speaking for myself, but after Twilight came out, I have never seen so much vampire material like movies, books, and television shows.
I’m not saying that this is a totally bad thing. I am open to change and do believe that things evolve over time for the better. I just want to know if this new type of vampire is for the better. Have vampires changed enough that the “Cullen” vampire be its own archetype of mythical creature versus the Dracula type? This simple idea is based completely on opinion, and with American individuality, we know we can get a lot of varying opinions.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think that we have changed what vampires are. We now think they (if vampires were real) would protect us, whereas before they would kill us. Liked the post.
ReplyDeleteGood post. :) I was scared of vampires when I was little, but now we think they'd protect us.
ReplyDeleteI think that the whole vampire thing is being totally overdone. I believe that Twilight and the first Dracula are pretty original, but there are also multiple other vampire TV shows out there too that are spin-offs.
ReplyDeleteI used to love vampires, but ever since Twilight came out i lost faith. I mean honestly, vampires that glow glitter like a fairy when they enter the light. Yeah this movie is definently going under the "movies that are so bad that i want to cut my eyes out" category.
ReplyDeleteI used to be scared of vampires till twilight, now i think their sorta gay. lol I like the post.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVampires are cool, but I think that Twilight has ruined the classic idea of what a vampire is.
ReplyDeleteDid you just say that you assumed Twilight to be good? I would much rather burn that atrocious scourge of humanity in the hottest fires of the Sun than ever read a page of it.
ReplyDeleteBut the image of a vampire in the U.S. really has changed over the years.
I think that vampires should remain like they used to be, and not like the vampires in Twilight.
ReplyDeleteI liked this post. Vampires really have changed a lot.
ReplyDeleteGood post. I think Twilight really ruined vampires for everyone.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting!!
ReplyDeleteI think people want to think better way of what they don't know and fictional things.
I cannot believe that vampires have become a part of our culture. My sister loves Twilight, but common...
ReplyDeleteVampires are cool to me. but I don't like vampires any more after I watched Twilight. That's awful..haha
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post! I think Twilight has kind of ruined the idea of vampires though because now everyone thinks of vampires as nice and sparkly.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate going to my favorite stores, Barnes&Noble or Borders, and seeing more than 50% of the "young adult" books be about VAMPIRES. I read Twilight I liked it, but you do not need 80 knockoff Twilights. I like the Dracula vampire better than the Cullen Vampire.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe vampires. I think it's fictional idea. But anyway very interesting post. Congratulations
ReplyDeleteI am really confused over America's Vampire obsession. Centering love stories around vampires is hardly appealing. Let's move on to aother mythological creature, shall we?
ReplyDeletedang I wish u could have had a killer picture! but alas it probably would have been taken off. and I agree Vampires are NOT attractive so America please knock it off!
ReplyDeleteI love vampires and love Twilight!!! Good post. Vampires image has sure changed over the years. Now they are beautiful like Edward Cullen:)
ReplyDeleteVampires of the modern world are TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sick of Twilight, or New Moon or whatever it is.. go read something with a real vampire it in.
ReplyDeleteGrisham here notes the ability of a single writer to fundamentally alter a myth that has existed for centuries in our culture. To be sure, Anne Rice and her ilk were involved in rewriting the vampire in our literature before Meyer, but they didn't quite manage the widespread appeal that Twilight has enjoyed, which has enabled Twilight to actually change an entire culture's perception of the vampire idea all at once.
ReplyDeleteWhether we like it or not, it is difficult to say that such a cultural change is "good" or "bad" unless we have some sort of argument which provides sufficient reasoning for our approval or condemnation. Therefore we cannot truly engage with Grisham's assertion that the vampire archetype has been altered for the worse.
Instead, I'd like to focus on the idea that "this is how American culture works." If by this Grisham means that in American culture, we are always looking for ways to turn old ideas inside-out, then I'd say this post's author is on to something...