So what's with all the vampires?

[BkkprGirl]

Has anyone noticed a recent upsurge in vampire materials in the media? Nearly every book in the Teen section deals with some bloodsucking sex symbol, and new vampire shows such as True Blood and The Vampire Diaries are cropping up almost weekly.

Well, stupid question--there HAS been a lot more about vampires in the media lately whether you've noticed it or not. And we all probably know where this fandom had its seed of origin.

No doubt this coincides with the popular book series Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. But what interests me the most is that very quickly, our image of the vampire is morphing drastically. Remember back when someone said 'Vampire" you said "Dracula" instead of "Edward Cullen"? No longer is the vampire the feared, bloodthirsty demon from the depths of a crypt, instead we think of a hunky, sparkling teen with angst problems. But this thread isn't just dedicated to Meyer and her 300 page books of vampire fluff, though that's a part of it.

First of all, have you, too, been influenced by the vampire craze, and if so is it negatively or positively? Does your dream guy have fangs or is a vampire still your worst nightmare? Or are you, like me, simply sick of hearing about it? In other words, what is your take on this?

Secondly, why do you think the vast amount of teens have become so actively involved in this? You know who the vampire lovers are, and you know who silently gags at the thought of fangs--and most of them are fairly adamant about their position. Some just choose to ignore it. Very few are unaffected--and my question is why? There is the obvious reason that the vampire now fits in nicely as a sex symbol, but what is it in our psyche that latches on to this once-feindish monster as something to be either hated or admired? Or is there no reason at all?

[sharkie]

I personally am someone who has never been swept by the vampire craze. I tried reading twighlight- and hated it= and have never really seen the appeal.

But I think it is just a fact that one some level EVERYONE finds vampires sexy. I didn't think it, but then I watched True Blood and I LOVE it. Partly because HBO is just great at making tv series and have made a good solid one there, and partly because it's just a sexy show.

I think it's more than just the vampirism though, and what we use vampirism as an excuse for. Do I like it because it involves women unashamedly getting off with vampires. Or do I like it because I it involves women getting off full stop- for that simple reason. The TV series has showed women having sex because they enjoy having sex and I liked it.


And, uh, it's just one sexy show

[Raineesun]

I still think of vampires as something to be feared, and I REALLY dislike Twilight. *throws up at the mention*
I think in some books (Skulduggery Pleasant) vampires are well-placed, but I normally retch when I hear someone talking about them--because of Twilight. (Now I got that out)

I still like vampires. As evil characters though; not big hunk dudes that you fall in love with. Ugh.
Anywho, my opinion.

[Antilles]

I'm one of the bewildered people still trying to figure out where the heck this stuff came from. How the heck did we go from Dracula to Twilight? I'm also sick of hearing about it.

Also, I would disagree that people find vampires sexy. I don't find anything attractive about sucking out somebody's blood. But, it just so happens that a lot of the vampire TV shows and books feature a super-hot guy and half-dressed girl... Sharkie has a good point, it's not vampires themselves, it's what they get used as an excuse for.

In other news, I know how we can all get rich once this vampire stuff starts to die down:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/10/12/


EDIT: Aww, pic was too big. Linked instead.

[Raineesun]

Haha! That's awesome. I don't know if those've been obsessed over yet... *gets super dorky striped thinking cap on*
HEEhee!

[silverphoenix]

I'm one of the bewildered people still trying to figure out where the heck this stuff came from. How the heck did we go from Dracula to Twilight? I'm also sick of hearing about it.

Also, I would disagree that people find vampires sexy. I don't find anything attractive about sucking out somebody's blood. But, it just so happens that a lot of the vampire TV shows and books feature a super-hot guy and half-dressed girl... Sharkie has a good point, it's not vampires themselves, it's what they get used as an excuse for.

I wondered the same thing. Also, since when do vampires have super strength, hotness, and whatnot? Oh yeah, since Twilight. Seriously, I went into the teen section of the bookstore and there were three shelves of teen books. One shelf was devoted to vampire lit (if you can call those atrocities literature). Sucking blood is... disgusting ("vegetarian" vampires are still gross). What disturbs me most of all is not only teens but ten-year-olds (boys and girls) are getting absorbed into this craze. When I was in fourth grade I certainly didn't read things like Twilight. Maybe I'm a bit conservative about these things, but children shouldn't be reading adult-themed books (no matter how "clean" Twilight is, Breaking Dawn certainly wasn't).

[Raineesun]

I totally agree. I heard someone on this site who's 11/12 is reading it and my eyes got so wide it hurt. Ugh, seriously. I actually liked it more when people obsessed about Harry Potter compared to this... CRAP!!!!! (I'm not saying HP is well written.... XD )
*Ahem*

[IzzyTehMuse]

Why vampires are so popular: trends. The moment one thing starts selling, distributors will be peddling knockoffs to try and get in on it because it is just too risky to try and find out the "next big thing." Math goes like this: Copy something popular. Even if it isn't as good as the original, if you use the same cover art and go with the general concept, you'll probably cash in on some sales for girls/boys who just want more of that steamy vampire stuff. They know people like it, so they try to cash in on it. AS OPPOSED TO what I would prefer which is: Hmmm, sure that's making a lot of money, but wouldn't I make more money if I started the next big thing? But that also is risky as you could be sinking tons of money into fail.

As to vampires = sexy. They've kind of always have had that appeal. The idea being vampire seduce woman --> suck blood. Only nowadays we (a) want rounder characters (what would happen if a vampire DIDN'T want to suck blood) (b) like bad boys/anti-heros. Pity vote sort of thing. So, if you add in self-loathing and take away the whole blood lust liking to kill people part...you get a tragic, sexy character (who the heroine can save emotionally, because ALL GUYS SHOULD BE SENSITIVE LIEK THAT YEAH TOTALLY!!!!one)

That's my theory anyway.

[Raineesun]

I'm going a wee bit off-topic, but I needed to say this:
Guys might seem solid as a rock, but on the inside, their really marshmallows. (In other words, they're really sensitive to what people.GIRLS think about them. Yes, this is true, it's been proven many times over.) I needed to say that. (Yes, it had something to do w/ Izzy's post)

I think another reason is that this world is just desperate for more sex; thus they have an excuse to make another thing for sex. Ugh. It sickens me. *is sorry that vampires are popular*

[Kitsy]

I think another reason is that this world is just desperate for more sex; thus they have an excuse to make another thing for sex. Ugh. It sickens me. *is sorry that vampires are popular*

I quite see what you're getting at. People read vampire books/watch movies etc. because they want more sex? If you want more sex, go and have more sex, or watch porn. And why is it sickening? It's quite natural. Your point is a bit of along shot.


So yes, vampire have always had some sex appeal. Even Dracula - because they seduce women. And why are vampires so popular? Because they're frightening, they're something we don't understand and where there are no rules. If you write about vampires, the world is your oyster etc. And when you pick up a vampire book you get to lose yourself in a world that is different from your own, where things happen that can't normally happen.

As for vampires being superhuman, that did most definetly not start with Stephanie Meyer. Nor did she bring vampire fandom into this world - anyone ever heard of Dracula, or for more recent, Darren Shan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer? The latter was particularly big, most people I know watched it at one point or another.

And, off topic-ly.

Guys might seem solid as a rock, but on the inside, their really marshmallows. (In other words, they're really sensitive to what people.GIRLS think about them. Yes, this is true, it's been proven many times over.) I needed to say that. (Yes, it had something to do w/ Izzy's post)

You obviously don't know guys very well. Not all guys seem like solid rocks (apart from Edward, of course, because he is a shiny living rock that drinks blood) and not all guys are marshmellows inside, and neither are girls. You're just using stereotypical images and I think most people are smart enough to see above them without you pointing it out. I don't really see the point of that paragraph.

[Laotzu]

I think any attempt to analyze the opposite sex (or your own sex for that matter) is destined to failure. However there are many things which some think are only restricted to males or females, when in fact it is human nature and possessed by everyone to at least some degree. Horridly off topic but everything that can be said about the subject has been said pretty much haha. I'm also sick of the vampire fad.

[wolfhowl]

vampire tales have defanetly lost their spark.
come up with something new please!
really it gets pretty old after awile
twilight saga was good
the movie, not so much.

[Alanna-Lena Zelen]

Bleh, it may be good people are reading more these days; but COME ON, the younger people in our generation shouldn't be reading stuff like Twilight. Its just too damm sexual. (by the way, first time I got aggravated enough to use the word)

Kisty, despite how much it does disgust me, you tell the truth. But didn't you realise the books were originally aimed at tweens! Inappropriate material for young children, and as sure as hell they will start watching some of those mentioned vampire shows whether their parents know it or not.

As much as I hate HP, it would be better if kids were still obsessed with it rather than Twilight.

[Kitsy]

Why do you hate HP?! D:

I disagree that they're aimed at tweens - teens maybe, but nothing below that vague age group. I say that because the themes in it, the characters, the general plotline seems to be aimed at an age group vaguely around and above 14. I'm not saying that people younger than that aren't reading it - my sister has and she's 12, but I still don't think it's inappropriate for them. By the age of 10 most kids know about sex and lust, in theory if not in practise and the Twilight books dont really have anything indecent about them (apart from the fourth book, there was a dramatic increase in horniness there.)

[Alanna-Lena Zelen]

Yes, but it's just encouraging all the wrong thoughts about boys. What happened to the days where children were happily, innocently oblivious to sex? Yes, people my age know about it all; but its not helping their mental development in a good way. There is more underage sex than ever in the 21st century.

(I just can't stand the idea of broomsticks and wands type magic in HP)