While other gothic tale’s we’ve read in class have been spooky, ironic, or at least entertaining, I feel that this story is literally sickeningly long. Perhaps that is why it was so
Twilight has integrated itself as a part of modern teen culture in a way that could only be rivalled by the likes of Buffy. This is largely due to it’s relatable, yet aspirational characters and twisting love story. Audiences have such an affiliation with the character’s in Twilight, they have split into two rival camps; ‘Team Edward’ and ‘Team Jacob’. Based on the Twilight love triangle and the traditional rivalry between vampires and werewolves, fans separate between themselves into these teams often by wearing clothing offered by fansites, with phrases like “TEAM EDWARD (except when Jacob is shirtless)”. The Vampire Diaries website has a merchandise store, from which you can buy the full boxset of DVDs, mugs and t shirts with The Vampire Diaries logos and characters on.
What is the origin of the word “Gothic” and how/why did it come to be used for this style of literature? The word "Goth" originated from the barbaric, but the application of "Gothic" themes in literature was used to sort of rebel against the politics of that time and also to bring light to a dark fantasy that people were so fascinated with at the time. Based on your knowledge so far, what are the similarities between the novelists Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Bram Stoker? What are their differences? They have all penned novels during the era of Gothic Literature and the people who shaped the genre for many writers to come.
The settings presented are also dark and eeire, and Dracula himself lives in solitude with no other companion. The film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ is just as reliant on the conventions of Gothic fiction (a genre that was extremely popular in the early nineteenth century when the book was written) as the novel, making it not only follow nicely in the novel’s footsteps but also proving to be a chilling delight for the viewing audience. Gothic fiction traditionally includes elements such as wild landscapes, eerie castles, darkness, and decay, isolation, security, the supernatural and innocent maidens threatened by unspeakable evil. Stoker has utilized all of the above and consequently, as does this film adaptation. An example of this would be in the theme of isolation as Dracula’s castle is hidden in the recesses of Transylvania, kept away from civilization of any description.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher”, are both excellent examples of Gothic literature and the elements which set this genre apart from others. Each author employs such Gothic elements as metonymy, mystery and suspense, and overwrought emotion to create pieces of writing that have affected the way we tell stories even to the present day. Metonymy is an element that affects the way the reader interprets the scene without knowing it. In Gothic literature, metonymy usually makes for much “doom and gloom.” Blowing winds, howls, moans, sighs, and eerie sounds are all entwined within Frankenstein, illustrating Shelley’s use of metonymy. All of these are used to subtly reference the overall air of darkness and horror apparent in the novel.
In contrast to the novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley, the movie had background music to each scene that set either an anticipant, nervous, worried, happy, or excited mood for the viewer. For example, before the monster would kill someone, the music in the film would go from pleasant to fast paced and terrifying. This music very adequately portrayed the horror genre of the story Frankenstein. The novel, although I am sure was meant to be terrifying, did not as effectively convey the emotions of terror that the screen play adaption was successful in doing. However, it must be taken into consideration that it was probably a very scary story years ago, but today horror stories are much more terrifying and intense than Frankenstein
As a result, my reading of Dracula is a departure from most standard interpretation in that it revolves, not around the conquest of Evil by Good, but on the similarities between the two as it relates to the novel’s characters. More familiar with the numerous film interpretations than with Stoker’s novel, most modern readers are likely to be surprised by Dracula and its extremely topical themes, and both the setting and the method of narration which Stoker chose contribute to the sense of immediacy. Instead of taking place in a remote Transylvanian castle or a timeless and fictional “anywhere,” most of the action occurs in nineteenth-century London. Furthermore, Stoker de-emphasizes the novel’s mythic qualities by telling the story through a series of journal extracts, personal letters, and newspaper clippings- the very written record of everyday life. The narrative technique resembles a vast jigsaw puzzle of isolated and frequently insignificant facts; and it is only when the novel is
Mary Shelley’s gothic novel ‘Frankenstein, and Ridley Scott’s noir film ‘Blade Runner’ explore similar issues in complete different settings. On the surface these texts seem vastly different because of the large gap in time setting but in hindsight the audience is able to recognize that despite the difference in context both texts present the same problems regarding changing values and ethics in society and the role of playing-God in the characters of Victor Frankenstein and Tyrell. One of the aspects that Mary Shelley’s novel ‘Frankenstein’ explores is the concept of hubris in the main character Victor Frankenstein; hubris can be defined as excessive pride, self-confidence and defiance towards God that ultimately leads to the demise of the individual. This is shown through
(Foster 16) Although in many cases evil does have to do with sex such as rape, I don’t believe it has everything to do with sex. During the Victorian era when all of these vampire stories were emerging in literature, Foster writes that since they couldn’t directly write about sex and sexuality, they found ways of transforming those taboo subjects and issues into other forms. (Foster 17) This may be true however he goes on to say that even today people write about vampires, ghosts, and werewolves to symbolize something that will imply something sexual. Since I was an avid reader of Twilight, I will have to defend my beloved novel and say it wasn’t all just about sex. There was evil in it but it wasn’t about some creepy old guy that wanted to take a young girl’s virginity.
Hate crimes affect the victim as well as the community. People commit hate crimes for various reasons; they are unwelcoming of those who aren’t of the same characteristics per se. They feel the need to bully those who they feel are beneath them to compensate for their own short comings. Hate crimes affect individuals from all walks of life. Including but not limited to those of religious, race, and sexual orientation.