There are many gothic conventions in ‘Dracula’, and this is what makes it an eerie delight for the viewers, as well as making it fit into the ‘gothic’ genre. The movie is cleverly adapted from the book, sharing the same title- that was scribed by Bram Stoker. Some very common gothic elements include the theme of isolation and security. Both of these things can be seen in ‘Dracula’ The theme of isolation is presented by the way Dracula’s castle is shown to the viewers- dark, isolated from any form any other form of civilization in the middle of a great landscape consisting of myriad and secret passageways and being a ruin in itself. The settings presented are also dark and eeire, and Dracula himself lives in solitude with no other companion.
“How does ‘Shadow of a Vampire’ appropriate the earlier texts of Nosferatu and Dracula and create something new?” Shadow of a Vampire (2000), directed by Elias Merhige, is a film that recreates the making of the 1922 film ‘Nosferatu’. Shadow of a Vampire distorts the reality of what actually went on whilst filming Nosferatu yet appropriates the text to make it entertaining and scary. As Nosferatu is based on Dracula by Bram Stoker, Shadow of a Vampire also becomes an appropriation of this text, mainly using the elements of gothic to create what is essentially a horror movie. An appropriation that adds to the scary nature is the behaviour of Nosferatu director Friedrich Murnau. Murnau’s behaviour is questionable from the early stages of the film.
This reversal of gender stereotypes and gothic conventions is used often in Carter’s work. In the Bloody chamber, it seems that although she has adapted gothic conventions into a modern way, presenting females as the more powerful characters than men, she also retains some of these typical roles in some of her stories. The lady of the house of love would be an immediate example of how Carter creates a role reversal that differs from the typically valued places in gender. Carter creates the role of the ‘Femme Fatal’, with this dangerous woman that lives in the castle. This representation of the woman as powerful differs from the original expectation in a gothic novel, as the woman would usually be portrayed as weak, and in need of saving.
(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.
Uses and Gratifications of Vampire Fiction The way that audiences have consumed vampire fiction has changed dramatically over the years and with it, so has the reason why people watch vampire fiction and become involved in the vampire world. Personal identity has become a large part of why people watch vampire fiction as the modern, deeply personal story lines connect with audiences in a way that traditional vampire films such as Dracula or Nosferatu never did. Audiences, particularly teens choose to insert themselves into the world of vampires to distinguish themselves as an individual. The most recent example of this, is the Twilight Saga. Twilight has integrated itself as a part of modern teen culture in a way that could only be rivalled by the likes of Buffy.
Thanks to modern conveniences of mainstream media, the clash between the monsters of human imagination are at the forefront of modern fanfare. The two focal points of this subculture are none other than vampires and zombies. They have been popularized now by hit TV shows and movies. In this essay I will discuss the similarities and differences of both creatures and how mainstream media has affected them. I will examine what they were in the works of written fiction to what they have become in live action fiction and modern literary works.
In the original film (Hitchcock) the old dark and colorless film, the creep music provide the viewers an idea that something wicked is about to happen. Therefore again both directors did provide enough action to carry over to each scene. In the remake the casting was truly wrong; For instance the infamous character Norman Bates, the psychopathic motel owner was played by fast talking, macho man Vince Vaughn. In the remake the Norman appears to be more of a sexual predator, whom would actually please himself as he watch Marion through a peephole in the shower scene; which gives the audience a different point of view about this film and van sant character Norman. However in the original version Anthony Perkins plays Norman Bates, who truly fit the character with calmer attitude, and good boy looks as Norman.
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla, is the original vampire story to which Stoker's Dracula serves as a response. Carmilla - the first vampire tale whose protagonist is a powerful female vampire - marks the growing concern surrounding the power of female homosocial and homosexual relationships in the nineteenth century. His creation of a female vampire anticipates the shift toward the end of the century to predominantly female vampires. Carmilla is the vampire tale that most readily defies the established patriarchal systems of kinship and that most provokingly challenges nineteenth century notions of the "contamination of lesbianism" and the female "psychic sponge.” Le Fanu’s Carmilla is a prime example of how fearful men were of the rising surge of powerful females. In many ways, Carmilla can be seen by feminists as a heroine in an antagonist’s role because the story is written by a man.
Not all vampires are the same. There are similarities and differences between Angel and Edward Cullen because it is important for people to know that vampires are not all the same and that there are good and evil vampires and my evidence is background, transformation, and powers. (*Par 1*) Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, comes from different backgrounds, transformed in different ways, and has different powers. Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not just an ordinary vampire. He is a 242 year old Irish vampire.
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