Monday, August 28, 2017

Week 2: Vampires



Week 2: Vampires



This week we are talking about blood-sucking Vampires, and if you know anyone currently avoiding the sun and sleeping during the day they might even be considered a vampire. Even those who sparkle, are considered undead creatures. Yes, even Edward Cullen.



But these characters convey a lot, the convey different important aspects of what it means to be not human but, human. In more recent years’ vampires seem to be good and not as bad as they seem to be unlike the first original vampires. Most of them are conflicted, awkward and are trying really hard to fit in. They tend to try to distance themselves and stay away from temptation. As seen with our “vegetarian” vampires Louis and Edward and similarly both of these vampires have what would be considered taboo relationships. 



One common theme in all of these stories is betrayal. Vampires are seducers, what’s anything worse than heartbreak? In Queen of the Damned, Lestat seems to betray the infatuation he had for the Vampire Queen Akasha, and for love of Jesse a human. Similarly, in Interview with a vampire, Lestat is betrayed by Louis and their daughter. Lestat just can’t get enough of back-stabbing. Twilight also had this when Edward left Bella for a time. I guess when you have an eternity to live forever, might as well add some drama in the mix. 





Regarding popular series like Vampire Masquerade, there are so many different types of vampires all with their own distinct way of hunting, with their own clans. This is probably my favorite portrayal of vampirism as it’s all very different. For example, Malkavian are designed to spread insanity, Or more well known Nosferatu aren’t your cookie-cutter pretty boy, since they live out in the sewers as hideous deformed monsters. You will find most vampires are on a spectrum from monsters who want to kill you to just emo normal guys who seem out of place because they just have a different diet from anyone else.



The true horror in Vampire novels and movies are the simple fact of being scared you will rot alone for eternity, and being scared that you will have a broken heart forever. For romance, and horror the thought of being alone for the rest of your life goes hand and hand for both. 

Monday, August 21, 2017

Week 1: The Gothic



Week 1: The Gothic




In the first week of my class, everyone had to read Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft. In the lecture we talked about Gothic elements what exactly makes something “gothic” what are the themes that are present in Frankenstein that are gothic?

To start out, the novel takes place in a mysterious castle, filled with rooms that have been unexplored, old, or hidden rooms soon found by the characters. This also includes long stair spirals to lots of unnatural spider webs. Followed by a prophecy, in this case an old discarded journal with instructions on how to bring the dead back to life. With some cases of strange sleep walking or visions. Leading up to Frankenstein being born! A supernatural undead being that can’t be explained.

He is produced in a unnatural way like electrocution. Other themes of gothic include the damsel, an attractive young girl with innocence and a sense of needing protection. Who is pure, and obviously too naïve. In the lighting for the movie, how they play with a shadows, how they scare the viewers. These are all elements that make Frankenstein a gothic classic. Including the witty, main character with who challenges the idea that revival of dead things isn’t possible, with his foolish sidekick. These are all elements of gothic and characterization.