Vampires, whether in folklore, film or fiction, continue to command a passionate following. While the rules for the vampire's undeath ... ]]> Vampire beliefs have their origin in folklore, in particular the folklore of Eastern Europe. Eastern European vampires had little in common with the suave literary vampire we know today. He lived in his grave and smelled like death, and arose into undead status not because of a bite from another vampire, but because of some irregularity in the process of death and burial. People who committed suicide, died a violent death, or were excommunicated by the Church at the time of their death could become vampires, as could people who were not given a proper religious burial.

Various rituals were performed at the grave of one suspected of being a vampire. A crucifix might be placed in the coffin, or a sprig from certain plants such as the mountain ash. Seeds might be spilled on the grave in the belief that the vampire must count all the seeds before engaging in his nightly vampire activities. Driving a stake into the corpse of a suspected vampire was a more extreme measure as this was a violation of social norms and in many cases, an illegal action as the desecration of a corpse.

Vampire beliefs were never confined to Eastern Europe, and there were a number of vampire incidents in New England during the nineteenth century. A typical case was that of the Stukeley family, in which six of the fourteen children died, one after another. The bodies of the children were exhumed, and it was discovered that one of the children, Sarah, had not decomposed while the others all had. The hearts of the children were cut out and burned to prevent further vampire-deaths in the family.

The literary vampire we know and fear today had its origins in Gothic fiction, particularly the novel ‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker. Stoker and later writers adapted what they knew of the folklore vampire for literary purposes, and often added to the legend. Stoker’s vampire, Dracula, was in part based on real-life Romanian ruler Vlad Dracul, affectionately known as ‘Vlad the Impaler’ in honor of his favorite method of executing his enemies.

The attributes of the literary vampire vary from author to author. Many vampires cannot bear sunlight and will burn and turn to ash in daylight. Others, like Mina in the film ‘League of Extraordinary Gentleman’, merely have to wear a hat with a veil to ward off excess sun exposure. There are vampires who can only be killed by a stake through the heart, yet Count Dracula was felled by an American wielding a bowie knife.

Vampires, whether in folklore, film or fiction, continue to command a passionate following. While the rules for the vampire’s undeath vary from country to country and from author to author, all are capable of sending a shiver down our spines.

Reference:

Melton, J. Gordon The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead

Whether in Japan, Turkey, Romania, Britain, or the U.S. the vampire legend almost always consists of an undead or spiritual being, usually the recently deceased, who rise at night to ... ]]> For centuries man has been fascinated by the legend of the Vampire. Although every culture has a different spelling or name for this legendary undead creature, the similarities are almost always the same.

Whether in Japan, Turkey, Romania, Britain, or the U.S. the vampire legend almost always consists of an undead or spiritual being, usually the recently deceased, who rise at night to gain sustenance and life force from the living.

Almost every culture on the Earth has a vampire legend. How is it possible that all of these different groups of people can have legends so similar? The passage of time makes it very hard to say, but to fathom a guess one would have to believe either A) supernatural vampires are real, or B) the legends were spread by migrants and travelers and became part of folklore in other areas.

Since believing the first option is often more far fetched than the original legends they are based on, it is far more reasonable to believe that the legends were spread by superstitious travelers.

In the last 100 years modern film and entertainment has become obsessed with the vampire, making many films featuring the blood sucking undead, many of which are adaptations and variations on Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the title character of the infamous book first published in 1897.

What many modern vampire fans and a strange fringe group of believers fail to realize is that these modern interpretations of the vampire differ greatly from not only Stoker’s book, but from the traditional legends they are based on as well.

The trappings and weaknesses of movie vampires were in large part created by Hollywood to add plot points and drama to big budget (and not so big budget) films. The things that most of the world thinks they know about the vampire legends; such as the crucifix, sleeping in a coffin, weaknesses to sunlight and garlic, and yes even blood sucking, are all additions to the legends made by Hollywood to make their movies more exciting and entertaining.

A close examination of the actual legends will reveal that a vampire is defined as a person who gains life and energy by siphoning it from other people. Although in most legends these people are spirits or corpses risen from the dead, this isn’t always the case. In many legends the vampire does not necessarily have to suck blood either, other ways a legendary vampire can sustain themselves on the life force of the living can be through sex, energy or excitement, the company of

The vampire holds us fascinated because it is our reflection. He is also an ... ]]> The vampire has been a strong part of human culture since the beginning of recorded history. It is the very symbol of the things we humans would prefer to keep hidden, and this is why it is prevalent in the legends of all ancient cultures.

When the vampire came on the screen, with the German film, “Nosferatu,” it was a case of cinema doing what cinema was designed for: to take something of human culture and dramatize it in a way that sells.

It isn’t all about advertising revenue and ticket sales, though. From “Nosferatu” to more modern vampire films, like “Blade,” the vampire has played the same basic role. In “Nosferatu,” Dracula was a gangly, rabbit-toothed creature that appeared fresh out of the grave, which is more faithful to the Hungarian and Romanian legends that spawned the mythology. Later, Dracula, played by Bela Lugosi, became a suave gentleman, a mask of civility hiding a bloodthirsty beast. A step forward from the Bela Lugosi vampire is Lestat, Anne Rice’s crowning achievement, who retains the European sense of romanticism but with a more erotic flair and an almost insane view of the world around him. Years later still, “Blade” showed vampires with a streetwise, business, and even gangster-type mentality. No matter what guise he wears, though, the vampire has evolved into a cultural symbol. He reflects the very face we do not want to look upon: our own.

The vampire is a two-faced character. On the surface, you have the picture of civility, a person who is intelligent, savvy, and perhaps even kind. He has this hypnotic gaze that traps you, freezes you, and you cannot turn away until you discover its secrets. Yet those secrets, not so far from the surface, culminate in a beast that rages to get out of its cage.

It is the animal within us, and it can stand for whatever your subconscious reads into it when you see it on the screen. Everyone has secrets, everyone has thoughts, desires, unkind or even taboo notions that they would prefer to keep locked within a hidden chamber. The vampire allows us to release these notions without damaging anyone around us or ourselves.

In ancient times, the idea of a creature drinking your blood for a living was enough to cause terror. Nowadays, in our more-technological and medicinally aware societies, that defining nature of the vampire character implies many other things, such as (in the more erotic vampire stories) STDs and AIDS. When the vampire takes your blood, it is an exchange of bodily fluids; hence, an exchange of DNA. In such a world as we see in a vampire movie, no one can truly be safe.

The vampire holds us fascinated because it is our reflection. He is also an outcast, appearing human and interacting with humans, yet totally outside the microcosmic human world. In that sense, he reflects the part of us that doesn’t belong, or the part that fears judgment in the eyes of others.

There are many weaknesses in a vampire from crucifixes, to garlic, to silver, to sunlight. The films today are making vampires appear more and more human, and ... ]]> Vampires started out in cinema as ugly, revolting creatures. We look at dracula and the typical vampire from then on was an ugly man with sharp canines, turned into a bat, only came out at night, and slept in a coffin. As time went on, vampires started to protray a lovely, sexual being that was out for one, and only one thing- human blood.

Over the years, people have thought of vampires as a night stalker who would bite one’s neck to suck his or her blood. Then, that person would turn into a vampire. Vampires have always been in the same genre as werewolves, witches, and are “fun” to dress up as on Halloween. But the truth is, vampires are much more than what people get from the movies. There are messages in these films that tell us everything about this particular creature. We just haven’t figured it out yet.

There are many weaknesses in a vampire from crucifixes, to garlic, to silver, to sunlight. The films today are making vampires appear more and more human, and more attractive and sexual as opposed to the once, ugly and disgusting creature that haunted the minds of the little children. The most popular movies about vampires today are probably still Dracula, Bloodrayne, Van Helsing, and Underworld. Dracula, because it is a classic, is loved by all. The modern vampire movies are more viewed by the vampire obssessors and goth generation.

To these people, vampires are more than just creatures looking for blood. They have a story, a purpose. This purpose may be to save the world, or it may be to destroy the world. Either way, this is what these people live for. The thought of blood is even more appealing. To some who have fetishes, blood and sex go together well, so vampires are significant in films for them.

To the ones who remember Dracula before all the sex and battles and gothic kids, Dracula will always be in our hearts, because he “vants to suck our blood!”