The Daily OrangeNew-age vampires thirst for love rather than blood
By Stacy Foster
Posted: 10/5/09, 2:01 AM EST Section: Feature
Vampires have recently taken a bite out of the entertainment industry. The infamously fanged characters have appeared in literature, film, television and theater.
Even director Tim Burton, who notoriously shies away from mainstream phenomena, is getting a taste of vampire success with his upcoming movie adaptation of "Dark Shadows," a classic vampire television show.
The newly revived vampire movement has hit quick. The Season 2 premiere of "True Blood" was the most watched HBO show since "The Sopranos" series finale in June of 2007, reported TVWeek. The show chronicles the small-town romance between a telepathic waitress played by Anna Paquin and a vampire played by Stephen Moyer.
The show's instant success is just one of the many indications that vampires are out for blood in mainstream popular culture. The pending release of "New Moon," the second movie in the "Twilight" series, already has vampire fanatics staking their claims on the midnight showing. According to Fandango, 50 locations have already sold out tickets for the highly anticipated vampire flick, and the movie doesn't premiere until Nov. 20.
The "Twilight" saga catapulted the most recent vampire renaissance, but in reality, these blood-drinking day walkers have always made good entertainment. Warner Brothers television shows "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," dominated late 90's television. Even before them, "Interview with a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," and other novels by Anne Rice captivated readers with her combination of terror and sadness and were eventually adapted into popular films.
What's changed between new vampire culture and that of Anne Rice is that new literature and entertainment allows vampires to been seen in a softer light. In Rice's "Interview with a Vampire," written in 1973, the main character Lestat chooses to live his life eternally as a vampire. After he has made his decision he is forced to live a solitary and lacking that life forever. Similarly the show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" based on the premises that the blood-thirsty creatures are evil. Buffy, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, is the only person innately capable of killing vampires who are dangerous to mankind.
Even director Tim Burton, who notoriously shies away from mainstream phenomena, is getting a taste of vampire success with his upcoming movie adaptation of "Dark Shadows," a classic vampire television show.
The newly revived vampire movement has hit quick. The Season 2 premiere of "True Blood" was the most watched HBO show since "The Sopranos" series finale in June of 2007, reported TVWeek. The show chronicles the small-town romance between a telepathic waitress played by Anna Paquin and a vampire played by Stephen Moyer.
The show's instant success is just one of the many indications that vampires are out for blood in mainstream popular culture. The pending release of "New Moon," the second movie in the "Twilight" series, already has vampire fanatics staking their claims on the midnight showing. According to Fandango, 50 locations have already sold out tickets for the highly anticipated vampire flick, and the movie doesn't premiere until Nov. 20.
The "Twilight" saga catapulted the most recent vampire renaissance, but in reality, these blood-drinking day walkers have always made good entertainment. Warner Brothers television shows "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," dominated late 90's television. Even before them, "Interview with a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," and other novels by Anne Rice captivated readers with her combination of terror and sadness and were eventually adapted into popular films.
What's changed between new vampire culture and that of Anne Rice is that new literature and entertainment allows vampires to been seen in a softer light. In Rice's "Interview with a Vampire," written in 1973, the main character Lestat chooses to live his life eternally as a vampire. After he has made his decision he is forced to live a solitary and lacking that life forever. Similarly the show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" based on the premises that the blood-thirsty creatures are evil. Buffy, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, is the only person innately capable of killing vampires who are dangerous to mankind.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Diana Laurence
posted 10/05/09 @ 4:44 PM EST
Stacie, you [coffin] nailed it, there has been a pervasive change in vampire storytelling, expanding the genre to include a non-villainous spin on the undead. (Continued…)
Tung Pham
posted 10/05/09 @ 7:54 PM EST
Deja Vu. Several college newspapers have published articles about Hollywood's obsession with vampires in the recent weeks; I could've swore I read this article before. (Continued…)
Diana Laurence
posted 10/05/09 @ 9:55 PM EST
You're not dreaming...well, you didn't see the same exact post from me, but I do read about vampires and pop culture wherever I can and often comment. (Continued…)
Inanna Arthen
posted 10/06/09 @ 9:18 PM EST
Audiences (esp. women) have been responding to vampires as romantic heroes at least since the stage version of "Dracula" made a matinee idol out of Bela Lugosi in the 1920s. (Continued…)
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