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Bram Stoker, growth of consciousness, Kim Falconer, L J Smith, like attracts like, Nosferatu, Vampire Diaries, vampire evolution, Vampires
The Vampire Diaries 2012
I’m not officially back until tomorrow but I wanted to re-post my thoughts on the evolution of vampires in film and literature today. It was sparked by a conversation at GVU on the notion of ‘if we can imagine it, it can exist‘. Vampires and LOA? How does the recent surge of popularity (very ‘Neptune’ for those curious) fit into deliberate creation? If like attracts like, why do we like them so much? Whatever the reasons, our attraction is not only increasing, it’s changing.
Take the 1930′s for example. Nobody dreamed of hot sex with Nosferatu, nobody I know, anyway. But Eric Northman? The Salvatore brothers? Edward? That’s a whole different story. So what happened in the decades between Bram Stoker’s fear and loathing to our modern-day infatuations? How different now are the denizens of the night and why did they get that way?
Nosferatu - 1922
The curious thing is, aside from increased hotness, the basic tenets of these creatures are the same. Vampires are still a blood drinking, super strong, fast and intelligent predatory species who generally find humans beneath them. They have a hunger and lust that’s hard to control; and plenty of necks still snap. Bodies are drained of blood. Yet, we are swooning for them. Head over heels! What gives?
Some say that vampires have always had an erotic quality and that film and TV have simply amped this up by putting a new face on an old ‘devil’. The claim is our art and stories have changed the image of the vampire over time, from ‘pure evil’ to dangerous erotic to heroic heartthrob. But is it really the media that is changing social concepts, or is it the other way around?
I vote for the other way around. To me, the evolution of the vampire is not simply a trend generated by contemporary literature and film. These new images aren’t responsible for the shifting views of society; rather they are a reflection of them. And here we get to the crux. As our perception of Self changes, our monsters must change as well. Ultimately, the evolution of the vampire reflects the evolution of the human soul.
The vampire as a representation of our inner darkness was once powerful beyond control, a force of nature we could not reckon with. Now we dialog with these creatures, are intimate with them and in the case of LJ Smith, Stephenie Meyer and other authors, we walk with them in the daylight (the sun is a symbol of consciousness).
Originally, the vampire had no soul—‘In this chest beats no heart,’ Bram Stoker’s Dracula says, but now that’s changing. We are learning compassion for the beast within, and because of that, the beast is free, sometimes, to love us back. In this way, our new relationship with the vampire reflects the growth of human consciousness and our ability to love the darker aspects of ourselves and others.
What do you think? How have vampires changed for you as readers, viewers of film and writers? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
This article appeared originally in Supernatural Underground Nov 16, 2011
A thoughtful post – and I’d agree. Our attitude to the idea of evil has changed,and much has to do with the evolution (evilution?) of psychology. As we have learnt more about the human brain and found biological bases for mental illness, so the demons have receded. We have pushed out of the zone of a black and white understanding of good and evil, them and us. It also represents the thinking around moving from punitive justice to restorative justice – redeeming the fallen. Thus, we are in the process of redeeming our fallen archetypes and shadow-selves too.When looked at this way, it shows how important the stories are in informing social conscience and perception, considering we’ve been redeeming monsters for the little people too in Monsters Inc, Shrek and others. What would we do without Hollywood to pull us into the next era of our evolution? (*thinks about body suites and electrodes for the 4D moving experience…*)
Very well put – We have pushed out of the zone of a black and white understanding of ‘good’ and ‘evil’. Yes!
I always use quotes around words like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ as they are a movable feast of meaning depending on where we stand. It’s all about perspective.
Great point on Monster’s Inc, Shrek etc. We never used to get into the head of the anti-hero. Can you imagine ‘Wicked’ being popular when The Wizard of Oz first aired? But now . . . things are changing!
Thanks for your contribution!
oops *movie experience – though it may well be moving
Both work!
Poor vampires they have fallen so far by being elevated so high.
They certainly aren’t like the old days of Nosferatu, though Daybreakers had echos of such ‘evil’ on a vast scale. In that story vampires because ‘consciousness’ and humans were relegated to the shadow. But it didn’t work. Both faced extinction. For the dynamic of conscious and unconscious to function, we need both!
Exciting times – shadow evolution in progress.
Thanks for dropping by
Great post on vampires, Kim. I wrote my first vampire romance in the early nineties. I then subbed it t New York and received a rejection because “no one wants to read about vampires” (quote from agent!. I went on to write several more vampire stories (shorts) and had them all published by traditional presses. I also had that original vampire novel published (it was nominated for awards). While all this sounds like unabashed ego posting on my part, I wanted to send the comment because not everyone in the industry (then and now) understands the allure of the vampire. It also has to do with “saving the twisted soul” and redemption. I’m now writing some vampire/male/male romances … and that’s a whole new scenario. I have some humour in the stories – particularly one scene where the human “hero” wants to know why the allure of the vampire — has it something to do with the teeth (Jung/Freud on the ultimate penetration, or perhaps it is the cape? Seriously, the psychology of vampires and their allure is something we could chat about for ages — I was always attracted to vampires, particularly when I saw Dracula with Christopher Lee — a really sexy bad guy and inevitably I asked myself “what if…?” and from there my vampire romance writing began..As a novelist, I try to explore different realities and different life forms and look at the world from their eyes — becoming “one” with the vamp;ire and his needs was just a logial step for me.
Best wishes
Astrid.
I wonder what that publisher thinks now. Has she rephrased the notion that ‘nobody wants to read about vampires?’ lol. People have always wanted to!
Redemption is a good point. Vampires as shadow elements of the unconscious have a desire to gain light but consciousness, and mortality, belong to humans. In a way, we want to be more like them – powerful, eternal – and they more like us, able to love. It was this same dynamic with the ‘deathless gods’ of Mt. Olympus. They had eternal life, but did not understand love in the way us mortal could, because for them, the clock wasn’t ticking.
Maybe vampires are now less like demons, more like god. The fascination for them deepens!
Thanks for dropping by. Always appreciate your contributions!
I forgot to add — the scene in Stoker’s book where Mina Harker states (of Dracula) “his is the saddest soul of all…” was another impetus for me to write a story from a vampire’s point of view. Up until then most (if not all) films and books cast vampires as the nosferatu blood sucking murdering maniac… and men had to kill the wild beast and “save” the day. Never once did they question their right to kill, or “understand” that the vamp;ire had to drink blood to survive. There was certainly no room for “IDIC” in this mind set. I guess that my attraction to “Star Trek” and the IDIC philosophy was another factor that inclined me towards sympathy for the vampire.
Best wishes
Astrid.
That’s it. The first glimmer of compassion, and soulfulness was from Mina. Thank you!
And great to bring up IDIC – Diversity in Infinite Combinations – accepting diversity as norm not ‘outcast’ is the step towards compassion – the recognition of the validity of all life. It allows us to write from the POV of the ‘villain’,
Good point!
Great discussion! Yes I too have the vampire obsession! I am also wondering if it is a deeper aspect of the monster within, by projecting the monster outside of ourselves we are now having a better look. We are seeing the beauty, the inner turmoil that lives in us all, the judgments we have of ourselves, the self loathing. I believe everything that is created has a reference to self; the vampire images are changing because we are allowing our own humanity to come to the surface and take a deeper look at something that we feared to look at, that was in us! We are becoming more conscious and letting go of the whole right and wrong, good/bad issues, so those lines are blurring in how we view an age old villain. We are desiring a closer look and yes this too will reveal our own reflections, thus the many and varied reactions to what we are looking at. It seems we are also wanting to love these damaged aspects of self and bring out and identify more with what is also beautiful within the monster. The co-existence of it all, the perfection of what is!
Beautiful summation, Sharne. Thank you.
This is reminding me of a book by James Hillman, Dreams and the Underworld. It puts forth the idea that what is in darkness and shadow within us may not necessarily be damaged, need healing or require ‘light’. He says that by seeing a part of ourselves as monstrous or damaged we close the door on integration and acceptance, wholeness. It’s interesting. But the point here is that our changing relationship to Vampires, werewolves and other ‘night’ creatures may be a movement towards, as you say, non-judgment. A movement towards a deeper self-awareness!
Thanks for dropping in.
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