Dirge23

A history of modern vampires

October 12, 2006 |  4 comments
Image Credit: sxc.hu Ok normally when I see something out of place I'll jump to conclusions. Everyone does it. That's how most faerytales are started. But what if some of the faerytales are true? Case and point vampires. Most people believe vampires started when Bram Stoker wrote "Dracula"a good horror but lacking in details. Actually the first use of the word "Vampire" was in the early 1600's being derived from the Slavic term "Vampyr" which, in turn, received it's roots from 1047 AC when a Novgorodian prince is called an "upir" or "wicked vampire" The first vampire is said to have been Adam's first wife Lilith who was turned by Lucifer into the Dark Queen of death and demons. By the time of the Middle Ages people were seeing vampires as mysterious deaths occurred and eyewitnesses had claimed to seeing corpses attacking victims often sucking their blood. This caused such an uproar that entire graves were dug up and coffins open to see if it's inhabitants had risen.

The basic signs are as follow:

-red lips
-bloodied fingers (from digging themselves out)
-bloated figuresand a variety of other detailsSo why are vampires "alive" and so appealing today?http://vampires.monstrous.com/vampire_origins.htm gives some modern day advice "Many scholars have attempted to explain the vampire's appeal in psychological terms literary scholar James Twitchell claims that psychoanalytically speaking, the vampire image is so popular because it represents a "complete condensation of problems and resolutions of preadolescence." He claims that children must deal with first time feelings of sexual energy and hostility, and that the vampire image acts out these situations, through its blood sucking and preying on the living.Kirk J. Schneider, a faculty member of the California School of Professional Psychology, offers a vastly different explanation. He maintains that the vampire figure, specifically Dracula, is appealing because it is horrifying. Schneider states that true horror is when we are unexpectedly immersed in the infinite. Seeing this boundlessness is analogous to the boundlessness of that which is sacred, and thus dealing with the horror allows us to get a feel of what it would be like to deal with the holy. Dracula seems infinite is his power -- and the characters in the story as well as the audience must deal with that endless power. In regards to Dracula, Schneider states that "Dracula is not simply about a monster, it is about the mysterious force which permits monstrosities."Perkowski claims that the figure of Dracula the Vampire functions as a symbol of evil. He states the Vampire "is a focus of fascination for forbidden, proscribed feelings and acts rife with guilt and fear, a focus for venting one's secret desires to surfeit." To support his claim, he contrasts Dracula's role with that of Santa Claus, claiming that they embody elements that make them polar opposites.There are many reasons that vampires are so popular.

The vampire has the appeal of immortality, which has been a goal of man for ages. Men built the pyramids in an attempt to gain immortality, yet it comes naturally to vampires. Vampires have the appeal of power over others, which is very alluring to someone who feels that they have no power of their own. Finally and most importantly, vampires have a sexual appeal. This sexual appeal ranges from the more normal (dominance, charming, and innuendo of oral sex) to the strange (blood fetishes, sadomasochism, and necrophilia). All claims can be justified in some way or another.As part of Dresser's research, she asked people what they found so appealing about the vampire. The answers she reports reveal incredible diversity. Qualities mentioned include: eroticism, immortality, power, victimization, beauty, elegance, romanticism, the supernatural, mystery, and the unknown. Of these, three were mentioned most often, the first of which was sexual attraction. People found the biting and blood-sucking element of the vampire extremely sexual. They also found the fact that vampires are immortal quite appealing. This should come as no surprise, given that we live in an age where science strives to prolong lives as our population continues to age.

The third major appeal of the vampire is power. The vampire's dominance in the biting of its victim was especially highlighted in this category. All three of these appeals are supported with extensive testimony by vampire fans. "People have even gone as far as saying that vampires are the spawn or disciples of the Antichrist. A good example of this in modern days would be the movie "Dracula 2001" where Judas Isacrot is Dracula.There are types of vampires worldwide. So how did these cultures get the same ideas of a blood sucking soulless demon when they were so isolated from each other? Most people believe vampires are like humans and have merely adapted to different regions. Others believe that vampires are fallen angels or children of fallen angels sent to balance the scales. So why do I think vampires still exist? Because I believe that not every shadow is human. In every alley there where always be a Dracula so long as the thirst for blood haunts people's dreams. So long as someone dreams of an inhuman monster vampires will truly exsist. So long as there is fear... Comments (4)

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