All Things Vampire, the Pop Culture Obsession

Throughout the year people have clamored around different popular culture icons, from princesses (Disney) to super hero space fighters (Star Wars and Star Trek), but no figure has reached the heightened popularity and hysteria of today's vampire.  

My friend Alex informed me I had to watch The Vampire Diaries, this has honestly, up until now, been the only vampire television series I have not watched.  My hesitancy with adding this show to my list has to do with the way in which this trend has caught on so rapidly.  Most of major vampire fiends are young teenage girls (or adult women) who fall for the beautiful boys cast in the lead roles.  In the current gamut of shows and films, the young girls are waiting for Edward Cullen or Damon Salvatore to consume their life blood, and posses their mind body, and soul.  An incredibly unhealthy metaphor that young women seem to be sinking their teeth into too easily.

Before I lambaste a whole group or even roast a television series, or film series' popularity it's time to explore the origin of vampires. Within the Vampire Encyclopedia (yes there is an Encyclopedia for everything)  Silver and Ursini stated "The notion of vampirism has existed for millennia; cultures such as the Mesopotamians, Hebrews, Ancient Greeks, and Romans had tales of demons and spirits which are considered precursors to modern vampires. However, despite the occurrence of vampire-like creatures in these ancient civilizations, the folklore for the entity we know today as the vampire originates almost exclusively from early-18th-century southeastern Europe."Based on research the modern vampire (originally entitled vampyre) did not exist until the late 18th Century in Eastern Europe.  

To boil down then when, where, and why of the origin of vampires could be told in anthologies of books.  Mythologies have existed all over the world, but their true birth in "popularity" came in 1897 with the publication of Bram Stoker's "Dracula."  Stoker's book portrays vampires, specifically Dracula's vampirism as a disease or possession of the human body.  The books undertones of sex, blood lust, and disease were seen as metaphors for tuberculosis and syphilis during the Victorian Era. Stoker's tale was based on a mixture of different mythologies, but this book is the birth of the modern vampire in film and television.  Dracula is so popular, the character has been used in more than any other character except, Sherlock Holmes.

To chronicle each and every Dracula reference would be another time consuming task, but the first was the silent German film Nosferatu (1922).  Although the film changes or alters the name of the character the vampire in the film is meant to be Dracula.  A film chronicling the making of Nosferatu entitled Shadow of the Vampire (2000) chronicles the actors own thoughts on himself as a vampire and his evolution into being consumed with the vampire myth.  The most popular old Hollywood film was Dracula (1931) which starred Bela Lugosi, with Dracula in his first speaking role.

While Dracula has seen many incarnations there have been other different vampiric characters who brought about an evolution of the vampire myths.  Dark Shadows, a Daytime drama (1967-1971) portrayed lead vampire Barnabis Collins as poetic tortured soul.  Like the way the Victorian Era inspired Bram Stoker, the late 60s and early 70s laid the ground work for a new vampire story.  During this time, many did not trust the government, and this concept of this evil vampire sucking the blood (or life) out of folks was the government.  No doubt that this show, and the books from Marilyn Ross challenged this trend.

The same can be said for Ann Rice's "Vampire Chronicles" which spanned from 1976 until 2003, and included such popular titles as "Interview with the Vampire" and "Queen of of the Damned" (both were made into films).  The best way to explain the evolutionary understanding of Rice's work is to look at her book/the film Interview with a Vampire.  In both telling there are two main vampires Lestat and Louie.  Louie (who was played by Pitt in the film) can be seen as the tragic vampire who while living it up at one point, and enjoying his life, finally realizes his own tragic journey; he tries to break off from the evil and blood lusting Lestat, the more traditionally dark vampire.  While vampires do not have a soul in many of these modern adaptations there is something within many of them which has made them more kind or poetic.  They find love, although they are still seen as the living dead.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the next step.  There was a film in 1992, but the more popular version is the television series, and eventual comic book (1997-2003) starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as well, a vampire slayer.  The show from creator Joss Whedon is the best interpretation of the vampire myth.  While the show focuses on the vampire huntress Buffy, and her group of friends, the show uses the different mythical beings to represent the different difficulties of being a teenager.  Of course Buffy falls for two different vampires, Angel and Spike (team Angel all the way).  Within the series Buffy is also a kick ass independent female who while her killing Angel shatters her, she is one of the strongest female characters of all time.

The television True Blood is based on the Sookie Stackhouse Series, and while I have only read the first book, the television series has far surpassed the popularity of the books.  While vampires are at the center of the show, there are also witches, werewolves, and shifters, oh my!  True Blood's mythical creatures are the modern answer to what it means to be different in today's society.  True Blood explores the concept of a world where synthetic blood exists, and vampires are part of the manstream culture, a regular minority group like being gay.  The show takes on that deep meaning of what it means to be different using the myth to help tell the story.

Twilight from Stephanie Meyer represent the most popular book/film series about the subject matter, and have evolved in a different way.  People fight over Jacob or Edward for Bella Swan.   Twilight represents the common vampire lore the least, while making Bella and empty shell of a human being who clings to a man with whom she hopes he will drain the life out of her and make her into a vampire.  I am not going to lay into theTwilight series completely, but the popularity of these books, along with the films have further pushed the vampire to the next level in popular culture, leading to even more television shows, books, and film.

While I am new to The Vampire Diaries, the show seems similar to the Twilight concept with a lot more edge, and better characters.  The lead character Elena is caught between two brothers who are vampires, Stefan and Damon.  In the third episode Stefan  writes in his journal "I am looking for a shred of humanity in my brother."  This episode and the beginnings of this show prove the yearning for the male vampire to be something different, although this brother relationship feels similar to the relationship between Lestat and Louie in "Interview with a Vampire."  Even in the fourth episode Damon is reading Twilight pokes fun at it and states Ann Rice had it right.  The show (at the moment) proves there is a battle to find the soul within these lifeless creatures.

Where does this heart and soul come from?  Why do people find such an intense connection, with character who still the life and soul of their victims? The goal for authors and creators of these many different vampiric characters is to provide a deeper context for who they are, and where they came from.  In the past many have tried to paint characters as villains without giving a back story, and sometimes that works for the sake of art, but villainy is complex.  There are numerous examples, in which "evil" is given a back story, and changes the opinion of the past.

Look at the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.  In the 1939 film and book from L, Frank Baum she was truly just an evil woman. In the book "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" from Gregory Maguire (which eventually became the musical Wicked) we see the story from another perspective, which humanizes this once vilified character.  People flock to read the book, and see the musical, maybe because they want to believe there is even in the darkest people there is still good.  There is also the thought that people want to connect with something familiar, and by changing up the origin story (ever so slightly) you help connect people to their youth, nostalgia.  

For me the questions up above are a bit complex.  The quote from Vampire Diaries about vampires is the connection most people have.  They want to find the heart and soul in these "dead" men.  Luckily producers no longer cast ugly older men, but hot young guys to allow people to be able to connect with or fall in love with and find the soul in the vampires.  Lead vampire characters are typically men, Bill, Lestat, Louis, Barnabis, Edward, Angel, Spike, Eric Northman, Stefan, Damon, and many more, proving at the end of the day these dark brooding characters while after blood and "life" can be changed by the a young pretty girl. I must add I am guilty of this trend, Eric Northman is hot, the same can be said for Angel from Buffy and Angel.  These once dark and brooding characters have "souls" and make their once dark pasts forgettable.  These vampires are the bad boys who have had hundreds of years to evolve because they are tired of the same old thing.

There is more than just the brooding attractive male vampire, although I can see the appeal. Many shows have social undertones, which make the shows even more important.   Buffy was funny, and as a teenager at the time I connected with the mores Joss Whedon used. Alan Ball's True Blood I watch because most of the undertones are about vampires as the "others" and for Ball the othered member are LGBT folks.   Vampires are being used as a metaphor for many different things, which helps the masses get a better understanding of the issues today.

Looking at this one mythical creature and their pop culture evolution is fascinating minus Twilight vampires who shine like glitter in the sunlight, really?  There is something about these mythical creatures which has people fascinated, or maybe we have all just been glamoured.

A Tribute to Great Films: The Philadelphia Story (1940)

In a time when comedy is cheap and laughs come at the expense of the audience few films resemble the classic romantic comedy, The Philadelphia Story.  The film, directed by George Cukor (My Fair Lady, Adam’s Rib, A Star is Born, and Born Yesterday) follows socialite Tracy Lord (Katherine Hepburn) whose wedding plans are complicated by her husband C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) involving himself and tabloid writer Macaulay Connor (Jimmy Stewart) and tabloid photographer Elizabeth Imbrie (Ruth Hussey).  The combination of these plot elements make for one of the funniest/sweetest films of all time.  The film was nominated for 6 Academy Award including Best Picture and Best Director.

The plot of this film centers around gossip within high society, and the way it impacts people being themselves.  In this film (based on the play) Tracy’s father has taken up with a dancer in New York City, and has walked away from the family for the time being.  As the wedding draws near he finally returns, but Tracy hopes to keep her families name out of the tabloids, and move forward with class and dignity, even though she herself had a messy divorce.

The film has a modern sensibility, and proves that throughout time motifs are transient.  I have not seen 1956 film, High Society, that retools this story, but I doubt the film can measure up (I am hesitatingly adding it to my watch list). The film The Women (1939), was directed by the same director, and was given a more modern retelling in 2008 with the likes of Meg Ryan, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and audiences did not turn out in droves.  Films are often remade because modern day audiences say things like “I don’t like old movies” or “Why should I watch a movie about something I can’t relate to, or that’s black and white?”  When I hear people say this about film, or specifically old movies I refer them to this film, and many of the other Hepburn comedies.  The spirit of this film shines with an eternal brightness, thanks in large part to the direction of the wonderful George Cukor. 

Cukor has had two distinguished monographs placed upon him.  During his time he was known as a “woman’s director.”  Cukor directed many great performances from Katherine Hepburn in films like this one, and Adam’s Rib; he also directed Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (the performance gained no Oscar nomination), Judy Garland in a Star is Born, the film The Women, and greats like Greta Garbo.  This is only a brief list of the women he worked with, but this man knew how to get the best out of these talented women.  Cukor abhorred this label, and was more proud of another accomplishment. Cukor is the director who has had the most actors go on to win in Lead Actor category: Jimmy Stewart-The Philadelphia Story, Ronald Coleman-A Double Life, and Rex Harrison-My Fair Lady.

Cukor’s career is one of the most fascinating careers, mainly because he had a role in the future direction of the classic films The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind, but is not credited as directing either film.  Cukor never shot a single scene for Oz, but he did make a few creative changes that would be instrumental to future of the film’s production.  Dorothy originally had a blonde wig, and wore fare more make-up, but Cukor told them to lose the wig, and had Garland stick with acting more youthful, and innocent.  Cukor also changed the make-up on the scarecrow, the wicked witch’s make-up, and her wig.  With Gone with the Wind Cukor was a perfectionist aiming to create the perfect world that was envisioned my author Margaret Mitchell.  Cukor spent numerous hours working with both Olvia de Haviland and Vivien Leigh to coach them; he also worked to get a southern accent out of Clark Gable, which is notably missing from the final production..  Cukor’s perfectionist style, created conflict with studio head David O. Selznick, thus allowing him to direct The Women, and start his career on a different path that lead to him working on this film with an incredibly talented cast.  These two stories are just a snapshot of what makes Cukor one of the most fascinating directors during his time, and fueled some of the great performances specifically within this film.

This film had an incredible ensemble and singling out any one of the performances is almost impossible the four main leads were all incredible.  The standout to me is the brilliant Katherine Hepburn; she is the rock of the film, and her comedic timing is something she is not given enough credit for.  Watching Hepburn deal with realizing that she has never been honest with her true self is one of the greatest evolutions to watch.  Hepburn received a Best Actress Oscar nomination (one of her 12) for this film, but did not win.  Tracy becomes well rounded, and her closing speech at the end to her party guests through the words of Dexter is so beautiful.

The only main character of the four main characters not to be nominated for and Oscar is the charismatic Cary Grant.  Grant plays a great foil to Tracy; he is witty to a fault and does a great job playing puppet master to at first cause trouble for Tracy, but down deep he involves himself with her because he still loves her.  Grant was only nominated twice for an Academy Award, but would only win an Honorary Oscar in 1970.   His snub for this film is a travesty.

While Cary Grant was not nominated for this film Jimmy Stewart was, and he won the Academy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.  Stewart’s Macaulay or Mike is the compass of the film; he is the writer in the film, and even though he is an outsider to the family you see most of the film through his lense.  Stewart’s always been a wonderfully capable actor, and plays the everyman better than anyone I have ever seen.  In this film he carries much of the working class observation on his shoulders, and allows for viewers to understand and really know the Lord family.

Most of this brilliance can be attributed to Academy Award winning screenplay,  This is one of my favorite screenplays of all time,   Screenwriter Donald Ogden Stewart knows how to weave to witty repartee, and the beautiful love story so well that you almost feel as though you are an intruder on this families hilarious yet beautiful experience.  I am beyond grateful Hollywood has not remade this film for the modern audience, and I hope some butcher never tries to have someone like Jennifer Anniston take on the Tracy Lord part, God help us all if this ever happens.