Bloodsuckers... Without the Blood

What is with our society’s obsession with the supernatural and undead? Year round there are novels, television shows, and films about ghosts, zombies, vampires, and anything else that goes bump in the night. Although my generation grew up with some interest in the paranormal as evident in the Goosebumps series and the television show “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”, popular culture has now turned this simple fascination into a full blown industry and obsession. It seems as though there is no longer a need to save scary films and television specials for Halloween, as year round a new horror film or teen novel is out giving teenage girls, and even a few guys, the idea that vampires, werewolves, and the like are simply interesting and sexy.

            The supernatural creatures that have experienced this the most is the vampires. No longer are these bloodsuckers seen as terrifying creatures of the night that seduce their victims in order to maintain youth, vampires are now perceived to be misunderstood creatures looking for love with a few benefits (blood, sex, etc.) that sparkle when exposed to the sun as opposed to burning to ashes. Although not all vampires have been introduced as such in popular culture, this is just the general perception of this particular category of undead. One aspect that apparently has not been altered is the vampires’ ability to seduce victims or lovers simply by utilizing their looks.

            Although that is what the literal interpretation of a vampire has become, we fail to acknowledge there is more to a “vampire” than being extremely attractive and sucking one’s blood. There is the idea of draining the life, or youthfulness, out of a person so that the vampire may maintain their looks and appear younger than what they truly are. Once all the life is drained from the victim, the victim is disposed of entirely as they are seen to be of no use to the vampire any longer as well as others. This can be interpreted in a realistic sense. Vampires do what they want to make sure that they survive and care for no one else’s needs but their own. Sound familiar? So often we hear about the ridiculous conditions workers of other nations are forced to go through simply because the CEO or head of the particular department could care less what actually happens to the workers so long as the amount of money received continues to increase for themselves. This level of selfishness and draining of one’s energy and life shows the prominence of symbolic vampirism.

            This new outlook reminds me of Lord of the Flies in such a way I would have never understood back in 7^th grade. The young boys stranded on the island are stripped of their simple adolescence and are forced to become mature young adults that can take care of one another. Before you know it, these same young boys become corrupted with the demand for power and respect that they can no longer be seen as youthful and exuberant, but as cruel and demanding. It is terrifying to think that responsibility has symbolically drained the life from the older set of boys, while the naïve younger boys are forced to suffer the consequences for not maturing as swiftly as the others. This vampirism is quite similar to that in which Foster explained in the book.

            Now that I understand vampirism can be interpreted symbolically and literally, it is easy for me to see that we live in a world full of vampires, whether we like to admit it or not.

http://stottilien.com/2013/07/24/6805/

Quests...Quests Everywhere!

    When I began reading How to Read Literature Like A Professor by Thomas C. Foster, I had no idea that it would bring back memories of previous English classes. I assumed that I would be reading a book that drones on about how to read a particular text with no actual explanation and no real life connection. Once I opened the book and began to analyze the information, I realized that the assumption was incorrect in every way.

    The first chapter alone has had me recount all of the valuable information I learned back in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade English classes. My former teachers would be so proud to know that I now understand what they meant and expected when they told the class to analyze the text on a deeper level. Simple-minded middle school me may not have understood what was asked, but soon-to-be a high school senior me understands. 

     The topic of quests in literature and films have followed me since middle school. It began with learning the different plot setups on a basic level. Then the analysis became more intense once we reached Ancient Greek literature, in particular epic poetry, and Shakespearean writings. It was from this basis that I learned how common quests were for any novel or movie, not matter what the genre. Novels such as The Hobbit seemed to have connected with films like Spider-Man, even if the connection originally seemed far fetched. 

     One novel that I can finally understand the deeper meaning for is Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. Little 7th grade me is joyous at the fact that I can now claim to understand what my former teacher was asking of me without any question, even if it did take almost five years. The setup of the plot follows the quest formula quite well even with a few alterations in the form of plot twists. There are the questers, Meggie and Mo; the intended location which originally it was to Meggie's Aunt Elinor's home, but over time it changes to a secret village; the stated reason which was to fix a few old books;

challenges to be faced which were Capricorn, selfish and evil man, and his men; and of course the real reason for the journey, to end the torture in which Capricorn has inflicted upon Mo and his friends, as well as discovering that Meggie has the same abilities as her father.

    Once I truly acknowledged this setup, it became so obvious how so many book series and movie franchises use this exact outline to make their novels and films major hits. The power that this plot setup has is evident in franchises and "fandoms" such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Although both series started out as novels, they turned into full on hits that were able to be converted into films for all of the world to see. No one seemed to question what assisted the growth in popularity for the two franchises, but now it becomes clear that having a simple plot outline mixed in with witty and mythical characters as well as dramatic plot twists was something all readers and moviegoers could admit to be popular.

Now all I can do is laugh at how oblivious I was to the popularity of quests and enjoy that the previous five years of English are about to truly pay off.

http://www.teachwithmovies.org/heros-journey-and-archetypes.html