Gothic Elements In Dracula
English Assignment – Dracula Feature Article Brianna Moore
Francis Ford Coppola’s modern adaption of Bram Stoker’s 19th century gothic text captivates audiences by uncovering the layers of Dracula’s depiction as a tragic hero and exploring the dimensions of darkness existing in the story’s most innocent protagonists.
What modern gothic elements were used to demonstrate the conflict between religion with its emphasise on purity and the immorality and maleficence of vampirism?
The most drastic departure from Stoker’s original text was prevalent in my incorporation of a flashback to Dracula’s pre-vampire history as Vlad. This was an arc of dark romanticism for the character. It also provided purpose to Dracula’s status as the film’s eternal …show more content…
My primary purpose was to establish the responses that vampires evoked from those around them: seduction, obsession and erotic behaviour. These taboos resonate with modern audiences and constitute substantive gothic themes. “. Vampirism contaminating humanity. ”
First of all, there was explicit conflict between the different perceptions of sexuality, as they related to Dracula and other vampires. While the heroes admonished vampires, key characters succumbed to their seduction throughout the film.
Most notably, Lucy was portrayed from the outset as an overtly flirtatious character. As Dracula’s first victim, she embraced her sexuality and actively sought out vampirism. Simple aesthetic features were effective to convey her sensuality. Her clothing was mostly flamboyant reds and other provocative colours, especially after her initial encounter with the devil. These colours have a connotation with blood and deviousness. Lucy similarly utilised wordplay with her male suitors to evidence her intemperance. Her character’s carnality was emphasised for the purpose of entertaining and shocking modern …show more content…
Accordingly, why were marriage and gender significant themes within your visual adaption of Stoker’s text?
Dracula’s focus on the seduction of young women was evidence of the historical weakness of females. Meanwhile, the sanctity of marriage protected females’ innocence, particularly for women such as Mina. The power of marriage is undoubtedly an enormous reason for why Mina never transformed into a vampire. Conversely, characters such as Lucy – who were unmarried –failed to escape Dracula’s evil. This juxtaposition was depicted through the crosscutting shots of Mina and Jonathan’s wedding, and Dracula murdering Lucy.
An opposing idea is the film’s uncharacteristic portrayal of female’s strength and representation of male anxiety over female divergence from traditional social roles. “. I wanted to further exploit the progressive way in which Stoker underpinned gender roles.
Francis Ford Coppola’s modern adaption of Bram Stoker’s 19th century gothic text captivates audiences by uncovering the layers of Dracula’s depiction as a tragic hero and exploring the dimensions of darkness existing in the story’s most innocent protagonists.
What modern gothic elements were used to demonstrate the conflict between religion with its emphasise on purity and the immorality and maleficence of vampirism?
The most drastic departure from Stoker’s original text was prevalent in my incorporation of a flashback to Dracula’s pre-vampire history as Vlad. This was an arc of dark romanticism for the character. It also provided purpose to Dracula’s status as the film’s eternal …show more content…
My primary purpose was to establish the responses that vampires evoked from those around them: seduction, obsession and erotic behaviour. These taboos resonate with modern audiences and constitute substantive gothic themes. “. Vampirism contaminating humanity. ”
First of all, there was explicit conflict between the different perceptions of sexuality, as they related to Dracula and other vampires. While the heroes admonished vampires, key characters succumbed to their seduction throughout the film.
Most notably, Lucy was portrayed from the outset as an overtly flirtatious character. As Dracula’s first victim, she embraced her sexuality and actively sought out vampirism. Simple aesthetic features were effective to convey her sensuality. Her clothing was mostly flamboyant reds and other provocative colours, especially after her initial encounter with the devil. These colours have a connotation with blood and deviousness. Lucy similarly utilised wordplay with her male suitors to evidence her intemperance. Her character’s carnality was emphasised for the purpose of entertaining and shocking modern …show more content…
Accordingly, why were marriage and gender significant themes within your visual adaption of Stoker’s text?
Dracula’s focus on the seduction of young women was evidence of the historical weakness of females. Meanwhile, the sanctity of marriage protected females’ innocence, particularly for women such as Mina. The power of marriage is undoubtedly an enormous reason for why Mina never transformed into a vampire. Conversely, characters such as Lucy – who were unmarried –failed to escape Dracula’s evil. This juxtaposition was depicted through the crosscutting shots of Mina and Jonathan’s wedding, and Dracula murdering Lucy.
An opposing idea is the film’s uncharacteristic portrayal of female’s strength and representation of male anxiety over female divergence from traditional social roles. “. I wanted to further exploit the progressive way in which Stoker underpinned gender roles.