Why Are Vampires So Popular In Our Society
Vampires have stepped out of the darkness and into the Hollywood spotlight by dominating best-selling books, television shows, and movies. Since the beginning of civilization vampires existed as a metaphor for beliefs concerning life and death and societal issues. They evoke images of beautiful seductive creatures with fangs that seduce in their prey, with their mesmerizing stare along with their charm, wit, and most importantly good looks. Vampires have also evolved to fit into societal trends. But why are vampires so popular in todays world? In L.J Smith's Vampire Diaries series and Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series vampires are characterized as romantic heroes whose main objective is to protect those they love rather than undead monsters. Because of
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their immortality, mystery, modern entertainment, vampires continue to be popular in todays world.
In early centuries when epidemics were spreading and people were dieing, many needed an escape from reality. They feared their lives, as they saw their friends and family die in front of them. It became clear to them that death could not be escaped. They needed an ideal hero who would be immune to death. As expressed by Del Toro and Hogan, "Monsters, like angels are invoked by own individual and collective needs" (362). In this case, the individuals needed an escape from their harsh reality. In other words, they needed to be immortal to survive. Therefore, vampires became their heroic figures. Throughout the years, vampires have evolved but our desire to be immortal has not changed. The desire of possessing the quality of immortality have made us obsessed with transforming "our vile, mortal selves into the gold of eternal youth" (Del Toro and Hogan 362). As humans we come into this world to end up dieing but if we were able to turn into vampires we can live forever. As we read and watch series of vampires we become even more intrigued with the idea of immortality because of the way the modern entertainment portrays it to us.
The entertainment industry knows how to sell to their audience. Recently the images of vampires are that of a sexy vampire who is trying to pass off as a human in a high school setting like those portrayed in the popular series, Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. Series like these captivate people just like soap operas, creating an addiction. The addiction is caused by an internal love with the story line. According to the article, Vampires Never Die, vampires can be found on cereal boxes to soap operas (Del Toro and Hogan 363). This creates a wide target range. The media promises its audience “something everlasting, something truly eternal" (Del Toro and Hogan 362). In settings like these the human falls in love with the vampire without knowing of the vampires secret. In return the vampire not only charms the human with its perfect, mysterious looks, and etiquette manners but also falls in love with the human. Although we are suckers for a good romantic drama, the a sense of mystery keeps us watching.
As humans we love mystery.
Modern entertainment has made sure to deliver to our demands. They have chosen to make vampires the leading immortal and romantic heroes to have us hooked to the television and any piece of writing. Leading entertainment industries understand that we are intrigued by the vampire because of their immortalness. By making the vampire a mysterious hollywood heartthrob popularity of the vampire has increased in todays society. The first feeling you get from a vampire is, “who is that?” Instinctively you want to find out more about them, who they really are, and their story. Once the vampire secret is out the audience has already fallen for the vampire. But why? The media knows that young women “love the image of a damaged, morally questionable young man who nevertheless can serve as her protector while she reforms him” (Alexander). In the modern day, young adults fantasize to meet an ideal lover like the ones vampires portray in today's television series. They dream to meet the perfect mate that can protect them from anything Modern entertainment has made the vampire a sexy creature with a bad boy/girl connotation that protects those he loves evolving from an undead monster to a romantic
hero. Throughout centuries vampires have been seen as undead monsters that feed off innocent human blood. But in todays world they seem to be able to hold on to their humanity making them romantic heroes and creatures humans adore. Because of the new era and how vampires are portrayed today along with their immortality, golden looks, and romantic heroism they continue to roam the big screens of hollywood.
their immortality, mystery, modern entertainment, vampires continue to be popular in todays world.
In early centuries when epidemics were spreading and people were dieing, many needed an escape from reality. They feared their lives, as they saw their friends and family die in front of them. It became clear to them that death could not be escaped. They needed an ideal hero who would be immune to death. As expressed by Del Toro and Hogan, "Monsters, like angels are invoked by own individual and collective needs" (362). In this case, the individuals needed an escape from their harsh reality. In other words, they needed to be immortal to survive. Therefore, vampires became their heroic figures. Throughout the years, vampires have evolved but our desire to be immortal has not changed. The desire of possessing the quality of immortality have made us obsessed with transforming "our vile, mortal selves into the gold of eternal youth" (Del Toro and Hogan 362). As humans we come into this world to end up dieing but if we were able to turn into vampires we can live forever. As we read and watch series of vampires we become even more intrigued with the idea of immortality because of the way the modern entertainment portrays it to us.
The entertainment industry knows how to sell to their audience. Recently the images of vampires are that of a sexy vampire who is trying to pass off as a human in a high school setting like those portrayed in the popular series, Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. Series like these captivate people just like soap operas, creating an addiction. The addiction is caused by an internal love with the story line. According to the article, Vampires Never Die, vampires can be found on cereal boxes to soap operas (Del Toro and Hogan 363). This creates a wide target range. The media promises its audience “something everlasting, something truly eternal" (Del Toro and Hogan 362). In settings like these the human falls in love with the vampire without knowing of the vampires secret. In return the vampire not only charms the human with its perfect, mysterious looks, and etiquette manners but also falls in love with the human. Although we are suckers for a good romantic drama, the a sense of mystery keeps us watching.
As humans we love mystery.
Modern entertainment has made sure to deliver to our demands. They have chosen to make vampires the leading immortal and romantic heroes to have us hooked to the television and any piece of writing. Leading entertainment industries understand that we are intrigued by the vampire because of their immortalness. By making the vampire a mysterious hollywood heartthrob popularity of the vampire has increased in todays society. The first feeling you get from a vampire is, “who is that?” Instinctively you want to find out more about them, who they really are, and their story. Once the vampire secret is out the audience has already fallen for the vampire. But why? The media knows that young women “love the image of a damaged, morally questionable young man who nevertheless can serve as her protector while she reforms him” (Alexander). In the modern day, young adults fantasize to meet an ideal lover like the ones vampires portray in today's television series. They dream to meet the perfect mate that can protect them from anything Modern entertainment has made the vampire a sexy creature with a bad boy/girl connotation that protects those he loves evolving from an undead monster to a romantic
hero. Throughout centuries vampires have been seen as undead monsters that feed off innocent human blood. But in todays world they seem to be able to hold on to their humanity making them romantic heroes and creatures humans adore. Because of the new era and how vampires are portrayed today along with their immortality, golden looks, and romantic heroism they continue to roam the big screens of hollywood.