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24 HOURS VANCOUVER: ROMANCE FUELS THE VAMPIRE GENRE

Posted April 27th, 2009 By: Evie 6 Comments »

24 Hours Vancouver has a great article about what draws us so strongly to Twilight and the vampire genre overall:

 

Considering Twilight is the top-grossing vampire film of all time, and the books’ author, Stephenie Meyer, was the best-selling novelist of 2008, it’s obvious the love affair between the undead Edward and his mortal girlfriend, Bella, has mass appeal. But just why are fans so keen to sink their teeth into the saga?

“For some reason, Stephenie Meyer has caught on with a sort of Harlequin vampire,” said Hector Williams, a professor of classical archeology at the University of British Columbia who specializes in vampires. “It’s a new form that’s been put with an attractive group of young people. Before that, vampires tended to be middle-aged or older.”

Williams said the Twilight phenomenon doesn’t surprise him but that it’s only one of many versions of the fanged bloodsucker that have seduced the public.

“Vampires have been around for centuries,” he said. “[They’ve had an appeal] for the last 200 years.”

According to Williams, the original vampire emerged in the Balkans and was usually a peasant who sporadically bit into victims’ chests.

However, the traditional vampire during this time wasn’t particularly feared and was actually considered to be a bit of a jokester.

“They could be [lethal] but they weren’t the deadly figure they became,” Williams said. “They were more of a nuisance than a menace. They played pranks and curdled the milk.”

It wasn’t until the 19th Century, following a short story written by Lord Byron, that the modern rendering of the vampire as suave, sophisticated and upper class was born.

“People started to write about [vampires],” Williams said. “It got picked up in European literature.”

Yet Williams credited the aristocratic Dracula with being the first character to really establish society’s vampire fascination.

“It really took off after Bram Stoker in 1897,” he said.

Since then, Williams stated the romance surrounding vampires has been steadily evolving.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

(Thanks Boo!)

I do think there is a mysterious appeal to some vampires, but I don’t think I’ve ever been attracted to a vampire story like I am to the Twilight Saga. In fact, I don’t see that attraction to Twilight or in particular, Edward, ending anytime soon!

What do you think of this article? Do you think they got it right, why we love Twilight so much?







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  • creamy

    Of course I have heard of all these vampire stories, but I have never read a single one before Twilight.

    I didn’t read Twilight because it had vampires. My daughter suggested it and I tried it. For me, the vampire aspect is just a device in the story. It only weighs in slightly more than anything else.

    It is pretty cool that Edward is so strong, he knows he can protect Bella from just about anything. Of course the flip side is he might kill her himself. I like that he is so fast. It was a big help with the van situation, and when they run through the forest. He is so gorgeous because he is a vampire, bait for the prey.

    But, the immortality part is not that much a draw. Except when Bella changes and they have all eternity to be together. With their super enhanced mental abilities, I wonder sometimes how they don’t get bored with so little to occupy their time, but they aren’t human, so it’s difficult to process.

    Stephenie created some pretty cool vampires for her stories, but as I read them over and over, I forget they are vampires. More than anything else, they are characters in a love story. The vamp thing just isn’t that big of a deal.

  • she runs with vampires

    Wow! I loved this!!! Thank you so much for sharing this story. Hector Williams was a key contributor to an mini-doc that HBO did last summer right after their premier of TRUE BLOOD which is a mini-series about Vampires main-streaming based off of the Charlaine Harris series “Dead Until Dark” — NOT MEANT FOR YOUNGER ONES, DEFINITELY RATED R. (BY the way, if you are a vampire lover, the series is FANTASTIC, funny and sexy and a great tide-you-over till New Moon comes out in theatres.) Anyway, Hector Williams gave all of these super facts and histories about vampires.

    Interesting to know that before Twilight, Vampires were a favorite amongst middle aged or older. I’ve had an attraction and fascination for them since I was in my teens starting with “The Lost Boys”, Gary Oldman as “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, Blade, Underworld, and more. That made me feel better about my love of Twilight – It seems pretty harmless compared to the others I’ve read and watched, huh?

  • looneygirl

    I have always had a thing for Vampires. As a kid I was scared of the dark and even the mention of ghosts freaked me out…but Vampires always fascinated me. Think it must be something to do with being the “ultimate bad boys”. The only reason I read Twilight in the first place was because a friend mentioned she was reading a book about Vampires. I asked to borrow it and that was it – I was hooked. Before Twilight my fav Vamp movie was “Interview with a Vampire”…Brad Pitt as a vampire, sigh…swoon! But this story beats every Vamp movie I have ever seen because it is primarily about LOVE. The soppy old romantic in me just can’t get enough…

  • darlenecullen

    I do agree with creamy. Everyone kept telling me to read these books and I just wasn’t interested,until a friend of mine said she needed a baby sitter one night. I asked her where she was going, and she told me “TWILIGHT’S” opening in the movies. I asked her, what is the big deal, about this vampire story? She told me it was the most beautiful love story ever. That’s what got me to read these books, and I haven’t stopped yet.

  • vlmarsee

    Ok I have to agree that I do love Edward but he is not my main Vampire he will and always will be Lestat. It was 1989 when I discovered Anne Rice and Lestat of course I knew Bram Stoker and I had seen other Vampire things old black and white movies and such but when I read the Vampire Lestat is when I began my obsession. I actually did not want to read the Twilight books because they were meant for a younger audience and I knew they would not carry the oomph that I was used to in my Vampire but finally last week my friend brought all 4 books to my house and said I can’t take it anymore you have to read these. And now I can’t sleep again my waking and sleeping mind is consumed what is it about these Vamps that get under your skin and never come out. I love Edward but I see the hero of the story as Bella she is amazing literally born to be a Vampire. I loved all 4 books and now I am rereading Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles sorry I like my Vampires just a bit more dirty

  • creamy

    vlmarsee: I have never read another vampire story, I was never drawn to one as such. But, based on your post, I will probably give them a try. It is a bit funny that Anne Rice is mentioned two or three times in Twilight. Edward was aware at least!

    And, as much as Bella and Edward are certainly my focus for these books, as I think about it, I have to say I think Alice is the hero. She has major “saving” scenes in all the books. Just think without her, Edward would have died in New Moon. Just consider all the things she did. I hope the part of Alice in the rest of the movies is reflected more as it was written.

 

 

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