The Influence Of American Writers On The Way The Vampire Is Perceived By The Public
America’s connection with spirituality has not faded. In all reality, it has become more complex in recent years than it has before. This connection was boosted by the coming of the millennium and the fear this change would destroy the world as we know it. A greater interest in spiritual connections frequently accompanies this type of event. It may be true that organised religion is no longer exclusively important. The broad nature of spirituality has helped create many changes in the vampire genre. Americans seem to be no longer satisfied with the basic religious aspect of the argumentation of good versus evil. As Americans become more demanding, so does their interpretation of vampire and its needs.
Mental Health
Over the last decade, a dynamic relationship with psychological theory has emerged within American culture. These concepts are a new integral part of American identity. The vampire has begun to replicate this connection as they are more aware of themselves and their mental health. Traditionally, stories were told about vampires instead of from their perspective. We see that in Dracula, as the novel comprises of a number of diary entries and letters. In these sorts of stories the vampire is defined by judgment from external sources, instead of their inner workings revealed. Therefore, they became the epitome of inhuman. This psychological theory is a recent development so therefore it is not surprising that earlier accounts of the vampire did not include these internal aspects of the modern-day vampire. In the modern genre, the development and understanding of psychological theories have drastically altered the appearance of the vampire. Changes in the concepts of good, evil and personal responsibility have established an entirely new reality for these creatures.
The evil they display has become more complex and harder to define. In some cases, it seems that they may not be evil at all, only misunderstood. As we understand that psychological structures of humans are more complex than we originally anticipated. Our basic human notion of good and evil has been tested. We are no longer able to condemn the vampire to be evil without considering his actions. The line is now grey. Modern sciences have established a connection between vampirism and mental health. The act of drawing blood from an object and receiving resultant sexual excitement and pleasure. It is a condition form of schizophrenia and it was a condition for numerous serial killers. This sexual notion of this disorder plays an important part in the modern-day ideas of the vampire. In addition, the hyper-reality behaviour displayed by these so-called “vampires” has become a strong element in the genre. The idea that vampirism stems from mental illness makes it hard to rely on concepts of good versus evil to explain the actions of these individuals. The hunger explores the idea that vampirism is a scientific phenomenon as blood transfusions could enforce prolonged youth. In the Vampire Diaries, we see two sorts of Vampires side by side. The perceived evil one who has no redeemable qualities and the vampire who struggles with life and the way a vampire needs sustenance to stay alive. This shows that vampires are complex creatures and their choices in life reflect those a normal human who need to make. As vegetarians think harming an animal for food is inexcusable and others eat steaks as often as they can. This means that even their need for blood can be challenged. The novel series Southern Vampire pushes the notion of the vampire needed blood for food as they produce a synthetic brand of blood called True Blood. Which means that vampires no have a choice of how to get their food and keep alive. In this series, the vampires have become public and are shown on television, even though the traditional notion of unable to step into the sun prevails they are have pushed the boundaries on the two things mentioned previously. This also shows a connection between modern sciences and the progress they are making in the world, which has slowly seeped into the vampire genre.
With the concept of evil not being the only characteristic of the vampire. There are few certain notions of the vampire. They have newly discovered possibilities. They might kill or turn their victims. They may live in the shadows alone and only feed when needed. This change in the genre means that new authors of the genre are able to choose their own psychological issue. This allows the reader to connect to the character. The Gilda stories bring forth a new interesting concept as the heroine is black, a woman and a lesbian. Making her a unique character as these facets make her an outcast even in a normal setting. We see her at different times and lives trying to create her own identity even though her surroundings do not wish for her to have one. Some vampires are unique because their appearance who show nothing of their nature. Their fangs were the only indicator and even these could be hidden. There are intelligent and quite adept at manipulating situations to fit their own needs. At certain occasions, it may be in their interest to go undetected. Their newly discovered charismatic potential makes it easier for them to prey on innocent victims. The new addition of the psychological theory has changed the lives of vampires. The vampire has the chance to become anything or anyone it wants, it can go unnoticed and hide in plain sight. They have become more human and the original notion that all must be evil has been obliterated. Science has made its way to the vampire genre in different forms.
Sexuality
Throughout the history of vampire lore, gender and sexuality have played an important role in the appearance and behaviours of the vampire. Jewish history suggests that Lilith, the first female on earth was imbued with an evil spirit and therefore exiled from the Garden of Eden. She was unwilling to subdue herself to a man. In some cultures, the female race has been associated with immorality and therefore vampirism. Eventually, this religious belief changed and the vampire became a creature of fiction. In the Victorian era, instead of females being considered vampires, they had now mainly become its victims. The perception of sexuality was central to changes in the vampire genre in the 1970s when the treatment of gender and sexuality in vampire media changed.
When the female and homosexual communities became more prominent in their fight for civil rights. They fought to be free of traditional labels. These movements created a surge in a new sense of self-definition that would lead to traditional gender roles being rendered obsolete. As these groups fought to redefine general American opinion of them, it rippled through the heart of the vampire genre. In response to these newly discovered identities represented in vampire media, artist flocked to the genre. Female novelists became a new strong force in the realm of vampire literature. The return of the vampire as a romantic figure was in play. The novel series by Stephanie Meyer, Twilight shows us that the vampire is a deadly force but can choose not to be. They can choose not to bite in the interest of love or even salvation. Some might say that this new form is a downplayed version of the male gender. A feminised version. However, these people may be missing the point. As Rice states in Queen of the Damned, the title character says to the vampire Lestat, “Aggressive, full of hate and recklessness, and endlessly eloquent excuses for violence -- you are the essence of masculinity. '
Another change was that the female as a vampire gained more popularity with writers. Prior to this point, there were female vampires but they were almost exclusively minions to powerful male vampires. The traditional gender roles prevented female vampires from playing an important role. In the modern era, a deepening of the female identity has taken place. They are no longer confined to being housewives and the fight for being on equal footing with men. In Interview with a vampire, Claudia, who was turned at the age of five, lashes out towards her vampire father and therefore does not submit to male power. Through the eyes of the characters, we see what effects it has on the mind when the body cannot change. She is maturing but trapped in the body of a five-year-old. Real empowerment of the female gender in vampire media, came in the form of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show is a tale of being of age, all the while slaying vampire and saving the world. The character of Buffy goes through the motions of life as the embodiment of female power and giving a glimpse into what it means to be a female in the modern era.
A second group that became a powerful force in vampire media is the homosexual community. The earlier mentioned Gilda Stories with its lesbian lead shows that sadness and grief over treatment by the rest of society which is a direct correlation between the artist and their experiences. Though this media the homosexual community has been able to address the issues of sexuality. Jewelle Gomez’s goal was to try to push the boundaries for sexual identity. Over the course of the novel, the vampires develop a deep relationship but do not fully commit to their partners in the form of marriage. The changed concepts of sexuality in vampire media have brought about a surge of new interest in the character of the vampire. Rebelling against the constraints of society has always led to changes in media. These types of rebellion show what it truly means to be human, the idea of equality. Modern vampires show that sexual identity and matters of gender are complex. Sometimes, women are weak and sometimes they may be powerful, just as a man. The vampire is now open to a broader reality of relationships and the reality that these characters are doomed to remain isolated from the rest of the world. These changes in the nature of the vampire in the modern world made the genre more frightening enough though it has become more accessible.
Conclusion
Ever since the 1970s, the position of the vampire has changed a few different forms. Even though at the start of the change from Europe to America most of the traditional features of the vampire prevailed, American writers have changed the vampire and make the genre their own.
Their changes regarding spirituality have had an impact on the inner working of the vampire. We now get to know the vampires' feelings and even see the struggle with their own existence as shown in Interview with a vampire and Vampire Diaries. The link the United States has with spirituality shows itself in the vampire genre. The American fascination with mental health and the practise it followed. As the perspective of vampires changed to give it a voice. This change gives writers the opportunity to decide which aspect of the vampire they want to shine a light on. Regarding sexuality, the vampire has taken a turn in America. As females changed from apparent victims of predatory vampire to an empowered woman with the ability to fight vampires.
In some cases, they might even become the predator. The vampire became an exciting figure, a figure of romance. Teens began to swoon at the prospect of being near a vampire and the newest craze was started. Female writers and character were not the only ones to take to the vampire genre. The homosexual community wanted to test the boundaries of sexual identity in the vampire genre as was apparent in the Gilda stories. All in all the vampire has made a remarkable change under the influence of American writer as the vampire genre seemed to become an American phenomenon. The vampire seems subject to change as the newest craze or fascination influences this genre. American writers had an impact on the way the role of the vampire is perceived by the general public and the way the vampire is portrayed.
