Comments on: Poll: Let’s Talk Vampires

By: Kelly Melcher

Kelly Melcher — Fri, 20 May 2011 22:56:34 +0000

James, that’s an interesting concept. I’d even be interested to see/read a story to that effect. Most stories only mention a long parallel past of human and vampire, prey and predator but don’t really discuss evolution of vampires. I really enjoy a good origin story, I’d love to learn how someone envisions vampires came about, even if it’s just in their fictional universe. So, to answer your question, I don’t see why that couldn’t be a valid argument.

In the context of evolution do you envision the story being horror or fantasy?

By: james rozzo

james rozzo — Fri, 20 May 2011 20:56:47 +0000

could darwin’s theory of evolution work here? survival of the fitest. Once in a great while a person is born with a major defect, like a cow with 5 legs etc. could the first vampire been born with a major defect of not being human. the first new species of human???

By: Paige MacGregor

Paige MacGregor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:36:30 +0000

I have to agree with the previous posts. Although placing Vampires in both the fantasy and horror genre might be viewed by some as the easy way out, straddling the fence instead of taking a position and defending it, Jason’s point about the type of setting in which a Vampire appears determining the genre of the vampire itself is an extremely valid one.

Take for example the vampires of Christopher Moore’s “Bloodsucking Fiends” and “You Suck”. The vampires in these books feed only on the blood of the already sick and dying and focus mostly on trying to avoid the sunlight, affording an apartment, and navigating the waters of your average (as average as a relationship between two vampires can be) romantic relationship.

These books are different from all of the books, shows, movies and characters you mentioned in your post because the main focus is really comedy. Christopher Moore writes sidesplitting dry humor that takes virtually every frightening aspect away from the vampires in his books. The situations, supporting characters, and dialogue of Moore’s stories place his vampires smack in the middle of the comedic fiction/romantic comedy genres.

Contemplating where vampires “belong” is like contemplating where ninjas or zombies inherently belong (you’re probably thinking horror, but read Ryan Mecum’s book “Zombie Haiku: Good Poetry for Your… Brains” and you’ll be having second thoughts about that). The genre is a characteristic of a work itself, not of its individual elements. It’s that old the whole being more than the sum of its parts thing.

Hope that helps, and thanks for reading my posts!

Paige

By: Jason Dorough

Jason Dorough — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:32:52 +0000

I think vampires, as an entity / species / whatever, are independent of genre. It is the surrounding story that determines the genre in which they appear. The vampires in the Elder Scrolls games, for example, are fantasy, due to the heavily fantasy laden nature of their surrounding setting and story. Anne Rice’s vampires, on the other hand, would be horror, because, to a great degree, The Vampire Chronicles are all about the horror and beauty of their existence and unlives. And Twilight? I’d have to drop Edward and his kin firmly into the Mary Sue genre, if one exists ;)

By: Jacquie

Jacquie — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:36:45 +0000

Oh my dears cousin,

I do love how your mind works. This very question that you ponder leads me to the answer that vampires are both. The classification of horror and vampires are most common and usually when people think of a blood sucking creature they become apprehensive, uncomfortable their mind lead them to the darkness of evil and the fear of mutilation. Although in it’s own way this has a desirable appeal, the appeal is a bit tainted. The evilness of ones ability and desire to devour another with out even a flinch of remorse is horror real or fiction.

Yet the cross over of vampires into these more human like beings bring at least to me a different appeal, it brings another level into play a level of control of conscious decision making, an ability to understand ones instinct but to choose a different path. A path that entails the vampire itself to be the one making a sacrificed rather than sacrificing another. It is romantic and thus i believe it not to be horror.

Although i enjoy the ability Dracula has to make me question if i want to walk down that dark alley at tonight wondering what blood sucker might be coming out for it’s nightly feeding. The ability Edward has to make me long for someone so passionate and full of self control even if he want to suck my blood is not at all the same category

Love ya,

JAM