Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Vampire Mythos
I find myself enjoying vampire-based stories less and less. Be they books, or video games, or movies or TV shows. There is just something about them in recent years that fails to impress me. I think it is very difficult nowadays for a writer to properly pull-off a vampire story because they want to be creative and unique and do something new while still utilizing very familiar character archetypes. The vampire mythos is a very strong one with a long and specific history. Vampires, for centuries, have been alluring, mysterious and frightening creatures; perfect characters for any writer. And although I do commend writers for trying to expand upon this mythos and offer something new, one has to wonder if there’s a reason why the mythology of vampires has remained so specific for hundreds of years. I was watching True Blood and although they do incorporate many vampirical “truths”, they do stray away from the mythology quite a bit. Enough so that at times it almost seems unnecessary that there are vampires involved in the story at all. And although Twilight completely fails in any and every conceivable way possible I do have to tip my hat a bit to Stephanie Meyer for going so far outside of the vampire mythos… like, way outside. She completely changed and/or ignored almost every aspect about what makes vampires vampires. Enough so that the entirety of the novels… books, let’s call them books – enough so that the entirety of the books and movies do not require there to be any vampires or any other supernatural beings involved at all. At all. There’s no reason for them to be vampires if you’re not going to use the vampire myth in any way. So I’ll give her credit for being brave… stupid, let’s call it stupid. But I really wish she had asked herself if vampire stories contain all those idiosyncratic things for a reason. I wish she had thought about why writers keep the mythos so specific. It’s because it works. The vampire mythology is old and seasoned and as good as it will ever be and writers need to be less concerned about being unique and being creative when it comes to using vampires. Just keep it true to its successful beginnings. And if you can’t, then don’t write about vampires at all. At all.
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So, my question to you JerBear is this: would you right a story involving the Vampyre?
ReplyDeletewell... Hurvos... i would say no. there's no need for me to do so. tho someday i might tackle a vampirical tale, but probably not, lol.
ReplyDeleteSorry if you don't recognize me by my moniker which you have never seen me use before: it is I, Daniel. I thought maybe the Jerbear would kindle a spark but alas not. Anyways, I knew you would say no. It was a rather silly question to ask after what you just wrote. I just thought it had to be said, regardless of how silly. Anyways good reads all around! Makes me wish I could do this like you!
ReplyDeletein all honesty, the use of the name JerBear and the anonymity of Hurvos had me confused, curious and ever so slightly concerned, lol. but thanks for taking the time to read and comment! tis appreciated.
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