Joanna Shen
Dazed with the Vampire Craze
Attractiveness: Blood, Fangs and Pale Skin?
Appeal of the Surreal
They're plastered on the side of public buses. Their fashion style has pervaded the boundaries of accepted clothing. Border's has a shrine-like book shelf devoted to their stories and has even gone as far as to create miniature action figures out of them, so teenage girls can whip them out at the drop of a hat and pledge their love to plastic. Society has run amok with fanged creatures of the night, otherwise known as vampires. Girls wreak vengeance on those who dare call themselves Mrs. Edward Cullen, insistent on maintaining the quixotic dream that someday, they will meet a blood-sucking hormonal male to call their own. Could it be an innate characteristic of human nature that attracts us to vampires? Because, of course, a person with deathly pale skin and slightly yellow teeth who could potentially suck you lifeless is very attractive to the average teenager.
Though we may not all readily admit the fact, the immortality of vampires appeals to us. In our current stage of anxiety, hyperventilation and excitement with what the future holds, it is not unnatural to want time to fulfill all the worldly needs we could possibly have. It is the inability of vampires to die that makes them more than human, elevating themselves on the glorious pedestal of athanasia. In addition, media continues to exalt these creatures by making sure that vampires are only the better-looking half of the public, complete with shampoo-commercial hair and model body figures. Vampires are nearly equivalent to our definition of perfection, holding the precious qualities of eternal life and beauty. We adore their ability to defy the natural boundaries of life that we, dull humans are subject to.
It is an inherent characteristic of human nature to enjoy seeing reflections of ourselves. As much as we enjoy the all powerful Gods and the destruction they are capable of, they are not characters we can relate to. In other words, we can nitpick the flaws of vampires. Their appeal lies not in their perfection, but their ability to smother their faults and fight temptation. After all, who doesn't want a significant other willing to fight their inner desires and capabilities to stay faithfully by your side? Even their blemishes are easily mistaken for attributes. Just like fashion morphs, the vampire has suffered years of ridicule and disgust to become the adored creature it is today.
The propaganda and media has done much to fuel the vampire craze. CW's new investment, Vampire Diaries, adapted from a series of four books, details the life of a mortal and demure teenage girl torn between two vampires. Sound slightly similar to a certain series? I thought so too. From the looks of it, vampires are going to be hanging around for a while. Let's just hope we don't start Eclipse-themed proms and creating blood inspired jewelry. Oh wait, too late.
Dazed with the Vampire Craze
Attractiveness: Blood, Fangs and Pale Skin?
Appeal of the Surreal
They're plastered on the side of public buses. Their fashion style has pervaded the boundaries of accepted clothing. Border's has a shrine-like book shelf devoted to their stories and has even gone as far as to create miniature action figures out of them, so teenage girls can whip them out at the drop of a hat and pledge their love to plastic. Society has run amok with fanged creatures of the night, otherwise known as vampires. Girls wreak vengeance on those who dare call themselves Mrs. Edward Cullen, insistent on maintaining the quixotic dream that someday, they will meet a blood-sucking hormonal male to call their own. Could it be an innate characteristic of human nature that attracts us to vampires? Because, of course, a person with deathly pale skin and slightly yellow teeth who could potentially suck you lifeless is very attractive to the average teenager.
Though we may not all readily admit the fact, the immortality of vampires appeals to us. In our current stage of anxiety, hyperventilation and excitement with what the future holds, it is not unnatural to want time to fulfill all the worldly needs we could possibly have. It is the inability of vampires to die that makes them more than human, elevating themselves on the glorious pedestal of athanasia. In addition, media continues to exalt these creatures by making sure that vampires are only the better-looking half of the public, complete with shampoo-commercial hair and model body figures. Vampires are nearly equivalent to our definition of perfection, holding the precious qualities of eternal life and beauty. We adore their ability to defy the natural boundaries of life that we, dull humans are subject to.
It is an inherent characteristic of human nature to enjoy seeing reflections of ourselves. As much as we enjoy the all powerful Gods and the destruction they are capable of, they are not characters we can relate to. In other words, we can nitpick the flaws of vampires. Their appeal lies not in their perfection, but their ability to smother their faults and fight temptation. After all, who doesn't want a significant other willing to fight their inner desires and capabilities to stay faithfully by your side? Even their blemishes are easily mistaken for attributes. Just like fashion morphs, the vampire has suffered years of ridicule and disgust to become the adored creature it is today.
The propaganda and media has done much to fuel the vampire craze. CW's new investment, Vampire Diaries, adapted from a series of four books, details the life of a mortal and demure teenage girl torn between two vampires. Sound slightly similar to a certain series? I thought so too. From the looks of it, vampires are going to be hanging around for a while. Let's just hope we don't start Eclipse-themed proms and creating blood inspired jewelry. Oh wait, too late.