One does not have to look far to see some Vampyre-merchandise or other these days. And it is most certainly not the first time in cultural history of the western world that we confront what makes the creatures of the night so special. It has not been that long since Buffy killed and loved them on TV. Before that it was Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles” and of course, there were several films made out of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and there was “Nosferatu.” Seems, we are quite enchanted, or maybe even obsessed, with the myths of blood-drinking, maiden-biting, and forever-living (for me personally nothing of that is very appealing but I must confess, that even Tom Cruise had an attractive Otherness about him as Lestat).
And now, we have Stephanie Meyer’s series about Edward and Bella. And I have done something today that people who know me would probably think is totally out of character. No, I did not watch the first movie (I have actually done that when I was still in Germany and on DVD – and I hated it), no, I bought the book.
Some time ago, I talked to a friend about the whole fascination about Vampyres. My friend is a Harry Potter-fan (I also like the books and movies but do not really qualify as a fan, I guess) and I was reading Anne Rice’s books at that moment but it was also after Stephanie Meyer’s books came out and I guess around the time that the first movie has come out – but I could be wrong, there. So we talked about it. And I confessed to being intrigued. I mean, I like Vampyre-stories a lot. I am very aware that I am fascinated by the sexual “thing” about the biting… (I have been bitten into the neck once, it is no laughing matter, believe me, there was pain involved). And it is probably not even about the biting alone. The aura of a vampyre is supposed to exude sexuality… very intriguing.
Of course, there is always the implication that everything is fair in a life of a vampyre and that includes sexual “everything.” The implications of a male vampyre biting a man, then the question of who’s playing the next lesbian vampyre on “True Blood.” Yes, the life of the undead include heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, androgynity, threesomes – you name it.
I guess, I strayed a little from where I wanted to go with this. But maybe not because I am very aware that these things intrigue me and I know that most of the sexual otherness is eliminated from “Twilight” since I have already watched the movie. Stephanie Meyer’s story is more of a Grimm’s fairy-tale with the dangers of sex before marriage, sexual desires that better be suppressed and all that. And I did not like the movie at all. So why buy the book? Because I cannot imagine what the actual appeal is. I mean, I know from my friend the Potter-fan that the guy who plays Edward (what was his name, again, Pattenson?) is hot-stuff (according to female and male fans). I cried as much as the next person when Diggory died but I never actually thought him sexy (although I was quite touched about the implicated love-story between him and Harry – or was that only a part of the fanfiction, I forget *smile*). But he cannot be the only reason, can he?
So, I am going to find out, why people are so enchanted by the book and then I come back to you – hopefully with a literary theory, that’s after all my field of expertise.
The next movie is coming out on Friday (the day before my birthday), and I must say that I like the pictures of that other guy (the werewolf, lycan-native-type)… though I thought he looked better with long hair. Well, I guess, I got my work cut out for me as far as Stephanie Meyer’s books are concerned. Enjoy the movie, those of you who are going to watch it!
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