In honor of my new release Whispers of Night coming on Friday, August 23, 2013, I thought I would repost a blog I did last year on one of my favorite mythical characters...
Vampires. What is the sexy attraction to these mysterious creatures of the night that female readers seem to go gaga over?
The symbol of the enigmatic vampire is one that I find most intriguing. In the past, these creatures were portrayed as one of the classic horror villains. However, stories about these ancient myths date back to the Persians and ancient Babylonia. Vampires are steeped in a long, rich mythological history, and take many different forms that are both good and bad. The vampire has left an indelible mark on the world in most cultural and have been known by different names throughout history.
However, today's sexy version is a relatively new take on an old story. Anne Rice's Interview with The Vampire depicts Louis played by Brad Pitt, a man who is devastated over the death of his wife and unborn child. In the movie he has the misfortune of being bitten by Lestat, played by Tom Cruise, a narcissi vampire with no conscious. The story spins a new and interesting twist on today's vampire by depicting one vampire with a conscious, and another without.
However, today's sexy version is a relatively new take on an old story. Anne Rice's Interview with The Vampire depicts Louis played by Brad Pitt, a man who is devastated over the death of his wife and unborn child. In the movie he has the misfortune of being bitten by Lestat, played by Tom Cruise, a narcissi vampire with no conscious. The story spins a new and interesting twist on today's vampire by depicting one vampire with a conscious, and another without.
My favorite, which I have mentioned before in a previous blog, was Bram Stroker's Dracula. Gary Oldman plays Count Dracula, who in the beginning of the movie is a diabolical and sinister character. His cunning cruelty, and the vile things he was capable of, made him a character you loved to hate. But when he starts to interact with Mina, the object of his affection, you begin to see a different side to his character, one that is both loving and tender. As the story progresses, you also begin to understand what caused his fate, and in the end, it is his intense love for her that eventually sets him free. I found this portrayal of the vampire to be a gothically romantic and sexy version of this classic tale.
In ancient times though, sex appeal was not a characteristic attributed to the vampire. In the past, vampires were evil figures. Their evil nature made them frightening and something to fear. And they all needed to feed off the life blood of the living which is still true today.
Looking at the mythology of the vampire today, their symbolism seems to have evolved into a modern day vampire that is now associated as a sex symbol, whose mysterious misunderstood nature becomes appealing instead of something to fear. No longer considered the monster, they've become a hero with a heart.
There are, however, some not so obvious things the vampire may symbolize, such as commitment to one person for eternity, ageless beauty, power and strength that most readers find seductively attractive. Many of today's vampires are not associated with evil anymore. Instead, they are perceived as a positive force for good or they are simply considered to be a charismatic, immortal creature possessing great power.
The vampire's strength is another component that makes them attractive to the reader and their need to fiercely protect those they love is a powerful draw.
I've had a lot of fun creating my vampire characters for my upcoming Immortal Embrace Series that will be coming out this summer. I like the new sexy heroes with a heart much better than the sinister characters portrayed in the past. And, I love to write about these intriguing characters as much as I enjoy reading stories about them.
Regards,
Erin Simone, Author
Very informative.
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