History of Vampires in Storytelling
Early vampire mythology is often attributed to Bulgarian folklore, and they were regarded as paranormal creatures in the same realm as poltergeists and evil spirits. However, they weren't the blood-sucking creatures we know today; instead, they were souls who couldn’t accept their own death. Later, in the 1600s, this mythology was picked up by the Germans. Vampires were often blamed for different threats to society, such as plagues, rabies and the rise of the occult. By the time vampires reached Western culture, they became blood-hungry, corpse-like beings.
Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, cemented the vampire as something synonymous with seduction, fear and otherness. Later, books and films about vampires added a new layer of introspection, offering ideas about deep topics such as death and grief. Vampires have become a staple in our media, through popular works like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twilight and The Vampire Diaries.
Importance of Vampire Media
Vampires aren’t just undead, bat-transforming creatures — they symbolize fears and anxieties that people have faced throughout history. Across genres, vampires can take on the role of whatever we’re afraid of. Not only that, but many media depictions of vampires show how to confront and dismantle these fears. Vampires also represent deviance, intrigue, queerness and various religious beliefs.
Common Themes
Lustful Desires: Vampires can symbolize repression of desires, forbidden romance and unaccepted relationships.
The Other: Raises questions about how we label and categorize ourselves in relation to each other, therefore casting others off.
Mortality: Explores what it means to be human, how to grapple with death and coming to terms with mortality.
Get spooky this Halloween season with Vampire media from BCLS!
Movies on Kanopy
Explore vampire-related movies on Kanopy, a free streaming platform made available through your library card!
Nosferatu (1922) (Not Rated): The original silent black-and-white film featuring an eerie Nosferatu (as many recognize from the classic SpongeBob episode).
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (Not Rated): A lonesome female vampire walks a desolate Iranian town looking for sinful men to become her victims.
Blacula (PG): Blends the blaxploitation genre with avant-garde horror elements of the time, reimagining classic horror in relation to contemporary Black experiences.
Children of the Night (PG-13): A secluded colony of child vampires come under attack from vengeful villagers in this darkly funny horror tale by Argentinean filmmaker Ivan Noel.
Vamps (PG-13): Two socialite vampires in New York City fall in love while being pursued by vampire hunters.
Vampires After Dark: Movies and Books for Adults
Ready for something with a little bite? These vampire tales feature immortal creatures, dark secrets, supernatural intrigue and plenty of blood-curdling suspense.
Vampires: From Classic to Contemporary, Teen Media
Being a teen is hard enough. Add in the urge to sink your teeth into your friends and classmates, and things get even more complicated. These books, shows and movies feature teens, vampires and, of course, teen vampires.
