This article fascinated me monumentally, due to my morbid interest in forensic science and archeology.
It returns to the concept of vampire as disgusting monster, with its references to bloated decaying corpses. The bloating, due to gas buildup from decaying soft tissue, was taken for the blood-swollen state of a replete vampire, and the livor mortis presumably reinforced that belief, along with the foul liquid emissions from facial and lower orifices. I had never before heard of the custom of rendering the suspected vampire unable to eat by shoving a stone in its mouth, so that was enlightening. I suppose it makes sense, though technically, a vampire, being also supposedly immortal, could not die from starvation. Though since the blood gave them energy, perhaps it was logical to assume that a vampire which was unable to eat was doomed.
The idea of disgusting vampires is a much more intriguing one than romanticized vampires. It would be much more distressing, I think, to wake up and find a bloated, dripping, filmy-eyed corpse hunched over your body with gaping jaws than it would be to find a pretty, effeminate man doing the same.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Vampire Secrets
The video rather interested me, though I could only ever catch about 60% of it.
As a result, I am unsure of the validity of my researching the Vampire of Hanover, but I feel that he bears mentioning.
The Vampire of Hanover was really Fritz Haarmann, resident of Hanover, Germany, employed as a butcher, born in 1879, died in 1925. He was an active serial killer from 1919 to 1924, and during those years killed at least 24-27 young boys, mostly vagrants. He became known as a "vampire killer" because of his disturbing habit of ripping out the throats of these victims with his teeth while sodomizing them. The sodomy presumably had less to do with it than did the throat-ripping.
Haarmann had a boyfriend, Hans Grans, who often purportedly chose the next victim, often purely because he liked the clothes the boy was wearing or thought him particularly handsome. He sold the clothes to secondhand shops, while Haarmann butchered the bodies of the victims like meat animals. He became well-known for always having nice, cheap cuts of meat for housewives.
Haarmann disposed of the skeletal and otherwise unusable remains in the river Leine, his ultimate undoing, for it eventually drew suspicion onto him, as did his constant supply of cheap, good meat. While investigating, police found clothing which matched the description of those worn by the most recent young male disappearance, along with other grisly evidence.
Ironically, Haarmann was a well-known police informant who often gave up criminals to investigators. He was convicted of 24 homicides, and beheaded by guillotine. Grans was convicted of inticement to murder in only 1 of the 24 cases, and originally sentenced to death, but was later retried with new evidence and sentenced to only 12 years in prison. He continued living in Hanover until his death in 1980.
Fritz Haarman's head was preserved for brain study purposes, and is now kept at a well-known German medical school.
Related cases are that of cannibal Karl Grossman, and child killer Peter Kürten, both of whom displayed an inordinate fondness for the taste of human flesh. And were German.
Haarmann, Grossman, and Kürten were all mentioned or referenced in the incredible Fritz Lang film "M".
As a result, I am unsure of the validity of my researching the Vampire of Hanover, but I feel that he bears mentioning.
The Vampire of Hanover was really Fritz Haarmann, resident of Hanover, Germany, employed as a butcher, born in 1879, died in 1925. He was an active serial killer from 1919 to 1924, and during those years killed at least 24-27 young boys, mostly vagrants. He became known as a "vampire killer" because of his disturbing habit of ripping out the throats of these victims with his teeth while sodomizing them. The sodomy presumably had less to do with it than did the throat-ripping.
Haarmann had a boyfriend, Hans Grans, who often purportedly chose the next victim, often purely because he liked the clothes the boy was wearing or thought him particularly handsome. He sold the clothes to secondhand shops, while Haarmann butchered the bodies of the victims like meat animals. He became well-known for always having nice, cheap cuts of meat for housewives.
Haarmann disposed of the skeletal and otherwise unusable remains in the river Leine, his ultimate undoing, for it eventually drew suspicion onto him, as did his constant supply of cheap, good meat. While investigating, police found clothing which matched the description of those worn by the most recent young male disappearance, along with other grisly evidence.
Ironically, Haarmann was a well-known police informant who often gave up criminals to investigators. He was convicted of 24 homicides, and beheaded by guillotine. Grans was convicted of inticement to murder in only 1 of the 24 cases, and originally sentenced to death, but was later retried with new evidence and sentenced to only 12 years in prison. He continued living in Hanover until his death in 1980.
Fritz Haarman's head was preserved for brain study purposes, and is now kept at a well-known German medical school.
Related cases are that of cannibal Karl Grossman, and child killer Peter Kürten, both of whom displayed an inordinate fondness for the taste of human flesh. And were German.
Haarmann, Grossman, and Kürten were all mentioned or referenced in the incredible Fritz Lang film "M".
The Vampyre
Reading The Vampyre was, to me, a singular experience. It felt rather a stereotypical story, with the romantic vampire and the insanity, though it was also faintly redolent of Lovecraft. But it can't be stereotypical can, it? It was the first of these stories, and dare I say, one of the only decent ones, though I really did not particularly enjoy it. The idea of the romanitic or human-shaped vampire is an interesting one, since it is all the easier to lure prey if you look like it yourself, but has become rather sickening of late, wrapped in layers of romanticized Rice and apologetic, glittering Meyer.
All in all, I found this story a sparkling example of its type, since it did at least manage a dark and disturbing air. And presumably an essential for any class dealing in macabre literature.
All in all, I found this story a sparkling example of its type, since it did at least manage a dark and disturbing air. And presumably an essential for any class dealing in macabre literature.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Assignment VI
To begin with, I was rather pleasantly surprised to discover mention of the Varcolac in the beginning, and further on, even mention of the Penangglan, a bizarre creature which lives as a woman during the day and at night detaches her head and flys about, trailing her entrails and savaging people. Of course, if you've read the book, you'll already know this. I was disappointed by the lack of mention of the vampire cat of Kyoto.
It seems that all vampire myths have in common one element-- the ingestion of blood or flesh, generally by mouth, frequently by a reanimate dead human or some manner of monster involving the pieces of a dead human, or a noctournal animal. Occasionally, this blood is replaced by some other form of lifesource, generally energy, though there is a legend (not mentioned) of a vampire killer sucking away spinal fluid rather than energy, life, or blood.
Any culture which has a vampire mythos has a method of preventing vampirism in their dead, ranging from a nail through the skull, aerial burials, and stakes through the center of the sternum or the heart, to burning, the burial of suicides at a crossroads, and the prevention of animals stepping on the grave of the deceased. One even involved the rather archaic practice, usually said to pertain only to witches and demons, of crossing running water.
Thus far, I find the book utterly satisfactory. It covers very nicely the more obscure ends of the vampire spectrum, though with a notable lack of mention given to asian vampire myths (vampire cats, floating cannibal heads, etc), and with a considerable amount given to european vampires, though one supposes this is only fitting. Overall, a good choice for a class basis, likely to fill in blanks for anyone used to pansy modern vampires, and likely to satisfy lovers of the more obscure side.
It seems that all vampire myths have in common one element-- the ingestion of blood or flesh, generally by mouth, frequently by a reanimate dead human or some manner of monster involving the pieces of a dead human, or a noctournal animal. Occasionally, this blood is replaced by some other form of lifesource, generally energy, though there is a legend (not mentioned) of a vampire killer sucking away spinal fluid rather than energy, life, or blood.
Any culture which has a vampire mythos has a method of preventing vampirism in their dead, ranging from a nail through the skull, aerial burials, and stakes through the center of the sternum or the heart, to burning, the burial of suicides at a crossroads, and the prevention of animals stepping on the grave of the deceased. One even involved the rather archaic practice, usually said to pertain only to witches and demons, of crossing running water.
Thus far, I find the book utterly satisfactory. It covers very nicely the more obscure ends of the vampire spectrum, though with a notable lack of mention given to asian vampire myths (vampire cats, floating cannibal heads, etc), and with a considerable amount given to european vampires, though one supposes this is only fitting. Overall, a good choice for a class basis, likely to fill in blanks for anyone used to pansy modern vampires, and likely to satisfy lovers of the more obscure side.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Assignment V
I found that the most fascinating of Poe's stories was "Ligeia". To me, it does not evoke vampirism so much as perhaps some other sort of immortal or ageless being. Thinking about it, though, it did involve some aspects of vampire legends. People were said to rise again after they had died to become vampires, her proficiency in dead and foreign languages, et cetera. The illness, particulary, reminded me of part of the story in "Baltimore; or The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire", and I must assume that Golden and Mignola had read and referenced Poe's story.
Since vampires were never thought to be beautiful, as Ligeia is, there are holes, but I believe the story to be the most fascinating of the three, with the vibe of one of the creepier Grimm's tales, similar to "Fitcher's Bird", but with more death. It also rather reminded me of H.P. Lovecraft's lighter works, which I found most enjoyable since I like to read myself to bed with a spot of Lovecraft every so often.
Since vampires were never thought to be beautiful, as Ligeia is, there are holes, but I believe the story to be the most fascinating of the three, with the vibe of one of the creepier Grimm's tales, similar to "Fitcher's Bird", but with more death. It also rather reminded me of H.P. Lovecraft's lighter works, which I found most enjoyable since I like to read myself to bed with a spot of Lovecraft every so often.
Assignment IV
Google Searching something related to vampires.
This led me, perhaps naturally, perhaps not, to bloodletting. Most people know what this is-- A sharp, hooked little thing was held against the tender skin at the crook of the elbow, and tapped with a rod to puncture the flesh, open a vein, and release as much as 4 quarts of blood per sitting. This is what they looked like. http://www.asylumeclectica.com/asylum/sightseer/us/mo/glore/glore5.jpg. Yeah.
Bleeding was one of the most popular and enduring practices in medical history, up until the 19th century. It originated with the ancient Greeks, and they used it for, well, basically everything. If you were feeling under the weather back in the day, there was a pretty good chance you just had too damn much blood. This was related to the theory of the four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile), and the idea that any imbalance of these caused all illness.
If you're wondering whether or not it works, the next time you're dying of the flu, take a little drive downtown to give anywhere up to 4 quarts of blood. That's bloodletting for you, except the blood doesn't go to help people and you don't get orange juice and oreos after. Of course, there is a chance you will feel better as you take a delirious blood-loss inspired trip through the clouds on the back of a golden unicorn, but it won't have cured your flu.
The vampires come into it when you find that some people started rather wondering where all that blood went, and the rest is fairly obvious.
This led me, perhaps naturally, perhaps not, to bloodletting. Most people know what this is-- A sharp, hooked little thing was held against the tender skin at the crook of the elbow, and tapped with a rod to puncture the flesh, open a vein, and release as much as 4 quarts of blood per sitting. This is what they looked like. http://www.asylumeclectica.com/asylum/sightseer/us/mo/glore/glore5.jpg. Yeah.
Bleeding was one of the most popular and enduring practices in medical history, up until the 19th century. It originated with the ancient Greeks, and they used it for, well, basically everything. If you were feeling under the weather back in the day, there was a pretty good chance you just had too damn much blood. This was related to the theory of the four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile), and the idea that any imbalance of these caused all illness.
If you're wondering whether or not it works, the next time you're dying of the flu, take a little drive downtown to give anywhere up to 4 quarts of blood. That's bloodletting for you, except the blood doesn't go to help people and you don't get orange juice and oreos after. Of course, there is a chance you will feel better as you take a delirious blood-loss inspired trip through the clouds on the back of a golden unicorn, but it won't have cured your flu.
The vampires come into it when you find that some people started rather wondering where all that blood went, and the rest is fairly obvious.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Assignment III
I believe the content of this class will provide a delightfully accurate portrayal of the devolution of vampire folklore.
If I were teaching it, I would include "Peeps", "Storm Front" (the first of the Dresden Files), "The Holmes-Dracula File", "Baltimore, Or the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire", a spot of Hellboy, and perhaps Terry Prachett's "Carpe Jugulum", for a light spot of satire. However, since not everyone in the class would be able to finish, or indeed, even procure, some of those books, a shorter list would be in order.
I recommend "The Holmes-Dracula File", and "Baltimore, Or the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire", two of the best vampire books I have ever read. "Baltimore" may be one of the flat-out best books I have ever read. If it's at all possible, it would be good to include some kind of collection of vampire legends, like that of the Varcolac and the giant vampire cat of Kyoto, to provide a history and a sense of perspective. I don't know if such a compilation exists, but it would be wonderful if it did.
If I were teaching it, I would include "Peeps", "Storm Front" (the first of the Dresden Files), "The Holmes-Dracula File", "Baltimore, Or the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire", a spot of Hellboy, and perhaps Terry Prachett's "Carpe Jugulum", for a light spot of satire. However, since not everyone in the class would be able to finish, or indeed, even procure, some of those books, a shorter list would be in order.
I recommend "The Holmes-Dracula File", and "Baltimore, Or the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire", two of the best vampire books I have ever read. "Baltimore" may be one of the flat-out best books I have ever read. If it's at all possible, it would be good to include some kind of collection of vampire legends, like that of the Varcolac and the giant vampire cat of Kyoto, to provide a history and a sense of perspective. I don't know if such a compilation exists, but it would be wonderful if it did.
Assignment II
A book I have read involving vampires.
I find myself rather a fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, an excellent series. However. though it involves vampires, it is not exclusively about them. Another book I rather enjoyed--"Peeps". It's about a sort of vampirism, caused not by the desire to become eternally pretty and glitter in the sun, but by a form of parasite. The book is an interesting blend of fact and fiction, intermittently breaking from the story to describe some vile sort of real parasite.
A third book: "The Holmes-Dracula File." This is old school. This is true vampirism, suave and intelligent and unspeakably monstrous, just human enough to lure forth victims, evil enough to be aware of its role and its purpose without the merest idea of regret. If you can find a copy of this book, read it.
I find myself rather a fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, an excellent series. However. though it involves vampires, it is not exclusively about them. Another book I rather enjoyed--"Peeps". It's about a sort of vampirism, caused not by the desire to become eternally pretty and glitter in the sun, but by a form of parasite. The book is an interesting blend of fact and fiction, intermittently breaking from the story to describe some vile sort of real parasite.
A third book: "The Holmes-Dracula File." This is old school. This is true vampirism, suave and intelligent and unspeakably monstrous, just human enough to lure forth victims, evil enough to be aware of its role and its purpose without the merest idea of regret. If you can find a copy of this book, read it.
Assignment I
What do I know about vampires?
I delight in the old legends and stories-- Dracula, Nosferatu, the Vârcolac. All are respectably foul, evil, monstrous, and intelligent. Vampires were never something you would want to love or even meet. Vampires are, should be, monstrous nocturnal demons who tear into their victims, human and animal, without the merest thread of sparkly vegetarian remorse. The Vârcolac? Described in Romanian and Slavic folklore as a "giant demon wolf which emerges from the corpses of babies and consumes the sun and moon." I find this description rather more terrifyingly impressive than "sparkling, regular-sized, eternally beautiful human being who has magical psychic mindpowers and is horribly conflicted because the power of his kiss will surely kill the woman that he loves."
Maybe it's just me.
I delight in the old legends and stories-- Dracula, Nosferatu, the Vârcolac. All are respectably foul, evil, monstrous, and intelligent. Vampires were never something you would want to love or even meet. Vampires are, should be, monstrous nocturnal demons who tear into their victims, human and animal, without the merest thread of sparkly vegetarian remorse. The Vârcolac? Described in Romanian and Slavic folklore as a "giant demon wolf which emerges from the corpses of babies and consumes the sun and moon." I find this description rather more terrifyingly impressive than "sparkling, regular-sized, eternally beautiful human being who has magical psychic mindpowers and is horribly conflicted because the power of his kiss will surely kill the woman that he loves."
Maybe it's just me.
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