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.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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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