Why Vampires Capture Our Imagination - By: Gen Wright

Vampires are a trendy crowd in our cinematic and literary fiction. Vampires grab our imagination, allure us, and make us believe in creatures outside of our normal existence. The vampire has morphed from an often hated and feared, always maligned, always undesirable being into a quixotic creature that represents superhuman power and eternal life.

In the middle ages, vampires were oftentimes nasty ghosts. They were the embodiment of a soul that could not rest. Most of the time a vampire would haunt or attack its former family members. To halt these haunting, townspeople would dig up the vampire corpse, drive a stake into the heart, and cut off the head. Sometimes the body was also burned. By staking the body it was believed a vampire could be pinned in its coffin and it couldn't rise again. Cutting off the head was a means to separate the brain from the body. In the worst cases, fire was used to destroy a vampire body.

Vampires were only spotted at night, so it was naturally thought that vampires could not stand the daylight. Additionally, darkness represents evil things whereas light, and the sun, represent good things. Vampires were not observed haunting their former family members in daylight so the belief of sunlight aversion was born.

Bram Stoker released Dracula in 1897 the now revered, iconic, and timeless vampire tale. Bram Stoker redefined the meaning of what a vampire was. The creature took on personality, charm, and charisma. They were no longer senseless spirits bent on destroying their former families. Vampires represented power and eternal life. Bram Stoker planted seeds that would grow into an enthrallment with all things vampire.

Today there are thousands of books about vampires. Vampire television shows such as The Hunger, Forever Knight, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel found widespread success. Proving that vampire television shows aren't dead, new shows such as HBO's True Blood are finding new audiences.

Vampire movies are also common productions by Hollywood. In the last few years we've seen the release of 30 Days of Night, the Evolution trilogy, I Am Legend, Twilight, and many more. Vampire groupies, fans, fanatics just can't get enough of vampire movies and Hollywood is quite willing to provide several new vampire films each year.

We love vampires. Until the creature is everlastingly redefined again, it is unlikely that vampire popularity will diminish. We can't help but become enthralled with idea of immortality, strength, power, and eternal life. Vampires represent these characteristics. Vampires will always be an all the rage form of fiction.

Vampires are a all the rage group in our cinematic and literary lore. Vampires seize our imagination, draw us in, and make us believe in creatures outside of our normal lives. The vampire has morphed from a once maligned, often hated and feared, always undesirable being into a romantic being that embodies superhuman power and eternal life.

Gen Wright is a contributor to the online community Vampire Rave, a social network with a vampire theme. He also contributes to the Dark Network, a network of paranormal, supernatural, and darker websites.