1.
Vampires have been represented in many different forms for decades. They are shown to be powerfull, dominent and in control but also isolated, scary and gaurded. From Count Orlok in Nosferatu (1922) to Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga (2008) representations of Vampires have varied over the years. They have been shown in love stories, betrayal and a wide range of horror movies with each having there own interpretation of the mythical creature.
Here are some interseting facts taken from wikipedia about Vampirism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire
2.1
Vampires were usually reported as bloated in appearance, and reddy, purplish, or dark in color
Blood was often seen seeping from the mouth and nose when one was seen in its shroud or coffin and its left eye was often open. It would be clad in the linen shroud it was buried in, and its teeth, hair, and nails may have grown somewhat, though in general fangs were not a feature.
2.1.2
In Slavic and Chinese traditions, any corpse that was jumped over by an animal, particularly a dog or a cat, was feared to become one of the undead.
In Russian folklore, vampires were said to have once been witches or people who had rebelled against the Russian Orthodox Church while they were alive.
Similar Chinese narratives state that if a vampire-like being came across a sack of rice, it would have to count every grain
2.1.2
One method of finding a vampire's grave involved leading a virgin boy through a graveyard or church grounds on a virgin stallion—the horse would supposedly balk at the grave in question
Holes appearing in the earth over a grave were taken as a sign of vampirism.
Corpses thought to be vampires were generally described as having a healthier appearance than expected, plump and showing little or no signs of decomposition.
2.1.3.1
A branch of wild rose and hawthorn plant are said to harm vampires, and in Europe, sprinkling mustard seeds on the roof of a house was said to keep them away.
Vampires are said to be unable to walk on consecrated ground, such as those of churches or temples, or cross running water.
In some cultures, vampires do not have a reflection and sometimes do not cast a shadow, perhaps as a manifestation of the vampire's lack of a soul
2.1.3.2
Potential vampires were most often staked through the heart, though the mouth was targeted in Russia and northern Germany
Decapitation was the preferred method in German and western Slavic areas, with the head buried between the feet, behind the buttocks or away from the body.
Gypsies drove steel or iron needles into a corpse's heart and placed bits of steel in the mouth, over the eyes, ears and between the fingers at the time of burial. They also placed hawthorn in the corpse's sock or drove a hawthorn stake through the legs. In a 16th-century burial near Venice, a brick forced into the mouth of a female corpse has been interpreted as a vampire-slaying ritual by the archaeologists who discovered it in 2006
4.2
Universal's Dracula (1931), starring Béla Lugosi as the Count in what was the first talking film to portray Dracula
Several films featured female, often lesbian, vampire antagonists such as Hammer Horror's The Vampire Lovers (1970) based on Carmilla, though the plotlines still revolved around a central evil vampire character
Bram Stoker's Dracula was a noteworthy 1992 film which became the then-highest grossing vampire film ever.
Opening Scene In Underworld (2003)
At the start of this scene, we see the camera pan down through an old stone buliding. It is a very dark shot with not alot of lighting until, lightning in the sky strikes and we see a group of bats fly towards the camera. We can hear the sound of a storm outside, and a female voice, giving a voice over on the story line in a dull, almost quiet voice. As the camera stops panning down we can see a "human" figure present on a high up balcony that looks out onto the stormy sky.
The figure is a female vampire named Selene. She is perched over the old architecture and seems to be peering down on the city below. This makes her look powerful as there is rain pouring down outside and constant flashing of lightning makes what she is doing seem dangerous. Her "Matrix" like trenchcoat is flapping around in the wind and the camera is slowly moving in closer to her. As the camera changes angle to a wide shot, we can see that Selene is sitting very high up on an extremelly old building. The way she is above the city and looking down onto the streets below makes her look powerful or in control. Even the fact that the civilians are hurrying along on the streets below with their umbrella's out, trying to get out of the rain while she calmly looks down upon the city, unfased by the rain, makes her seem different to everyone else.
As Selene looks at her companion sitting ontop of a building opposite hers, she nods and takes a step off the balcony. Slow motion is used to signify what she is doing, is dangerous. The camera angle is shot very low, to show us how far she falling. As she hits the ground she straightens up and walks off into the rain, unfased by the fall. This shows us her strength and power yet still having alot of feminism about the way she gracefully lands. Selene has a good posture and walks slowly but confidently around the subway.
There is a bit better lighting in the subway which allows us to see the darkness of her costume. Black leather clothes are used all over her to go with her black hair. The darkness of the rest of her costume allows her pale face to stand right out. Her makeup has been purposefully made to seem pale as to bring out the old stereo-type "pale vampire".
The "men" (werewolves) she is persuing, seem like the alpha males. They push people as the walk quickly through crowds, and thier faces are full of anger and intesnsity. When one of the men pulls out a gun the situation quickly turns for the worst as Selene and her fellow vampires are caught off guard. This puts the ball back into the male werewolves court of being the dominent figure. The human civilians run and hide as Selene and the vampires stay in the subway. Some slow motion is used again as bullets are fired, mainly to show how quick the vampires are moving. After a vampire is shot and killed Selene takes control again as the dominent female and charges forward, firing shots back at the werewolves. She has two guns in her hands which shows a certain power about her leading us to believe she came prepared to fight. The werewolves (in the form of humans) run and take cover as Selene advances on them. The lights are broken and flickering as Selene fires round after round at them. We hear the sound of bullets and glass shattering as she attacks the werewolves. Selene is represented as a strong female figure.
3. Prop Or Setting
In the long running T.V series "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" many different Motif's are used to add to the effect of her dominent female persona. One of which is Buffy's wooden stake. The stake she carries with her everywhere is what kills the vampires she hunts. In the very first episode we see Buffy accidentally drop her posessions, including the stake, which leads her to meet the character Xander. He helps her pick up her books and possesions but she accidentally leaves behind her stake. At a "normal" high school like Sunnydale High, people having wooden stakes with them seems a bit odd. Buffy passes it off as a joke, saying "everyone in L.A is using them, pepper spray is so out" kind of thing. The stake is seen as a powerfull weapon that Buffy readily has at her grasp to kill any vampires who cross her path. If the stake is knocked away from her in a fight, it makes Buffy seem less powerful and dominant. She has it in almost every episode, especially the ones involving vampires (for obvious reasons).The prop of the wooden stake is a very important one in the Buffy series.
4. Analysis of a Character
Buffy Selene
There are many differences between the two characters Buffy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
and Selene (Underworld) but the biggest similarity is the dominent female personalities they represent. Both Buffy and Selene are strong, empowered women who are not the ones being saved by an "alpha male" every scene, but are the ones fighting for themselves because they can. Buffy is shown as a sexualised teenager who is attractive yet dangerous. The long blonde hair and the makeup show her as a "girly girl" that has all the boys wanting her. Her low cut tops and fashionable clothing items make her seem in style.
Buffy just wants to be normal. She wants to lead a normal life where the thing she has to worry about most are boys and homework. She is a teenager who has been forced into a life of danger. She is a strong feminist character who will stand up for herself and fight rather then wait around to be saved. The more "family friendly" Buffy The Vampire Slayer has Buffy fighting in a more comical style. Her punches and kicks are very cliche in the fight scenes, but are still effective with fighting the vampires, and also keeping us entertained and watching. Buffy is a typical teenager who has been thrown into the world of "monsters", which is why the show appeals to teenagers so much.
Selene is very "dark" with her black leather jumpsuit and jet black hair. Her pale face and the brightest of blue eyes scream vampire at the viewer. Her costume and appearance could be considered very "gothic". She has a different sexual appeal compared with Buffy. Buffy seems almost childish which adds to some of the humour in Buffy The Vampire Slayer where as Selene is constantly serious yet is still portrayed as being "sexy" which is shown through the relationship she shares with Michael. Seline is not afraid of the Lycans (werewolves) and would much prefer to fight them alone as she is a "death dealer" or an "assasin". She has always relied on herself after Lycans killed her parents when she was a little girl, and the strength of her feminism is shown through her rebellion against the "patriarchal male" head vampire, Kraven. Selene is not afraid to rebel against her hierachy vampire leaders when she thinks it is right. She is determined and strong willed, and disobeyes her "rulers" orders to do what she feels is best as an in control female. Both Buffy and Selene are strong fighters. In battles they are swift and quick and always very confident. Selene has a strong posture and almost glides when she walks. Selene also has the use of guns in most of her fight scenes which provides great action scenes throughout the movie.
Selene is a vampire hellbent on getting revenge on the Lycan species, and will not let any "patriarchal male" get in her way when she has set out to do the right thing.
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