Much of what people know about vampires and vampirism comes from movies and TV. For many , vampires only exist in the big (or small) screen while for others they exist in the many novels and short stories published over the last few centuries. The first mention of Vampires in literature is the German poem; The Vampire (do you not marvel how they come up with these catchy names isn’t it?) of 1748. This appears to be the first time the “vampires kiss” is mentioned in fiction. This also appears to be the first time where the “vampire promises” are stronger than Christianity. I guess it could be argued then this poem lays down the rules for the battle between Good and Evil.

Yet, both represent the same ideal: Eternal Life.

Attain eternity from the Vampire or through a dedication to Christian (and others) faith.

The vampire, through history in literature and film, shows his/her offer of eternity to be here and instant (much like our modern world where we demand everything to be at our fingertips when we want) and the result is actual and witnessed by many. Faith, on the other hand, offers eternity after a life time of devotion and is never witnessed but supposedly lived out in Heaven. The vampires’ promises are again much like todays world, “Have all your earthly desires at once and without any consequences or concerns about others.”

A definite lure to the philistine and the pleasure seekers among us.

But where many stories, poems and novels touched on these more esoteric subjects, the film world fixated on the sensational. Whatever brought in the $$$. This, of course, meant a lot of sensuality, suggestion and sex. There was always the element of eroticism in the vampire movies but bit would not be until the 1960’s before the first nudity on screen appeared. (There may have been “underground” movies involving nudity – and more! – but that’s beyond the scope here.)

With novels, the lore and legend of the vampire could be explored through the many pages of work but with film and TV, there is a limited time available to tell the story… enter Convenience, stage left!

The first time we learn that the Sun’s rays can kill a vampire (permanently) is not in any novel from centuries ago but from the first “major” movie the unlicensed Nosferatu. Needing to end the vampires reign in a minute or less of screen time, the directors/producers came up with the idea of the Sun killing Count Orlock after lingering too long with his beautiful victim –  and here we have the sensuality.

A vampire must sleep on native soil. This is another age old legend/lore. But it cannot be found in any treatment of Vampire mythology anywhere, so where did it come from? Dracula by Bram Stoker. In the novel, Dracula has 50 boxes of native soil shipped to England but arch enemy Van Helsing and his followers locate 49 of the boxes and fill them with Eucharist wafers (more of the Good v Evil thing) leaving Dracula with just and forcing him to return to Transylvania. So the whole native soil thing is Stoker’s idea. Some have theorized that this – Dracula – is a metaphorical concept about Britain’s fears of invasion from Europeans, who were not as “refined” as they.

Hmm, could be a lot of famous writers of yesteryear who we placed high on the pedestal  are known to suffer from the same influences as mere mortals. Nationalism was just one of many demons which resided on the collective shoulders at the turn of the 20th century.

Likewise the “stake through the heart” idea. Though it appears to have originated in legend and myth and is associated more with malicious ghosts and poltergeists, it isn’t until the fiction work of the 1700s that it becomes the “guaranteed” method of killing a Vampire once and for all.  Early American scholar, Edward Payson Evans retells a story from the city of Kadan, circa 1337.

In 1337, a herdsman near the town of Cadan came forth from his grave every night, visiting the villages, terrifying the inhabitants, conversing affably with some and murdering others. Every person, with whom he associated, was doomed to die within eight days and to wander as a vampire after death. In order to keep him in his grave, a stake was driven through his body, but he only laughed at this clumsy attempt to impale a ghost, saying: “You have really rendered me a great service by providing me with a staff, with which to ward off dogs when I go out to walk”

Garlic, insofar as it relates to Vampires, also appears to come from the mind of Mr. Stoker. Though, garlic is mentioned in many ancient legends and medical literature which shows a strong belief that garlic can ward off evil and recommended use of it extends from eating, drinking potions, placing it around the house, the window sill and so on.

Fangs also appear to be a creation of Bram Stoker’s imagination but if he was at all like most writers he found the inspiration somewhere in his reading and applied it to his novel, Dracula.

They are the legends which fiction – in all its forms – concentrate on and exploit the most. The bottom line for the big publishers, the movie  houses and the TV companies is money and a lot of it. If that means screwing with accepted lore, legend and mythology to turn an extra buck… then they will. You can guarantee it.

Beware of the movies and TV makers who only want to create a profitable industry ahead of interesting and entreating  fare. Though a lot of people liked Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula it is a good example of manipulation for for the sake of more $$$.

Check out my short history of vampire movies, I will keep it going. Feel free to add any suggestions, I appreciate it.

Craig