Symposium, Script

/ r From a m e s u c ha s Count O r l o c k o r Dracula.A s

young age. were introducedthis storyt i characters

y o u m a y know,v a m p i r e s p l a y a n important r o l l i n todays wo r l d s o f fantacy books a n d c i n e m a .T h e y could b e

b e o u r friend o f enemy.I t i s a l s o very c o m m o n f o r v a m p i r e st o b e o v e rsexualized i n c i n e m a .

2 . The o b s e s s i o n w i t h Vampire s h o w s t h a t people a r e intrigued b y t h e i r h a b i t s o f bloodsucking,

killing, a n d nourishing themselves o f f o f h u m a n l i f e . Shows l i k e Vampire Diaries,Legacies,a n d

T h e originals are prime examples o f popular vampire films that had u s i n a hold a n d

maintained a strong f a n base throughout t h e last fe w decades.

3 . We use t h e i r super p a t ro l characteristics t o cover u p for t h e fact that

H u m a n s desire these behaviors. I n the article,"Werewolves in Psyche and

"
Cinema.'Man-Beast Transformation and Paradox (1996) by Elizabeth A . Lawrence

there a r e boundaries between h u m a n s a n d animals t h a t are tested i n order f o r people

t o o b t a i n c e r t a i n desirable characteristics t h a t a n i m a l s possess.Humans often c r o s s

boundaries w i t h animalsa s a fantasy choice,

4 . Werewolves are also highly favored wands w h e t h e r t h e i r b e i n g sexualized

o r desiredf o r t h e i r characteristics. They possess abilities s u c h a s unatural smell,

streanth a n d i m a n and beast i n

m o r t a l i t y. T h e shape-shift b e t we e n
movies a re a l s o common.People t r a n s fo r m i n t o w e r e w o l v e s i n o r d e r t o c r o s s boundarie

w h i c h h a s been a recurring subject i n film for t h e l a s t s i x decades.

5 . Because t h e s e ideas h a v e been around f o r s o long,i t is difficult t o differentiate w h a t i s

real o r n o t . Although these a r e a l l j u s t fictionstories,somequiaey teas r e a l l i f e s i t u a t i o n so n a more

w
e *. a q u a r a t e d level. But there is a ro u t t o o u r love for drama a n d love. stories,
fantasy
w e ' r e taught fairytale s t o r i e s f r o m a y o u n g a g e .
6 . 'Butdoesnt t h i s r i n g a b e l l ? W e a l l k n o w t h e s t o r y o f t h e b i g b a d wolf (who h a d t h e

characteristics t o w a l k a n d talk).Remember h o w w e s e t him. got t o b e t h e b a d guy? A n d a s a

C h i l d y o u w e r e probably s e t t o believe t h a t w o l v e s we re m e a n a n d vicious animals

supported b y the werewolf being protrayed. a s the villain.

7 Fa i r y t a l e s t o r i e s l i k e t h e b i g b a d w o l f ,l i t t e r e d , o r e v e n

Cinderella c a n teach u s lessons that develop u s while expanding o u r

imagination. O u r imagination can develop into our dreams a n d desires

over t i m e . One day you're dreaming a b o u t being a princess while t h e next

thing y o u k n ow you're dreaming a bride.

8. The fairytale s t o r i e s a n d books that w e w e r e exposed t o a s young children helped

develop o u r imaginations. S o m e with a bigger imagination t h a n others. Sometimes

people n e v e r outgrow t h e i r childhood d r e a m a n d love f o r t h e fairytale world.T h i s inner

o h i l d i s usually entertained by f i c t i o n novels o r adult fantasy films.Though o u t

imagination c a n lead o u r minds t o wo n d e r.

9 Female fantasies m ay include having t h e perfect g u y , closet, a n d lifestyle. We are

are a l l princesses i n o u r o w n stories and w e all want a happy ending.There

a r e females w h o fantasize about themselves beingi n unrealistic situations and

a r e entertained b y d r a m a s o they w a t c h reality t v shows o r romance films to

satisfy t h e i r imaginations.

10.
11. But notice h ow I t i s a common theme i n film For s e r i e s s u c h a s t h e novel-based

s e r i e s ." T h e Twilight Saga" c a r. The vampire diaries t o have o n e human fe m a l e l e a d

and t wo fictional characters (as w e k n o w them a s monsters) a s leads. T h i s is.

Creating a l ove triangle where t h e w o m a n i s t h e o b j e c t o f desire a s s h e i s drawn

t o t h e two monsters

' 2 These characters a r e s t i l l por trayed a s t h e b a d guy t o a n extent y e t they a r e s t i l l

t h e o b j e c t O f interest a s they still contain all ofthe inhumane traits o f a n

animal o r immortal fiquare. Yuko Elizebeth , i n

h e r ar ticle "The Real Reason S o m e People

"
A r e Sexually Attracted t o Serial killers L i k e T e d Bundy (2-019) c l a i m s t h a t t h e r e

has always been a n fascination w i t h people who d o b a d things.

I } I n t h e a r t i c l e , Elizabeth explains h o w t h e fascination f o r s e r i a l k i l l e r s l e a dt o

s e x u a l desires A n d uses T e d Bundy a s a n example. In other wo rd s , s e r i a l killers

use their charm t o manipulate their t a rg e t and Elizabeth draws

awareness t o h o w dangerous i t could potentially b e for women t o sexualize

bad people a n d put themselves i n danger

14 Much l i ke wolves a n d vampires,s e r i a l #iiiers are k n ow n t o b e real-life

"monsters" w h i c h i s a t e r m comon.' I used t o discribe. "both. Inhuman

creatures. The fascination f o r m o n s t e r s c a n lead t o s e x u a l desires a s

Elizabeth discusses h o w fascination w i t h serial killers and m a s s murders

fluctuates i n t o s e x u a l a t t r a c t i o n s a n d why women are attracted d u e t o high-

intensity levels o f intoxicating charms and manipulation..

15. Trying t o appeal p o p c u l t u r e w i t h t h e advertisement o f love s t o r i e s a n d
t o being
a t t r a c t e d t o monsters is a "trend" in the true-crime g e n r e .T h i s plot l i n e ; i s

sellingi n the story o f a tox i c . a n d manipilative relationship o r targeting

a n audience o f w o m e n t h a t a r e attracted t o t h r i l l a n d danger. D o you

believe our childhood stories a n d display o f a f fe c t i o n t o w a r d s monsters i n

a d u l t c i n e m a could lead t o a woman being attracted t o r e a l - l i fe monsters

putting herself i n danger.