I have cut down on my blogs dramatically (after my Mafia buddies at school came and told me I was 'hogging the blog'), but alas the lure is too great and I find myself, once more, sitting at my computer blogging. I plead for your forgiveness.
I was looking a while ago at the comments left on our blogs etc. and I realised that we have a question which has been -quite skillfully, I may add (nice grammar and spelling)- posed to the koobs. Since I don't have any English home work at the moment (Go me!!), I think I shall answer it. Any one else that wants to answer it after me, be my guest, but I will put in my two bobs worth.
1) What attracts you to books that deal so heavily with the occult or anything that has been demonised for centuries by Judeao-Christian (Western) culture? e.g witch craft, vampires...or is it the fact that the protagonists in these stories are of your age and you feel a relation to them?
Personally I love everything supernatural- from Harry Potter to Twilight. For me, I am most strongly pulled in by the world which authors create, most of them so original and imaginative (eg. JK Rowling). Books are a realistic escape from life and the normal drag of school and work.
Every girl and boy, at some point in their life, have wished to be a princess, fairy, knight, vampire or angel- I think that what draws me most to these books, is that fact that my own fantasy's being played out on paper. When I was younger I loved vampires (to the point of an overly weird obsession), I wished that I could be bitten so I could be special; be a vampire. Personally I think these books are so successful because everyone wishes the events in novels could play out in their own lives.
I enjoy everything daemonic in these kinds of books. I don't really what draws me to them, I think it is fascination and legend which society has built up around topics such as witch's and vampires. I just want to know more about them!
I want to know what these 'creatures' are thinking and how they act. Older stories portray them very differently than the modern day style which seems to have come into vogue ('good' vampires and wizards etc.).
Submerging yourself in a supernatural book rather than a tween-angst-romance novel is far more exciting and I love the fact that I can relate to the characters -even if they are vampires or daemons- and their problems. I suppose it does help that most of these characters are our age and are targeted at a teen aged audience. It does mean that I can relate to them on certain levels. I don't think, however, this is the deciding factor when it comes to what draws me to these sorts of books. I am a fan of teen-real-life-drama novels but they don't hold the same appeal as a teen-supernatural book does.
Like most girls my age, I am a sucker for a good romaine book- not the stupid 'girls meets boy falls in love, gets married, has hundreds of children, all before the age of 18 etc.', I enjoy romance books with a story line, or a massive twist (Yet again 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter'), and not entirely focused on the romance factor (a good example is 'Meg Cabot').
Hopefully this answered your query. (I don't know if any of my friends have already answered your comment, but too bad)
Oh and thank you very much for the recommendations, I will defiantly make sure to check them all out.
And for everyone else who is interested, here were the authors recommended by grumpyteacher101
1. Edgar Allen Poe (all things insane and creepy)
2. Anne Rice (Vampire and Demonic tales) Best started with Interview with the Vampire
So, that's about it tonight. I wont take up any more of our 'valuable' space on the blog. I am a tad bit afraid that the ridiculously tall girl and blue-haired shorty (both active members of the school Mafia) will come and take me out if I don't stop blogging. Hopefully they class this as a worthwhile blog.
Captain Libeka.
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5 comments:
Captain Libeka - wot a fabulous answer to a deep question. Very well done. Now as a fellow blogger can I please implore all of you to BLOG away - there is plenty of (virtual) space and noone should worry about "hogging" the blog. There should be praise and encouragement from all for the effort you have put in. I never really got into the vampire/ supernatural stuff myself but you have helped me understand why many do. Thankyou. I have a new book that you will get first after this post - my librarian mates reckon its even better than Twilight!!!
For those interested, it is,
A.M. Jenkins "NIGHT ROAD"
To expand on this question I agree with everything you said, I would also like to add in that when I was younger I had an obsession with Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I loved the idea of a female heroine, this also brought too my attention Spike and Angel two vampires with souls.
Since then I have loved the idea of good vampires, Edward in Twilight Etc.
In Interview With A Vampire, I love the way Louis questions the beliefs of those around him, he questions Lestats morals and everything that Claudia and Lestat do, he even questions his own morals. I think a lot of people in the world see things in black and white, good vampires are an example of things that are grey (Even though vampires don't exist)
Grumpy Teacher Strikes Again.
Thankyou for your response. I still find it very interesting that the ideal of vampirism still attracts young audiences.
Could it have to do with sexuality (loss of will power – ideal of vampiric thrall), power (super human), immortality, romance or living a different life?
If we delve back into the past you will find several myths on the creation of vampires. The most popular being the ravings of a drunken Irish man Bram Stoker (Vlad the Impaler myth.) Where still Mr. Dracula is overtly charming in a creepy Mr. Darcy way...but demonised by insane drug addled slayer. See excessively BAD movie Van Hielsing (check spelling.)
Still, even the Egyptians have ideals of the creatures of the night...but I digress...If you still wish more reading Try Bram’s Dracula although the footnotes will kill you.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a very interesting selection and a great example of the highly romanticised notions of vampires. Don’t you find it curious that when Angel loses his soul it is not out of vampiric power but the consummation of their relationship? This being the essential a human trait/need for love and companionship or is the reversal of vampiric thrall?
Finally, communication lecturers at university drool over the premise of a post modern feminine protagonist. However, some have called into question the trite introduction of Faith (the character) into the series as Buffy was considered to effeminate…interesting no?
Recommendations for the day:
1) The Picture of Dorian Gray
2) Faustus
For immortality or dealing with the big man downstairs, you know him the one with the horns and goatee, hooves, trident…
TTFN
Booklovers' Mafia? Sounds intriguing...
But on the topic, I believe that books dealing with the "occult" are rising in popularity quite dramatically amongst teenage readers- need I point to Twilight and the Harry Potter series for examples?
Literature has certainly changed in the last century, as pointed out by Grumpy Teacher. The Chronicles of Narnia, written fifty years ago by C.S Lewis, has some very strong Christian theological concepts woven deeply into the strands of the plot, whereas today, Harry Potter books are prosecuted and burned because of their anti-Christian content.
I agree with Captain Libeka and her elequently written essay- people are drawn towards these books in order to escape the normal relaties of life. Having protangonists that relate to the audience is also an huge factor, as it seems to make the book feel more realistic- this can be seen in nearly all branches of literature. For example, I know a lot of teenagers a little disappointed with Breaking Dawn, simply because they can't relate to Bella's position (or at least, you hope they wouldn't). As a result, they don't enjoy the book as much- the character isn't making the choices that they would in their shoes.
That's my two cents. I would add more, but someone has beaten me to it. :) Have fun spectulating.
RavenclawGal
P.S- I am not ridiculously tall. I am of perfectally average height. You, on the other hand, are a midget. There is a significant difference.
P.P.S- I love you really. Honestly. :D
Thanks you RG. I am not a midget as you have claimed, I am just vertically challenged.
I completeley agree with the point you made about people not being able to relate to Breaking Dawn. I couldn't relate and it was a bit off putting; it would have been better if she had tackled issues that were slightly closer to home. Not the abortion debate and sex after marrige (even though these were good issues; not entirley appropriate for her target audience- well the abortion issue anyway).
Thanks for finally pointing out why I didn't really 'connect' to this book as I did with the others. It has been annoying me for weeks and it wouldn't click! I get it now.
Captain Libeka.
ps. I shot-gun being head of the bookclub mafia, it has great potential.
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