Tag Archives: Vampires

Caasandra Clare’s City of Heavenly Fire

Posted on 29th March 2015 by William the Bloody

I’ve finally got round to finishing City of Heavenly Fire, the last book in the splendid YA paranormal romance series, The Mortal Instruments. Cassandra Clare writes with considerable flair, but her characterisation is exceptionally strong–you really do care for the … Continue reading →

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Was Elizabeth Bathory onto something?

Posted on 26th March 2015 by firekrank

Yesterday an article entitled ‘Why I consumed my own blood’ appeared on the BBC News website. With such a compelling title, I couldn’t help but give the article a read and was suitably disturbed and intrigued. The ‘Vampire Facial/Facelift’ has … Continue reading →

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Sir Christopher Frayling and Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber

Posted on 25th March 2015 by William the Bloody

Sir Christopher Frayling has applied his immense erudition to many areas of popular culture but will be best known here, perhaps, for his pioneering study, Vampyres: Lord Byron to Count Dracula (1978), which made academic research into vampire fiction respectable. … Continue reading →

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Value and Ideology in YA Fiction

Posted on 25th March 2015 by William the Bloody

When studying popular culture (that created for younger people in particular), the question of value inevitably appears. YA fiction is often seen as not worthy of serious regard, particularly if it’s ‘genre’ fiction such as paranormal romance (gritty realism is … Continue reading →

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Feminism and the cinematic female vampire

Posted on 24th March 2015 by firekrank

A nice analysis of some of the most familiar vampiresses on the silver screen that aims to explore ‘How the vampire became film’s most feminist monster’. Great to see the inclusion of Park Chan-wook’s Stoker (2013) which is one of my favourite … Continue reading →

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Prince Lestat: A New Era for the Vampire Chronicles of Anne Rice

Posted on 23rd March 2015 by William the Bloody

Leigh McLennon reviews Anne Rice’s return to The Vampire Chronicles with Prince Lestat, asking how Rice has adapted her vampires to suit the changed social conditions since the series began.

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Barry Forshaw ‘Sex and Death: Vampires from Coleridge to Hammer’

Posted on 23rd March 2015 by William the Bloody

Instructive extract from Barry Forshaw’s British Gothic Cinema on the vampire theme in Gothic fiction from Coleridge’s ‘Christabel’ through ‘Carmilla’ and dracula to its incarnation in cinema.

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Is Your Supernatural Spirit Animal a Vampire or a Werewolf?

Posted on 23rd March 2015 by William the Bloody

Perhaps the biggest division between scholars and fans of paranormal romance is that over vampires versus werewolves. Take this quiz and find out who you are. It’s incredibly scientific and accurate, as demonstrated by its assuring me that I am … Continue reading →

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Booking now: Daughter of Fangdom: Women and the Television Vampire

Posted on 12th March 2015 by Sam George

Just posting a reminder about this informative and entertaining event. Students should book before 18th March to get the cheap rate. I will be there hopefully doing some chairing and listening to the interesting talks. Look forward to seeing you. … Continue reading →

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Happy 18th, Buffy!

Posted on 10th March 2015 by William the Bloody

My interest in vampire fiction and subsequent exploration of the genre of paranormal romance was initially aroused by the now-classic TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is eighteen years old today. Created by Joss Whedon and combining wit and … Continue reading →

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