For some reason unbeknownst to The Bucknellian staff, vampires have become an area of obsession amongst the human population in recent years. This could be attributed to the fact that the Harry Potter franchise was coming to a close, and people needed a supernatural security blanket of sorts to keep from going insane. Either way, vampire fever has spread across the United States, particularly among the millennial generation. Vampires have sunk their fangs into every aspect of pop culture, including literature, film and television.
Excitement for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I”–Michelle Joline
Some of our favorite fantasy novel’s film adaptations are coming out this year, including “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part I.” We now only have one more film that includes the Edward vs. Jacob rivalry (meaning no more Taylor Lautner taking his shirt off to win the battle). This film has been highly anticipated because fans finally get to see Edward and Bella tie the knot. Sorry if I spoiled this for anyone, but really, if you were a fan, you probably knew that was going to happen already. Not only are we looking forward to seeing Bella’s wedding gown, but also the flash of a baby bump in the trailer is leading to a considerable amount of excitement around campus. “Thank goodness we have Twilight to look forward to during finals,” Libby Henry ’12 said. There are many more students around campus that are anticipating the excitement of the film, with its desirable teen angst and romantic awkwardness that never disappoints. Girls (and maybe boys) are running to buy tickets for the midnight opening, but I don’t think it’s only the wedding gown catching their attention. We all can look forward to seeing just how director, Bill Condon, decided to re-enact some of the most famous scenes from Stephenie Meyer’s risqué novel.
Vampires in Literature (in no particular order):
This is where it all started: vampires as a creation in literature. The list could go on for miles, since vampires have been a popular subject in literature as early as the 1700s. For this reason, we are limiting our vampire literature to more “contemporary” authors.
1. The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyers
2. The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
3. The Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris
4. A plethora of cheesy romance novels by a variety of authors
5. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
6. The House of Night by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast
7. Bunnicula by Deborah Howe and James Howe
8. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
9. Little Dracula series by Martin Waddell & Joseph Wright
10. The Last Vampire series by Christopher Pike
Vampires in Film (in no particular order):
1. “Dracula”-1931
2. “Dracula: Dead and Loving It”-1995
3. “Van Helsing”-2004
4. “Nosferatu”-1922
5. “Interview with the Vampire”-1994
6. “The Lost Boys”-1987
7. “Blade”-1998
8. The Twilight Saga – 2008-2012
9. “The Addiction”-1995
10. “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”-1992
Vampires in television (in no particular order):
1. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
2. “Being Human” (2008-present)
3. “True Blood” (2008- present)
4. “Angel” (1999-2004)
5. “Dracula: The Series” (1990-1991)
6. “Dark Shadows” (1966-1971)
7. “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-present)
8. “Blade: The Series” (2006)
9. “Sanctuary” (2008-present)
10. “Blood Ties” (2007)
Students’ Thoughts on Vampires:
For the most part, students were either too ashamed or embarrassed to have their names attached to an article highlighting the popularity of vampires in today’s culture. Luckily, some students didn’t mind sharing their thoughts.
“The theme started in a good place, but has grown way too big and has been taken to a level that is annoying.” -Erin Roy ’14
“As someone who revels in reading and understanding history and its underlying principles, I simply don’t have time to concern myself with fictitious creatures that seduce and eventually suck the blood from their victims.” -Jeffrey Finegan ’14