Vampire - part I

I would like to familiarize you with the very fashionable and popular phenomenon in recent times - vampires;)

Supernatural phenomena existed in the human consciousness since ancient times. They were mysterious, incomprehensible, and yet fascinating. In every culture, there are legends, and myths about ghosts. Magic and supernatural forms of existence were an important element of the old beliefs of peoples, even for our ancestors-Slavs. (Maria Janion writes about it in her interesting book “Niesamowita Słowiańszczyzna”« Amazing Slavic ». This myth is deeply rooted in the collective psychology. Over the next century, people became conscious of the unreality of ghosts. However, this area has continuously remained in the range of human interests and awareness. This is manifested in the works of eminent painters, writers and musicians. Also today, the creators of all sorts of culture, offer videos, books, plays, filled with mysterious characters. In every age, artists presented their ideas about spirits, ghosts, vampires in a different way. Vampires also performed various functions: once they were used to express the views the poet, other times to project the inner life of man, and in modern times, their role is primarily entertaining and commercial.

An interesting realization of the human imagination associated with the sphere of the supernatural are vampires. They are depicted in art, literature and film as children of night feeding on human blood, condemned to wander in darkness forever.

The first mention of blood-eating creatures takes us back to the times of ancient Babylon. However, this topic developed further in medieval Europe. This was done through the Wallachian prince Vladema III Tepesm called Dracula. He was a cruel ruler who punished the slightest transgressions very cruelly. After the assassination of Valda, the first stories and legends about Draculli king of vampires, a living corpse, appeared.

Vladem III Tepesm Dracula’a Castle

The Dracula figure has been used in many films, books, and a variety of arts. Vampires created by the artists initially aroused great terror among the public. Although it seemed that they see vampires as a fictional characters, but in the depths of their soul,they were afraid of Dracula, as if he was real. It seems that the mentality of people now differes only a little from the

ir medieval ancestors, who sincerely believed in the existence of the supernatural.

The legend of the monster aroused great terror in 1897, when Bram Stoker published his book titled "Dracula." It describes the history of transylvanian Count, a vampire living in the darkness, in a destroyed castle, who aroused fear among his people. As a vampire, he sleeps in a coffin by day and hunts at night. He sucks blood from his victims. Dracula has many magical abilities. He can take many forms, he doesn't have a reflection in the mirror, doesn't need to eat or drink. He can dissolve into thin air.

The first film modeled on Stoker's novel was a picture by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, titled "Nosferatu - Symphony of horror", which premiered on March 5, 1922 in Germany. This film was not only the first film about the topics related to vampires, but also the first horror movie in cinema history.

Preview

The main character played by Max Schreck. Schreck was a vampire with a bald skull, pointed ears, teeth sharp like needles, nervous movements of a hungry predator, and cruel eyes.

The figure, which was brought to life by Max Schreck was something new. He was inhuman, repelled strangers and that is why it was so scary. The actor who has played the vampire, fulfilled his role so well that there were rumors that he himself is a bloodsucker.

Special effects available today compared to those used in Nosferatu, may cause us to laugh. However, at that time the development of cinematography, the film became a huge success. Realistic and imaginative way of the presentation of the specter, has attracted crowd of viewers to cinemas. This means that the director has achieved his objective and the task of creation the vampire was done. Indeed, the main aim was to interest the biggest number of spectators, hence the basic function of Nosferatu was commerce.

The Best Scene of Nosferatu movie


whole movie

As I already mentioned, today's special effects cause that Nosferatu, may amuse. What's more, it should be noted, that today such a theme is generally the subject of jokes. Moreover, it is intended largely for young people. But we will talk about that, next time ...

Questions:

- Have you ever heard about vampire? If yes what?

- Describe your vision about vampire?

- Did you see some move about vampire or read some book about it? If yes, please give us some example.

- Have you ever heard about “Bram Stoker” book?

- Did you ever see "Nosferatu - Symphony of horror"? If yes, write about your feelings. If no, do you want to see it?

- Would you like to spend a night in Dracula castle?? If yes, why? If no, why not??