by @charlottelkaix @0xaphi

Razor-sharp fangs, an appetite for human blood, an uncontrollable aversion to sunlight – these are probably what most people think of when they hear the word vampire. The mythos of the vampire has been solidified in the public consciousness for centuries, only growing more prevalent with the countless pieces of media featuring them. But why exactly have vampires remained so popular with audiences? Out of all mythical creatures, there seems to be something about them that has led to their immense staying power as cultural icons.

        The idea of the vampire has been around for a very long time. For several hundred years, they appeared in the folklore of various cultures, most prominently in Europe.

Vampires were thought to be immortal undead creatures that hunted humans to drink their blood. They possessed fangs with which to bite their victims and drain them dry. It is theorised that a lack of understanding about how diseases spread may have contributed to these beliefs, as they were especially prominent during periods of plague. However, several methods were said to defend against them – the most famous being garlic, sunlight, or driving a wooden stake through their hearts. Humans had every reason to fear vampires; a bite from one would irreversibly turn them into a vampire themselves. Fortunately, in this day and age, vampires exist mainly in fiction rather than as genuine threats.

        Of course, one cannot discuss vampires without mentioning Bram Stoker’s iconic classic, Dracula. This landmark 1897 work essentially provided the foundation for how vampires were portrayed in Western popular culture for generations, later inspiring countless movie adaptations. The 1931 film of the same name featured the famous cape-wearing count, played by Bela Legosi. It is widely believed that this portrayal, now considered a classic of horror cinema, cemented the image of the vampire in the public imagination.

        Vampires were depicted in many gothic works throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, contributing to their rise in popular culture.They were traditionally portrayed as evil and barbaric – more animal than human– due to their predatory nature. Vampires were also used to weave in subtext and social commentary, as the conservative culture of Europe at the time discouraged direct portrayals of taboo subjects. However, over time, there was a shift in how they were perceived. 

        Anne Rice’s 1976 debut novel, Interview with the Vampire, marked a major turning point in the portrayal of vampires in popular fiction. Morally grey and far more sympathetic, her vampires reflected more emotions and humanity than in prior works. Since then, modern iterations of vampires have often taken a more positive nature, focusing on relationships between humans and vampires rather than the animalistic portrayals of the Victorian era. Because of this, vampires began to feature prominently in the romance genre as love interests – the most famous in recent memory being none other than the Twilight series. The inherent conflict of a relationship where one is the natural enemy of the other creates uniquely complex dynamics between characters, which may explain why vampire romances continue to be so beloved.

        Interestingly, the idea of the vampire has grown so prominent in popular culture that it perpetuates itself. The ubiquity of the vampire means that whenever they are mentioned, people instantly conjure a mental image of their traits. This may be why writers love using them in their works – to create a particular atmosphere or set of expectations – which, in turn, further reinforces their legend.

        The vampire may ultimately be nothing more than an interesting piece of folklore, but one thing is for certain: their immortality has been cemented in human history through their enduring mythos and countless appearances in art and media.