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November 5, 2009

Vampires need to bite the dust

Blake Morgan-Gamber, Staff Writer
They're everywhere. Ever since the "Twilight" book series was reformatted for the big screen, unnecessary TV shows about vampires have surfaced, ripping off the series' success. Society's interest in the mystery of vampires has become a phenomenon that really bites.

Obsessed fans wear Edward Cullen t-shirts to show their devotion to the "Twilight" series and the vampire they love. Picture courtesy of Twilight Gear.
"Twilight's" success has caused a cascade of vampire spin-offs. On TV, shows such as "True Blood" and "The Vampire Diaries" have sucked in masses of fans who cannot overcome the vampire phase. Ultimately, all of these series regarding modern vampires are the same. Although an attraction to vampires may have originally been an absorbing prospect, such an idea can only be drawn out for so long. Yes, "Twilight" made vampires cool. No, we don't have to be obsessed with them.

I fail to see the appeal of vampires. They suck blood, are ghostly pale and sleep in coffins - how attractive. Veering away from the more classic, "Halloween definition" of vampires with capes and fangs, the most obvious reason for the vampire craze is Robert Pattinson. However, the more modern appearance of vampires is unrealistic. When you stop to consider the fact that teenage girls everywhere are falling head-over-heels for vampires, reality doesn't appear to be much of an issue.

Had the prevalent mass-adoration for vampires been better controlled and less superficial, there would be nothing wrong with a little vampire lovin' from the teenage population. However, now too many teenage girls across the country are proclaiming themselves "Mrs. Edward Cullen." Additionally, shirts, jackets and sweatshirts reading "Mrs. Cullen" or "Team Edward," as well as Edward Cullen dolls, "Twilight" jewelry and perfume, are surfacing among the teenage female population. This ridiculous merchandising has ultimately crushed the early freshness of the "Twilight" series.

What vampire lovers everywhere need to understand is that their persistent admiration for these blood-sucking studs is going to destroy the value of the original idea that stirred the entire media phenomenon. If more of these TV shows and "Twilight" merchandise continue to surface, the initial successful idea will lose its luster.
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Discuss this Article

  • April on November 5, 2009 at 8:19 PM
    Umm hey leave True Blood out of it. True Blood the books have been out for years, and a telepathic waitress isn't exactly the "same". Plus there have been talks about a True Blood show for some time now. The draw is not to the vampire themselves, but the characters, I read the Sookie Stackhouse novels before True Blood came out and well Sookie rocks! So do some of the vampires.
  • Ashleigha on November 5, 2009 at 8:52 PM
    Except that Twilight isn't cool and neither are its vampires. "The Vampire Diaries" and the Sookie Stackhouse novels, on which True Blood are based, were out long before Twilight. If anybody is ripping anybody off...it's Twilight.

    Try researching your topic before spouting off about it.
  • Kara on November 6, 2009 at 12:23 AM
    I fail to see the need for an endless stream of articles whining about a grand total of two vampire shows. I don't see any articles complaining about all the crime procedurals on TV. There must be at least 20 of them and they're all the same. You know everything will be wrapped up by the end of the hour and it doesn't matter if you miss an entire season, you won't have missed anything. At least with True Blood and the Vampire Diaries there are actual story arcs and unpredictable twists.
  • Jo Groenewoud (View Email) on November 6, 2009 at 5:33 AM
    I agree that when there are spin offs of success programs they tend to be not as good as the original. Especially the way some of these shows approach the phenomenon surrounding Vampires detracts from the original mystery that was associated with Vampires. That is why I am amazed that so few people have heard of Vampire High a little known Canadian production.This show has gained a cult status in Europe. Please note this show was produced in 2000 way before Twilight began on its run.

    <a href="http://www.vampirehigh.org">Vampire High and Vampires in History, Geography, Anatomy, and Poetry<a/>
  • Inanna Arthen (View Email) on November 6, 2009 at 3:33 PM
    You say, "I fail to see the appeal of vampires." I'd say that disqualifies you from commenting on the appeal of vampires to others. I'm sure you have your enthuasiasms which are just as opaque to those who don't share them, and you wouldn't have any sympathy for people who sneer at what you enjoy.
    Vampires go through waves of popularity, but they've been a cultural archetype from the moment they were introduced into English in the 17th century, and that will never change. The vampire trope evolves and changes with each decade, and is so diverse, there's a type of vampire story for almost everyone's taste. Twilight is just the fad du jour. It will fade and something else will take its place.
  • Justine (View Email) on November 6, 2009 at 3:58 PM
    True Blood and Vampire Diaries were way before Twilight was even a thought. Both were probably being considered for t.v. around the time that the Twilight series was being written. Perhaps Stephenie Meyer should have stolen a less popular idea and made it popular. Riding on the coattails of previous authors is a cop-out.
  • JANE (View Email) on November 7, 2009 at 11:54 AM
    you don't like vampires ? then don't look ! they were loved before you, and will be here long after anyone cares who you are. and leave "true blood" out of it. it's no copy cat. the books have been popular for many years. besides, the show is for grownups, you wouldn't understand it.
    • chill out on November 8, 2009 at 1:17 AM
      umm, don't like the article? then don't read it
      leave the writer out of this- don't call someone immature simply because they don't like vampires
      oh, and "vampires were loved before" the author? vampires don't exist. that was just rude.
      • JANE on November 9, 2009 at 4:38 PM
        TEENY BIT HARD TO KNOW WHAT AN ARTICLE SAYS, WITHOUT READING IT. HE IS NOT IMMATURE FOR NOT LIKING VAMPIRES, JUST FOR WHINING ABOUT 'EM. LIKE IT'SBEEN SAID, THEY ARE FANTASY, BUT THEIR HISTORY IS ALL OVER THE WORLD, IN MYTH AND LEGEND, AND WILL BE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
        • wowww on November 12, 2009 at 5:30 PM
          okay, "JANE" you really need to relax. I agree with "chill out" about everything. YOU are the one being immature and rude, and it's really ugly. Please get over yourself, and try to understand that everyone's opinions matter, not just yours.

          oh and you call Blake immature, and saying she wouldn't understand the show because it's for "grownups". The last person I heard actually use that word was an 8 year old I babysit for...
  • Sarah on November 7, 2009 at 3:10 PM
    This article rocks, thanks for writing down what we were all thinking.
  • Theresa (View Email) on November 7, 2009 at 10:39 PM
    I don't think it's necessary to go around bashing vampires all the time. Yeah, they're popular. Sure, they star in many shows. But there's a reason for that. People love them! Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood...they're all super popular. I think all this criticism would be more acceptable if people didn't like the shows so much.
    P.S. I LOVE the corny vampire puns.
  • lola lily on November 8, 2009 at 10:05 AM
    It is true that there are some obvious flaws and generalizations in this article, but it doesn't change that this sentiment is indeed representative of a large population of Blair and and everywhere.
    I know the writer's feeling here is not just personal.
  • haoudsdlh on November 8, 2009 at 10:07 AM
    The title is ridiculously clever
  • Eliza on November 8, 2009 at 8:06 PM
    I really enjoy the Twilight books, but I agree with your notion that the craze has gone out of hand. I am now embarrassed to say that I'm a fan of Twilight due to all of the hype. Sadly, I now put Twilight in the same category as the Jonas Brothers; just another teenage-girl obsession.
    • vamped out on November 9, 2009 at 3:16 PM
      i completely agree, i like the twilight books when they first came out, and watched some of true bloods first season, but all the hype has completely killed the appeal. most of the people defending vampires probably likes them originally, but this article is commmenting on the obsessive culture they have cultivated, not the vampires themselves.
  • Valeria (View Email) on November 9, 2009 at 11:26 AM
    I agree, the attention Twilight is getting unnecessary ,but Vampire Diaries is nothing like Twilight in my opinion it's actually better then Twilight, becasue the books came out before the twilight series were written, and Stephenie Meyer might have gotten some ideas from other vampire novels. Vampire Diaries is just different, it doesn't change ideas of what we imagine a vampire could be like, and ever since twilight came out people are attracted to the idea that Vampires "sparkle" when they step out into the sun, that idea is just ridiculous. I know it's not that much of a coincidence that Vampire Diaries came out when vampires are getting so much attention because of Twilight, but it's not that bad.
  • Stupid argument on November 9, 2009 at 9:25 PM
    You guys are arguing about something so stupid. chill out. im a twilight fan but im not obsessed with it. to each is own some like this others like that. we all have different opinions deal with it and stop wasting your lives on stupid arguments :)
  • Adrian on November 10, 2009 at 10:34 AM
    I agree so much with this. People are obsessing over vampires. I went to the movies and there were 3 new vampire movies coming out. Not to mention TV shows and books. However, this fa will crash and burn soon. Hopefully...
  • Esteban Avacado on November 10, 2009 at 2:39 PM
    amen. And the writer did a good job, whether or not the masses of peeved vampire-infuated fangirls say so.
  • blakelovers on November 11, 2009 at 12:28 PM
    this whole argument is completely stupid and unnecessarily mean. leave blake alone. we love you blake!
  • Riley on November 14, 2009 at 10:55 AM
    I love this article. Great job, Blake. Your puns are fantastic. All the heated comments means you wrote something people are reading. Awesome work.
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