I actually had a somewhat similar conversation with a friend recently. It's very interesting when writers come up with new twists on vampire mythology (such as vampirism as a disease, like akashsheiress mentioned). The vampires in the Twilight books and in the show "Moonlight" all broke the traditional rules, but in different ways. It seems like it's actually more unique now to stick to the perspective that vampires are all evil and sleep in coffins and can be fended off with crosses.
Portraying traditionally evil creatures as more human or redeemable is another way to make an old concept new and fresh again. I think it's also typical of modern storytelling conventions. Villains aren't really allowed to be evil just because; they have to have motivation.
That's all just my take on it though. I'm sure someone may have looked into it seriously before... though maybe not, since sci-fi and fantasy don't get tons of serious scholarship.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-06-13 03:37 pm (UTC)Portraying traditionally evil creatures as more human or redeemable is another way to make an old concept new and fresh again. I think it's also typical of modern storytelling conventions. Villains aren't really allowed to be evil just because; they have to have motivation.
That's all just my take on it though. I'm sure someone may have looked into it seriously before... though maybe not, since sci-fi and fantasy don't get tons of serious scholarship.