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anotheranonDisclaimer: I like vampire novels. Historic ones, comic ones, erotic ones, crap ones - I'll usually give anything with two fangs in it a look, no matter how awful - they are my "junk food" reading. Having said this:
Evidently some conservative is trying to frame a YA vampire romance series as promoting traditional gender roles. I've not read the novels in question, but the synopsis, while sounding kinda predictable angsty teenage romance (think I will give this one a miss, despite disclaimer), it doesn't sound exactly traditional - love triangle with vampire/werewolf/human?
I think that Amanda @ Pandagon hits closer to the mark when she suggests that vampires are a tidy stand-in for repressed sexual longing, but even that doesn't get to why I enjoy the genre so much. I started reading Anne Rice at 14 and while sexy blonde vampires are exciting for the obvious reasons I always wanted to be Lestat more than be bitten by him.
This is largely because I was a stressed out teenager with little autonomy being taught to be afraid of the world, so there was real appeal in being the thing that others fear. Even as a competent adult who has long outgrown Rice, it's the power and freedom that's alluring. One of the things I enjoyed about Bloodsucking Fiends (besides the turkey bowling) was the vampire Jody's realization that she can walk around alone at night without fear.
Evidently some conservative is trying to frame a YA vampire romance series as promoting traditional gender roles. I've not read the novels in question, but the synopsis, while sounding kinda predictable angsty teenage romance (think I will give this one a miss, despite disclaimer), it doesn't sound exactly traditional - love triangle with vampire/werewolf/human?
I think that Amanda @ Pandagon hits closer to the mark when she suggests that vampires are a tidy stand-in for repressed sexual longing, but even that doesn't get to why I enjoy the genre so much. I started reading Anne Rice at 14 and while sexy blonde vampires are exciting for the obvious reasons I always wanted to be Lestat more than be bitten by him.
This is largely because I was a stressed out teenager with little autonomy being taught to be afraid of the world, so there was real appeal in being the thing that others fear. Even as a competent adult who has long outgrown Rice, it's the power and freedom that's alluring. One of the things I enjoyed about Bloodsucking Fiends (besides the turkey bowling) was the vampire Jody's realization that she can walk around alone at night without fear.
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my ill-formed $0.02
Date: 2008-08-20 12:33 am (UTC)The only vampire story I've read is The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez
OTOH, two of my favorite show of all time, ever are BtVS and Angel. *shrugs* Go figure.
Re: my ill-formed $0.02
Date: 2008-08-20 10:42 pm (UTC)Re: The Gilda Stories
Date: 2008-08-21 02:27 am (UTC)Might also want to check out Octavia Butler's "Fledgling", as it has a sort of "extended family" relationship between a vampire and their household. Not scary at all and as ever, well written.
Re: The Gilda Stories
Date: 2008-08-21 10:15 am (UTC)I read The Gilda Stories in college, so all I remember now was that the book was about lesbian vampires. They kinda had me hooked with the premise! ;)
Re: The Gilda Stories
Date: 2008-08-21 12:22 pm (UTC)"The Gilda Stories" has been around a long time and it's a damn pity I'd not heard of it 'til now. Thanks for the rec!