THE CHANGING ROLE OF SEXUALITY AND CONTAGION IN VAMPIRE CINEMA

Abstract

My essay will analyze three vampire franchises that represented important changes in the cultural construction of the vampire figure in the late 20th and the early 21st century, concentrating on the role of sexuality and contagion. I will place the films in a historical context and examine the cultural phenomena that have changed the portrayal of vampire characters. All the mentioned movies replied to certain changes in the role of sexuality and the fear of contagious diseases that affected the vampire’s character. The changes in ideas concerning sexuality contributed to the birth of a new vampire figure, the so-called humanized vampire.