okay so what's the deal with America's sudden obsession with vampires?
I feel like it all started with Twilight and TrueBlood, now there's vampire diaries on the CW, numerous vampire movies (ex: Jennifer's Body) and i dont even know what else but I feel like I've been seeing it everywhere!

I don't have a hatred for vampires but its just so random.. Where did this new fad come from? and whats your opinion on it?

(btw elections are closing in hours so make sure to vote!!:D)

I'm for one am not a big fan of these new vampire movies and shows. I haven't seen twilight and I have a feeling I wont like it. And there is no way any new show on TV can top the brilliance of Buffy the vampire slayer...

I think we've always had a fascination with vampires. I can't really speak of much before my time but in the 90s you had Interview with the Vampires (books and movie, although not sure when the books came out), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and (later) Angel. There certainly seems to be a much larger portion of the population into vampires due to Twilight.

I watch True Blood but that's it. I didn't even know there was more vampire stuff out aside from True Blood and Twilight (I don't watch a lot of TV). I honestly don't care for Twilight too much. I can understand why a lot of people are into it, I just couldn't get into the books and did not like the movie at all (was forced to watch the movie by one of my Twilight loving friends). I'll stick to Harry Potter for recent books turned into movies.

There are actually a lot of vampire series out there besides twilight, which is really the last on the list as far as I am concerned. Kelly armstrong has some stories featuring them, obviously charlaine harris, the anita blake series (1-9 good books after that no good,) lynsay sands has a whole series on vampires, kim harrison, and so many more. They all started before twilight, sorry i am no fan of those books.
Why I think people are interested in vampires is because they represent a shadow of our selves. Shadow in the sense they are everything that we are not allowed to be. Overtly sexual, aggressive, always beautiful, ageless, and dangerous. There are a fantasy and a fear, depending on who writes them and they inhabit a world that scares of us, night.

Yeah I noticed that too about the increase of vampires. I read all the twilight books and enjoyed it but the movies to me were subpar. I guess because of the twilight craze it added more incentive to other filmmakers to create something similar in hopes to attain as much popularity.

1. I'VE SEEN JENNIFER'S BODY AND IT'S NOT A VAMPIRE FLICK.
Just wanted to point that out. She doesn't suck blood. She just sort of eats people--more cannibalistic and demonic.

2. I agree about the vampire obsession...especially the girls who are all like "ooh forget diamonds i wantz a sparkly vampire".

A lot of my friends are into that stuff though, so I pretty much keep quiet around them.

I heard the last good vampire novels were by Anne Rice. Maybe I should start reading those and get an idea of what good vampire fiction is like...

I don't understand what the obsession is, but I do see the point that you are trying. Now that you mentioned it I do notice a thread with the whole Vampire thing ever since "Twilight" came out. I guess the reason that people are obsessed with them is because they are portrayed as something that they may not necessarily be. For example, in Twilight the vampire, Edward falls in love with Bella who is the antagonist throughout the whole novel. Through the relationship that they share, it portrays them as the perfect couple because of the constant struggles that they are forced to face. The fatal attraction that could ultimately mean life or death for the both of them makes the relationship that they share strong and almost in a way to us, the readers or viewers almost envious.

The same goes with "Vampire Diaries". Stephen is a vampire and is in love with Elena. And though the relationship that they share is wrong they continue to do it even though it does come with some risk.

So ultimately, I guess the obsession with Vampire isn't that they drink blood or are "immortal", but that they have something that most of us in life as realistic people feel that we need. They have "love".

I really liked the Twilight series. It was easy reading and not hard at all to get into. I have never liked science fiction/fantasy(I've never even read Harry Potter) but I like the way Stephanie Meyer writes and presents the story. It was very straight to the point and not a lot of reflection/obsession over feelings, etc. I liked her literary style because she said things through her character's dialogue and actions, instead of telling us herself what was going on. I see this as a sort of "no-nonsense" approach that appealed to me and obviously worked on others. And I think it was good in a way because a lot of teens who don't usually pick up a book unless they are required to for school were reading. I used to work in a library and every once in while a new book or series came out that brought unusually high amounts of teens to the library, like GossipGirl for example. These might be considered kitsch by a lot of people, but at least people are reading!

I noticed that they added the Twilight factor to 90210, which made me laugh. I don't watch the show regularly so I don't know the storyline, but I saw on last night's episode there is a character named Jasper who looks like he should be in one of the Twilight movies. He is considered "weird" by kids at school(like the Cullens), him and Annie have an unhealthy devotion towards each other(like Edward and Bella), and even his house looks like the ones the Cullens had in the movie! In addition, he is pale and a bunch of other stuff I could point out. Not to mention how Twilight-esque his names ounds. So I would have to agree, this is getting a tad out of hand ha ha.

elleselle:
Twilight... not a lot of reflection/obsession over feelings,

LMAO.
Sorry. I read the Twilight series too and sort of enjoyed it...until someone was kind enough to point out all the *angst* there was in the series. Bella was always obsessing over Edward and/or Jacob.
Maybe because I'm something of a feminist and I don't like over-possessive boyfriends like Edward. He was sweet in every other way (if not creepy), but demanding that Bella shouldn't see Jacob and always questioning her .... well, that doesn't exactly work in his favor.
Not saying Jacob was perfect either, but at least he was a little more relaxed.

Dont forget the movie called "Daybreakers"! =D Its gonna be in theatres in January 8th 2010.
"In the year 2019, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind."
When you posted this forum, i just noticed all the people obsessing about vampires! And yeah...i guessing all this started because of "Twilight".

Karin- I was referring to her literary style, not the content in the book but how it was presented. I guess its kinda confusing what I was trying to say so I won't elaborate on it because I don't think I can find the words to explain myself=] I probably sound like a lunatic right about now but I guess I'll just have to risk that! Anyways, I myself am team Jacob because I think I share the same views as you about Edward's overprotective ways.

I admit, I do have a new found obsession with Vampires. I watched Twilight a few days ago and now I am hooked. My fiancé and I are going to the movies this weekend to see New Moon. It seems to be all I hear about on the radio this week. I also want to see The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. I saw a few interviews about the movie and now I want to see it.

Anyhow, about the vampires, I hope New Moon is as good as Twilight was. I am going to the library this afternoon to get the books. I hear they are much better than the TV series or movie.

I think that the vampire obsessions is due to the same focus on underage drinking and things like that. It goes along with the mentality that you want what you cant have. Vampire and everlasting life is exotic and no one can have it so it is the ideal life, or at least that is how it is portrayed. It also helps that the characters chosen to play in the movies are attractive. The obsession, in my opinion is derived from the exotic feel of vampires. because they are mystical and mysterious.

TO START OFF, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF VAMPIRES BUT THEY CAN BE PRETTY COOL SOMETIMES; ONLY IN MOVIES I PREFER THEM. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF SOMEONE TURNED INTO ONE. LOL. BUT I BEGAN LIKING THEM I WOULD SAY WHEN BUFFY THE VAMPIRE FIRST AIRED ON TV

Vampires, to me, appear to be sex symbols in a way. I just watched an episode of Vampire Diaries, and the most of the scenes were intense. Two of the scenes were shirtless. Another ways a "love" scene. People are attracted to.....sexiness. The fourth installment of Twilight has an entire chapter about sex. That's what the majority of culture appeal to these days.

I am not on board for this vampire obsession. i do not see the amusement in it. I will not be going to see New Moon or read any of the Twilight Books.

The deal here is the way the vampires are being portrayed. If you really think about it, not all vampires have to be hot or sexy its the fact that they have a little extra that brings tension yet attractiveness luring a mere human to like such being. Its something that really can't explain. You can look at the actors and observe them and how they play the character. You don't have to like the movie show or whatever you just pay attention to the character and details to what they do say and or movements and see the attraction of a vampire itself.

I would say that you're absolutely right in that the TV shows and spinoffs and subsequent movies have come from the Twilight craze... it's a pity in my view, as Werewolves are so much more complicated and less romanticized than Vampires.
And all of the modern teen-drama exposure has turned them into such a group of pansies!!! It's so sad - if your read old vampire-themed books, or even watch the older movies (Interview with a Vampire - if you haven't watched it, you should get on that) you see a bunch of absolutely hardcore, evil possessed beings with a drive for death and blood. Whereas now... they're angsty pop-culture icons who can't tie their shoelaces without a dramatic sign, and EATING PEOPLE??? Who the hell came up with that idea? That would get spots on the outfit!
As a friend of mine so perfectly posted the other day:
Dear Twilight: To a 200 year old blood guzzling vampire, a high school kid is not a paramour, she's a snack. She isn't gazed upon from afar like an object of courtly love. She's glanced at like a bag of chex party mix and treated accordingly.

I really love the twilight series. Its not just because its about vampires, its just a great love story. I never read books, so for me to read the whole series must tell you something. :D

Oh and I don't watch any other vampire stuff, it makes me angry that they are trying to be like twilight.

Myself, not a fan at all of any of the vampire movies or shows out right now. I've never watched Twilight, but have already heard way too much about it. You know it is similar to your favorite song on the radio. You hear it for the first time and you go crazy. You start listening to it all the time and are excited every time you hear it after that. Next, it gets to be annoying after some time. You begin hearing it constantly, everyone talking about it, and your whole world around you seems to be consumed by it. At this time, you see that you no longer get excited when you hear it and the obsession just fades away.

Just like your favorite song, all this vampire stuff with get over played. It is purely a fad that will soon be over. It comes and goes with the times and the people. I'm such a person that listens or watches stuff until it gets to the point of being popular, then it no longer attracts me. It gets annoying.

It is funny how movie remakes make the books so much more popular. Just think how many people wouldn't even know the story of Twilight if the movie had never come out. I don't think it is the storyline that has everyone hooked, but more so the people that play in the movie. I bet if a tally was made and you asked everyone why they watched the movie, it would be because they think the characters are "hot" or "cute." It's almost like The Lord of The Rings, you never hear about it and the people in the movie you never see anymore. Just another example of popularity with the times. The craze will soon end and it will be but a memory in everyone's minds.