University hosting conference to take 'Twilight'-esque vampire literature back to 'Dracula

'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer - Hatchette Books

Ever since the resurgence of vampires in modern popular culture's literary interests (via the Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse, and Vampire Diaries series), many vampire lore veterans have been pining for the days of yore when vampires had fangs, dark dungeonous castles, and coffins rather than sparkly skin, affections for the living, and the like. 
Well, one university is taking an academic trip down memory lane with a conference dedicated to "relat[ing] the undead in literature, art, and other media to questions concerning gender, technology, consumption, and social change." Sub-topics for the event include "teen vampire/zombie fiction," "identity politics," and "celluloid vampires: adaptations and incarnations." Particular presentation titles for the conference are especially interesting. A couple of such, according to one source, are:

• You are the most dangerous creature I’ve ever met.’: Female Sexuality as Monstrous in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Series
• "The Twilight Saga and the Pleasures of Spectatorship: the Broken Body and the Shining Body.”

This morning's NPR "Morning Edition" spotlight on the matter seems to indicate that the purpose of the talks are to rejuvenate the Draculas and Nosferatus of yesteryear.

Of course, this naturally beckons what is becoming a common discussion for Twilight and True Blood or Vampire Diaries fans: is there any need to justify the shifts in vampire stature offered in modern day or youth literature concerning vampires?

If you liken to the mindset of The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse star Cameron Bright, who made the acute point that "vampires don’t exist" when addressing a similar set of criticisms, then you'll probably say "no."

As far as most Twilight fans seem to be concerned, Dracula and Edward Cullen are light years apart and there's no need to draw parallels or contrasting features between the two. In other words, isn't there room for all versions of fictional beings?

Note also that the school will be offering a Master's Degree in Vampire Literature. Now, if we're being nit-picky here, couldn't the institution of literary academia as a whole hone in on the meritorious comparisons existent between that degree and one centered on, say, Shakespeare? Food for thought.

At any rate, the conference is being held at the University of Hertfordshire (UK) on April 16th and 17th.

Source:examiner