Vampire Analysis: Representation of Gender and Sexuality in Vampire Series

In the majority of vampire films and series I've watched they display sexuality openly. I believe over the years the vampire genre has changed slightly but the sexuality in both males and females still remains. I am going to give an analysis on representation of gender and sexuality in two vampire series, True Blood and touch on the subject of empowered women in The Vampire Diaries.

True Blood is a popular American vampire series, which displays sexual content throughout every episode. Firstly I want to point out that the opening theme tune by Jace Everett- Bad Things, the lyrics repeatingly say 'I wanna do bad things with you', which already tells us that this programme has a sexual element to it. Vampires are seen as sex icons because of the way they are represented on our TV screens. Things that create this representation that we visually see is the way they have been dressed such as tops that are low cut and show the bare chest. By dressing like this men seem to instantly fall at their presence. Use of colour wherever it’s used in make up or clothing is a big necessity when attempting to represent a specific type of character and their personality.

True Blood is a modern series so many modern characteristics have been taken and placed in the series to attract a young but mature audience. Mainly we see the vampires feeding on the humans and we can sense their pleasure they experience with blood. Blood is a convention within the vampire genre that has been labelled as what vampires lust over. Red is a very powerful colour, which symbolises danger; love and I would say sexuality too. Even though vampires are seen as a danger to the human species, the humans are still drawn to their superior characteristics.

Red is used commonly in this hit vampire series. The colour is very sexy and femine but also is a sign that that character has a dark side.

In True Blood Fangtasia is a strip club run by the owner, Eric who is a vampire. He sits on the stage on a seat that looks much like a throne and humans are aloud to offer themselves to him.This shows that Eric holds an almost Godly power over humans as they would offer to be bitten for his pleasure but they want to share the pleasure with him and feel like his possession. They have their own civilization and even have their own entertainment for their species to socialize with their own kind but also humans and this tells us that the humans are obsessed with vampires and these usual humans tend do fantasise about being bitten by a vampire. Sadomasochism, commonly know as S&M, which is the act of using chains and whips to give or receive pleasure from acts involving the infliction or reception of pain or humiliation. This has been shown more than a few times in the series and the act does describe the series because of the dark and seductive acts that are shown in almost every episode.

The usuals that hang around in Fangtasia. Colours are very dark and seductive

Eric chaining Sookie by the neck is a demonstration of S&M.

Women vampires specifically are represented as powerful and attractive. For example, Katherine in The Vampire Diaries American series holds power over the Salvatore brothers because of her knowledge and tends to find out secrets before them which allows her to take charge to get exactly what she seek. Adding to this, her physical appearance appears beautiful and pretty much perfect but combined with ugliness because of what vampires live for and the lengths they will go to get it.

Katherine Petrova and Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries. Notice her stance and the way she is  dresses: Tight clothing and high heeled boots. Mostly dark colours in the costume but Katherine has a splash of purple in her top. Possibly outlines the difference between her and Elena (her doppelgänger).
Petrova Doppelgänger is a term used to describe women of the Petrova family line, who are descended from Tatia, the progenitor of the Petrova doppelgänger bloodline. The members of the bloodline include Tatia, Katherine Pierce and Elena Gilbert. A Petrova Doppelgänger is estimated to be born once every 500 years. 
This information was obtained from http://vampirediaries.wikia.com/wiki/Petrova_Doppelgänger

Homosexuality in True Blood has been touched upon at the end of series 5 between both female vampires, Pam and Tara when they shared a passionate kiss. Their relationship isn’t at all romantic but physical. Eric (ex lover) and Pam’s bond could not be compared to hers and Tara’s because she had loyalty and respect for Eric. Tara has come from hard past and has faced hard times from the start of the series to do with her mother but she is a tough fighter and Pam is exactly the same. Tara has started to feel loyalty and respect towards her maker Pam, and this bond may be unbreakable because of the complicated dynamics behind it all.

Tara and Pam (her creator). Their clothes come across as revealing and seductive.

The character Lafayette Reynolds, a gay cook, prostitute and blood dealer does not shy away from being extravagant but this is combined with a signature strength and masculinity that illustrates that he isn’t ashamed of who he is but is boldly defensive of the life he lives and the people he picks to love.

Bellow is a clip which demonstrates Pam's empowerment as a woman vampire. To turn Tara into a vampire which is what Sookie and Lafayette ask for, she makes a deal that is worth her while. Also we are taken by surprise when we see Eric and his sister Nora passionately kissing, which shows they find certain things normal which we would't consider to be. But Bill does appear surprised when Eric introduces her as his sister. Bill is also a vampire and is taken aback, so I don't believe it's normal to be intimate with a sibling. It is something new that I haven't witnessed in the vampire genre.