So after a complete emotional melt down this after noon, I've decided the easiest thing to do is a topic with conflicting evidence. Right?
Whatever.
Watergate scandal. Thoughts? Better? Worse?
i seriously hate all forms of major works right now, they're sending me insane.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I have made
No progress since my last post.
Success! No, wait.. it's not.
Whatever.
Anyone want to hit up state library wednesday?
Success! No, wait.. it's not.
Whatever.
Anyone want to hit up state library wednesday?
Monday, January 18, 2010
Question for Extension History
My focus question for this course will be developed from the topic of Oral History with components of History in the Media, as I'll be exploring not only oral myths and legends, but how they were portrayed over time in films, novels, poetry and art.
My question:
How has the image of the Vampire expressed in oral history and folklore transformed into the image we perceive through Modern medias? How does this change of image reflect the society of the time?
*awaits puns nervously*
My question:
How has the image of the Vampire expressed in oral history and folklore transformed into the image we perceive through Modern medias? How does this change of image reflect the society of the time?
*awaits puns nervously*
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Vlad the Impaler
As a few of the Extension English people know, one of the most commonly known images and ideas surrounding vampires comes from Bram Stokers Dracula, arguably one of the most well renowned novels about vampires. The nature of this story does hold some historical significance however.
Introduction
Most authorities believe the character of Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel was based upon the historical figure Vlad Tepes (pronounced tse-pesh), who intermittently ruled an area of the Balkans called Wallachia in the mid 15th century. He was also called by the names Vlad III, Vlad Dracula and Vlad the Impaler. The word Tepes stands for "impaler" and was so coined because of Vlad’s propensity to punish victims by impaling them on stakes, then displaying them publicly to frighten his enemies and to warn would-be transgressors of his strict moral code. He is credited with killing between 40,000 to 100,000 people in this fashion.
Origin of the name "Dracula"
King Sigismund of Hungary, who became the Holy Roman Emperor in 1410, founded a secret fraternal order of knights called the Order of the Dragon to uphold Christianity and defend the Empire against the Ottoman Turks. Its emblem was a dragon, wings extended, hanging on a cross. Vlad III’s father (Vlad II) was admitted to the Order around 1431 because of his bravery in fighting the Turks. From 1431 onward Vlad II wore the emblem of the order and later, as ruler of Wallachia, his coinage bore the dragon symbol.
The word for dragon in Romanian is "drac" and "ul" is the definitive article. Vlad III’s father thus came to be known as "Vlad Dracul," or "Vlad the dragon." In Romanian the ending "ulea" means "the son of". Under this interpretation, Vlad III thus became Vlad Dracula, or "the son of the dragon." (The word "drac" also means "devil" in Romanian. The sobriquet thus took on a double meaning for enemies of Vlad Tepes and his father.)*
-x-
* http://www.donlinke.com/drakula/vlad.htm
Introduction
Most authorities believe the character of Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel was based upon the historical figure Vlad Tepes (pronounced tse-pesh), who intermittently ruled an area of the Balkans called Wallachia in the mid 15th century. He was also called by the names Vlad III, Vlad Dracula and Vlad the Impaler. The word Tepes stands for "impaler" and was so coined because of Vlad’s propensity to punish victims by impaling them on stakes, then displaying them publicly to frighten his enemies and to warn would-be transgressors of his strict moral code. He is credited with killing between 40,000 to 100,000 people in this fashion.
Origin of the name "Dracula"
King Sigismund of Hungary, who became the Holy Roman Emperor in 1410, founded a secret fraternal order of knights called the Order of the Dragon to uphold Christianity and defend the Empire against the Ottoman Turks. Its emblem was a dragon, wings extended, hanging on a cross. Vlad III’s father (Vlad II) was admitted to the Order around 1431 because of his bravery in fighting the Turks. From 1431 onward Vlad II wore the emblem of the order and later, as ruler of Wallachia, his coinage bore the dragon symbol.
The word for dragon in Romanian is "drac" and "ul" is the definitive article. Vlad III’s father thus came to be known as "Vlad Dracul," or "Vlad the dragon." In Romanian the ending "ulea" means "the son of". Under this interpretation, Vlad III thus became Vlad Dracula, or "the son of the dragon." (The word "drac" also means "devil" in Romanian. The sobriquet thus took on a double meaning for enemies of Vlad Tepes and his father.)*
-x-
* http://www.donlinke.com/drakula/vlad.htm
Vampirism is a disease?
So speaking in general terms, vampirism was something passed from vampire to human either through a bite, or through the humans consumption of vampire blood. However in more modern times, we can see the influence of science coming in on this myth through the V5 virus.
== Virus ==
A possible medical explanation for the physiological differences between vampires and humans comes in the form of a virus called V5 ("Vee Five"), not to be mistaken for HIV5. "Viral vampires," as they are called, have been known to experience anemia, increased night vision or sensitivity to light, a stronger immune system or slowed aging process, and in some cases, more acute psychic capabilities. This would explain the propagation of much vampire folklore.
V5 can be passed on to a child via the mother, or from an exchange with an infected person, much like HIV or the flu. The virus alters the recipient's DNA, but theoretically, he or she must have an ideal blood chemistry and relatively weak immune system to allow the change.*
Ah, is that so? So vampirism is something similar to a cold? No blood sucking, no brides and sons of satan running around slaughtering the innocent? You may be thinking this is far fetched... You are most certainly right. It's a fake. the V5 virus is NOT a form of human evolution, it holds no links to turning a human into a vampire and most likely the disease itself doesn't exist. Still interesting how in medieval times the vampire myth was promoted so the churches could keep control of people and the hierarchy influenced how the folklore was told, as todays society has used science to try and promote the phenomnia as real.
-x-
* http://www.helium.com/items/675909-the-lifestyle-choice-of-being-a-vampire
http://www.sodahead.com/living/v5-virus-do-you-belive-in-it/blog-123429/
== Virus ==
A possible medical explanation for the physiological differences between vampires and humans comes in the form of a virus called V5 ("Vee Five"), not to be mistaken for HIV5. "Viral vampires," as they are called, have been known to experience anemia, increased night vision or sensitivity to light, a stronger immune system or slowed aging process, and in some cases, more acute psychic capabilities. This would explain the propagation of much vampire folklore.
V5 can be passed on to a child via the mother, or from an exchange with an infected person, much like HIV or the flu. The virus alters the recipient's DNA, but theoretically, he or she must have an ideal blood chemistry and relatively weak immune system to allow the change.*
Ah, is that so? So vampirism is something similar to a cold? No blood sucking, no brides and sons of satan running around slaughtering the innocent? You may be thinking this is far fetched... You are most certainly right. It's a fake. the V5 virus is NOT a form of human evolution, it holds no links to turning a human into a vampire and most likely the disease itself doesn't exist. Still interesting how in medieval times the vampire myth was promoted so the churches could keep control of people and the hierarchy influenced how the folklore was told, as todays society has used science to try and promote the phenomnia as real.
-x-
* http://www.helium.com/items/675909-the-lifestyle-choice-of-being-a-vampire
http://www.sodahead.com/living/v5-virus-do-you-belive-in-it/blog-123429/
Books Books Books
I'll be hitting up the library soon, not sure how much information I'll find on vampirism.
Apparently though, this is an amazing book.. worth getting??
http://www.amazon.com/Vampires-Vampirism-Montague-Summers/dp/0486439968/ref=pd_sim_b_4
Apparently though, this is an amazing book.. worth getting??
http://www.amazon.com/Vampires-Vampirism-Montague-Summers/dp/0486439968/ref=pd_sim_b_4
Thursday, January 14, 2010
I'm never going to Romania.
Romania
Romanian vampires were known as moroi (from a Slavic word meaning "nightmare") and strigoi, with the latter classified as either living or dead. Live strigoi were described as living witches with two hearts or souls, sometimes both.[40] Strigoi were said to have the ability to send out their souls at night to meet with other strigoi and consume the blood of livestock and neighbours. Similarly, dead strigoi were described as reanimated corpses that also sucked blood and attacked their living family. Live strigoi became revenants after their death, but there were also many other ways of a person becoming a vampire. A person born with a caul, an extra nipple, a tail, or extra hair[41] was doomed to become a vampire. The same fate applied to the seventh child in any family if all of his or her previous siblings were of the same sex, as well as someone born too early or someone whose mother had encountered a black cat crossing her path. If a pregnant woman did not eat salt or was looked upon by a vampire or a witch, her child would also become a vampire. So too would a child born out of wedlock, although many of these superstitions rose from the clergy in order to keep their subjects compliant. Others who were at risk of becoming vampires were those who died an unnatural death or before baptism. Finally, a person with red hair and blue eyes was seen as a potential strigoi.
Well, theres one holiday destination I can strike off my list.
Romanian vampires were known as moroi (from a Slavic word meaning "nightmare") and strigoi, with the latter classified as either living or dead. Live strigoi were described as living witches with two hearts or souls, sometimes both.[40] Strigoi were said to have the ability to send out their souls at night to meet with other strigoi and consume the blood of livestock and neighbours. Similarly, dead strigoi were described as reanimated corpses that also sucked blood and attacked their living family. Live strigoi became revenants after their death, but there were also many other ways of a person becoming a vampire. A person born with a caul, an extra nipple, a tail, or extra hair[41] was doomed to become a vampire. The same fate applied to the seventh child in any family if all of his or her previous siblings were of the same sex, as well as someone born too early or someone whose mother had encountered a black cat crossing her path. If a pregnant woman did not eat salt or was looked upon by a vampire or a witch, her child would also become a vampire. So too would a child born out of wedlock, although many of these superstitions rose from the clergy in order to keep their subjects compliant. Others who were at risk of becoming vampires were those who died an unnatural death or before baptism. Finally, a person with red hair and blue eyes was seen as a potential strigoi.
Well, theres one holiday destination I can strike off my list.
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