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New York, 3:07 AM
Mon Nov 9
14 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/29/09
10/29/09
[gawker.com] #esquire
10/29/09
10/29/09
I realize none of that addresses the real subject of the post, but the reliance on technology to enhance a hard-copy publication makes me unspeakably sad. Especially since I don't own a webcam. #esquire
10/29/09
10/29/09
As for the "glory days", get any book by George Lois, and you'll have your fill. It was good stuff, but you can only read so much old news. #esquire
10/29/09
10/14/09
I can live with that.
10/13/09
The modern vampire (as opposed to the medieval revenant or the ancient lamia, et al) has always been a queer figure: compare Le Fanu's "Carmilla", portions of Stoker's "Dracula", and countless other works of fiction, particularly in the 19th century when vampire fiction became popularized. The vampire is a stand-in for a generalized outsider. He or she is almost invariably foreign (often coded non-white, off-white [Irish, Italian, any kind of Catholic] and/or non-Christian), overtly sexual, and of some kind of non-normative sexuality (be it lesbian, gay, bisexual, or just sadomasochistic).
Anne Rice and other 20th century writers have only served to underline this principle of the genre. Even Angel and Spike from Buffy/Angel were bisexual sadists, and that was on network TV! Being a vampire is all about being an Other so marginalized and demonized that the very touch of the sun -- of day, of polite society -- sets you on fire.
It's not supposed to make you sparkle before you head for the chapel to marry a heterosexual white girl.
10/13/09
10/13/09
10/13/09
I can see people not liking the teen vampire genre. But I don't see how its "offensive" because it misappropriates anything, much less gay iconography.
10/13/09
There are a lot of people more articulate than me with PhDs and stuff who have written about Stoker, Le Fanu and Polidori and the genre they created, and how it is very very queer. I wish I had some essays on hand for you, but it's been ages since I investigated this topic in a class setting.
Where this kind of thing becomes 'offensive' (I probably should have used the word 'problematic' instead, as it's less charged) is when archetypal characters generally used to represent marginalized persons are appropriated by non-marginalized persons.
For a rather extreme example, it's sort of like casting a white guy as Othello; sure, a "Moor" isn't necessarily a black person (more likely an Arab or Berber), but the literary tradition around the Moor means that the archetype is used to represent black people otherwise marginalized in predominantly white literature.
10/13/09
And even if Twilight is some kind of appropriation of queer iconography, so what? No one is going to lose a Ph.D. over it. There's nothing new under the sun. The queer iconography you speak of was appropriated from historical myth. I guess I just don't really what's offensive or problematic about it. It's just another genre rising up out of centuries' old myths.
10/13/09
10/13/09
I say this, and by the love of Jason Patric, let someone hear me. Vampires are supposed to be about sex. Whether hetero or gay sex (look at Ann Rice's subtext. Or various other novels where vamps are bisexual/bi-curious/ or just straight homosexual.) but sex nonetheless. I don't understand this virgin-vamp business. It's one of the reason's I hate Twilight. It's like vamps-for-babies. Which is soooo not what the lore is about. If you are a true vamp fan...this chaste, twinkle-dust, Disney essence of a vampire ode is complete farce. Women, even girls, love vampires because they are seductive, romantic, full of sex and dark magic, intrigue and lust. The bite, yes just the bite, is akin to sex and climax. I'm not sure how this Marche has widdled it down to some sort of teen hag fantasy, ( I think she needs to not watch Clueless for reference points on life, love, role modes etc.)
It’s all lies. Parents are buying into this little fantasy like it’s Harry Potter with daywalkers. She’s cashing in on the complete bastardization of the genre. Pffftttt!
Also, the sequel thingie with the werewolf Pekinese looks just silly. More blasphemey!
10/13/09
As for the Vampire Diaries...never read the books, but I've watched the TV show and those vampires don't seem very chaste to me.
This whole Esquire article is over thinking things big time. People wanting/being attracted to what they can't have is just a part of human nature, and vampires are an extreme example of that. Not because vamps represent repressed sexuality or gay men, but because they represent something that you are drawn to but also might kill you. What is so hard to understand about that?
10/13/09
Oh, and there will be sex on the Vampire Diaries very soon. I'm actually finding this show to be a cute vamp rendition, not great, but it has its moments, and the WB has just upped that Twilight ante if you ask me. It's darker and sexier.
10/13/09
I personally thought the books sucked (ahem) but I admit the movie is a guilty pleasure of mine.
10/13/09
10/13/09
10/13/09
I said "vampire" darling, not "drug dealer" -- though I admit the similarities are obvious.
10/13/09
10/13/09
10/13/09
However, usually they want to watch two hot guys get it on (much like straight guys want to watch girl-on-girl action), not imagine a gay guy who wants to have sex with them.
10/13/09
10/13/09
That sounds like multiple crushes I had on straight guys in high school and college. The gay guys actually didn't seem repulsed, they were great at feigning interest.
10/13/09
07/08/09
On another note, holy juiced-up jeebus, he has got some big-ass feet
07/08/09
07/08/09
07/08/09
07/08/09