EVERY GENERATION GETS THE VAMPIRE IT DESERVES : CHANGE IN VAMPIRE IDENTITY IN CONTEMPORARY SUPERNATURAL FICTION

This study aims to explore the change in vampire identity in contemporary supernatural fiction. As Auerbach (1995) has stated, vampires are personifications of their age and thus, their appeal is generational. Vampires are strong metaphors that tell a lot about national fears and traumatic past of one society. This fascinating dark image talks about ideological and generational spirit of a culture. Earlier, vampires have been literary characters that point to otherness and the fears of one culture. Vampire was an outsider, a threatening stranger with fangs and old-fashioned clothes, living on the outskirts of the town and who killed for a reason behind. However, the monster image has been changed so far. Not to forget their monster nature all together, vampires with leading roles represented in contemporary supernatural fiction have become mainstream, civilized, tamed, vulnerable and almost human in many ways. In order to exemplify this argument, two narratives are chosen: The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight 2005, New Moon 2006, Eclipse 2007, Breaking Dawn 2008) and The Southern Vampire Mysteries (2001-2010) -aka True Blood- by Charlaine Harris. Their evolution or rather demystification of their true vampire nature can be explained in terms of globalization of consumer capitalism, postmodernity and audience reception theory. Additionally, purpose of this study is to discuss the change in contemporary representation of the vampire from “anti-Christ to sympathetic next-door neighbor” (Zanger, 1997) as reflected in the texts, Twilight Saga and True Blood.