Sinking My Teeth into the Vampire Fad

I've been reading about vampires as of late. I suppose with all the resurgence of television programs, movies etc. focused on vampires it would be hard not to be somehow touched by this fad of sorts.

Doing my research I find that there are many cultures that have their own mythos on the vampire theme. Weirdly many of the vampires are women and/or fixated somewhat on the eating of babies and children. Many also are sexual beings who promise sex and then end up draining their victims of all blood and fluids. I am wondering if this is somehow based on "warning stories" ; stories that remind men to keep their wild women in line ..stories that punish even the merest thought of rebellion in women as something affecting them in a monstrous way.

How opposite to the concept of a loving mother and wife than a strong willed,seductive woman who eats children and has sex with many men. She is the wild primal woman being punished. In a woman's freedom is dangerous insanity and threat...threat to the family construct, threat to the men's very maleness and the whole of society.

In current thought in North America, the vampire realm is seemingly adored by young women....the idea of a seductive man, a fantasy creature who is usually fighting his baser desires out of hatred of his true nature, a man who will focus on you and only you and the power of that kind of attention for some reason is an ideal to be dreamt on. Some younger people and let's not fool ourselves, some older too, love to dress as their idea of the ultimate vampire for what I can only guess is the attention they receive..a bit of adult dress-up so to speak. It truly is an ugly beauty ...an attraction-revulsion that draws many near.

I may never really understand it and this feeling for certain will continue to grow as more vampire movies and books are created. Until then I will be somewhat entertained and intrigued by those that embrace this dark desire.

Sleep well.