Monstrosity & the Vampire: A History

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Behold: the culmination of four months of work. Believe it or not, I'm not sick of vampires yet, so let me know why your favorite vampire or vampire-ish character is!

[@asmsarialtin3570]

i wish you a great success in your career vampire queen

[@MartijnHover]

I like Terry Pratchett's black ribboners, reformed vampires who find refuge in activities like collecting bananas and creating models of human organs out of matchsticks, because they believe hobbies will make them more human. 🙂

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

We've only occasionally seen you put out videos that were around an hour or so long, so to see a video this extensive is more than impressive and you should feel proud of yourself, Jess! The fact that it took four months definitely shows and you deserve as many views as possible. As for favorite vampire characters I would have to go with Pearl Jones and Skinner Sweet from the comic book series American Vampire by Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque (there are two omnibuses for the entire series btw) because they respectively embody the best and worst of America.

[@Philip271828]

I liked Deadman Brucolac from The Scar. His benevolent tyranny gives it's residents public order, clean streets, education and health care and only levies a reasonable, and entirely survivable, tax. Kim Newman's Genevieve plays with the conventions to good effect.

[@357mikec]

Definitely the 30 days of night vampires

[@theawesomeman9821]

I have a friend with roots in Romanian Translyvania. She told me that in all 300 years of her life, she has never met a vampire.

[@chrismcdonald7086]

Is there a wise sadness about her?

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@chrismcdonald7086 I have no idea what you are asking

[@JaimeTanner-b2i]

😋🤫

[@Lenny9726]

I have a friend that works at area 51, he said kung fu panda is real and they test biological weapons on him

[@sm00rezd]

@@Lenny9726i believe this

[@StarlightMiranda]

Her vampire makeup is insanely good!

[@MethosJK9]

Goth vampire Jess is 🔥

[@aresgalamatis7022]

I will not point out the continuity errors, since the makeup "department" made an excellent effort ;)

[@jeremyhulka3582]

I was hoping you would eventually do a video on Dracula, but wasn’t expecting two and a half hours of vampire history. Very well done. Made my day.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

Same

[@jasonknight8581]

I just finished THE WHOLE VIDEO in one sitting and wow... what a ride! You started at the very, very, earliest beginnings and took us - gleefully - on the twisted journey of the vampire up to modern day. I'm blown away not only by the intricacies and detail of the research you did, but also it feels like you put something of yourself into this, making it feel so much more personal. I do feel that this video can be deemed essential viewing for anyone interested in vampires and your script could very well be the start of a text book. What I took away from your video is that, yeah, on the surface, vampires can be used as horror movie monsters that can shock and thrill, but more so than not, they're used as tools to explore the human condition. Bravo Jess, bravo!!! 💐💐💐 At this point in your journey, this can be truly considered your magnum opus.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

You're far too kind to me. Thank you so, so much for watching and for your support!

[@jeremiahmiller3310]

Same, all in one go, doing house chores, chilling after a long night out. Excellent work! Shout out to Caitlin was great too, have seen that one already and agree. (Most of hers are really good stuff.)

[@rikhuravidansker]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire In your next vampire video, mention Thuringwethil: it is the third time you missed a Tolkien connection, with the first being Maiar inhabiting the bodies of orcs and dragons (Frankenstein), and the plagues of Middle Earth.

[@StuartistStudio1964]

In the novel, Dracula, despite movie lines to the contrary, never said, " I do not drink... wine." What he said was, "I have dined already, and I do not sup."

[@alexmarsh8464]

My fiancée and I read the book together and we still joke about this line. We love soup but occasionally she’ll say, “I do not sup.”

[@AmyThePuddytat]

​@@alexmarsh8464It's nothing to do with soup. To sup is to eat a late dinner.

[@alexmarsh8464]

@ “take (drink or liquid food) by sips or spoonfuls.” It’s literally where the word soup comes from.

[@AmyThePuddytat]

@@alexmarsh8464 The words “down” and “dune” are doublets too but that doesn't mean the film _Dune_ is about descending somewhere. When Bram Stoker writes that a character dines or sups, he's saying that they ate dinner or supper. It means what it means. You can't make it mean something else because of some idea in your head about etymology. Next you'll be saying that Dracula is a dragon. It's right there in the title, right? 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@alexmarsh8464]

​@@AmyThePuddytat I don't know why you want to argue so much about an inside joke that my fiancee and I have. Look up the definition of “sup” in the OED. The first two definitions that are from old English (which, to be clear since you’re being a pedant, I know is much older than Dracula) support what I said. Imo, it’s clearly a play on words “to ingest small amounts of liquids” as in to drink someone’s blood as well as to have supper ie a late dinner. Am I a scholar on this topic? No, this isn't my area of expertise, and I acknowledge I could be wrong. But that is the older meaning of "sup" which seems to be a play on words and also fits what you do when you eat soup. I honestly don't care what Bram Stoker meant. I’m not going to respond anymore, but please go have some fun

[@NylonStrap]

What We Do in the Shadows was such a pleasant surprise, and the nods to Vampire movies of the past was very entertaining. The sandwich analogy to virgins always gets me rolling.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

100%

[@Saxony984]

Jess, I want to thank you for all of the time and effort you put into this. And for always dressing the part. I sincerely enjoy the depth of your research.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

It's an absolute joy to share videos with you!

[@rikhuravidansker]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Technically the human vampires look like that because they are freshly deceased: for instance Irish vampires like Edward Cullen or Angel. A nosferau looks like that because he is relatively rotten and desiccated.

[@SirBolsón]

"The histories of vampires and people are not so different, really. How many of us can honestly see our own reflection?" Lynda Barry

[@retirednotlazy2298]

Tolkien meets Elvira! Well done.

[@rikhuravidansker]

I didn't like the fact Thuringwethil was not mentioned: technically speaking she would be a lulli before the lulli has replaced the human soul: alternatively she can be considered like Lilith or her children.

[@ashleykabbes9316]

This was amazing! So many movies I had never heard before! I was surprised, "Let the right one in" was not mentioned. That was incredible! That you could see the boy's present and future at the same time! One companionship ending with another beginning! Wondering how many there have been throughout her life as a vampire!

[@jmartense]

I was one of the editors on the "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night" comic book! Very cool to know people are still watching the movie. Now check out the comics! 🤘

[@joshicus]

Great video!! And props to that crochet bat for hanging upside down for 2.5 hours, I'm sure he needs a break

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

He was well compensated for his effort, don't worry

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire At least he wasn't BATtered around...I'll see myself out now.

[@rikhuravidansker]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire I could see your reflection in the hand mirror on your bookshelf, so you aren't a vampire. Perhaps you can dress like a dhampire next time?

[@revylokesh1783]

Goth Jess is best Jess.

[@llllllll1014]

"Daybreakers" is such a underrated vampire film if you're looking for even more vampire films to watch.

[@ZertusDarkSun]

Goth Jess is always a gorgeous treat, but serious respect for doing this whole video with those fangs in lol.

[@bookshop7337]

You know, if you do two more long form video essays, it could become a full day trilogy viewing just like the proper way to watch LOTR. Fantastic video, very interesting, and I'd love to see more stuff like this!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

My next video is going to have to be a full 12 hours

[@rikremmerswaal2756]

​@@Jess_of_the_Shire please do❤

[@tixxoncraft]

​@@Jess_of_the_ShireOh hoh

[@rikhuravidansker]

We don't have a full day viewing of LOTR because the Mithril Edition was never released.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Isn't the KZbin algorithm inconsistent regarding if it prefers long or short videos?

[@cthulhupr]

Actually, this is probably the best vampire doc on KZbin. Much better than most. 😊

[@radioslave5307]

me: oh boy! an hour long video about vampires! jess: content warning, blood me: oh good heavens *closes youtube tab*

[@sidneyrosey]

Jess talking about vampires? For two hours? Time to get the cozy slippers and good blanket 🧛🏼‍♀️✨

[@SirBolsón]

Last time I was this early, Dracula was still Vlad Dracul!

[@MatSjo]

How is that even possible? Do you mean that Dracula was only a sperm in his father’s sack, and thus a part of Vlad Dracul? I get that you were just making a joke about being early, but I really wish to know how he was supposed to be his father?

[@rikhuravidansker]

Dracula is actually supposed to be descended from Vlad Tepes Dracula through his father, and Attila the Hun through Szkelelys who went to Iceland (when researching early immigration to the Americas, I discovered a few Hungarians did accompany a trading ship to Iceland).

[@MrEzuma]

Please, Vlad Dracul was my father. Call me Vlad Dracula.

[@rikhuravidansker]

@@MrEzuma Dracula acting like the turtle from "Finding Nemo?"

[@nedreow3722]

Another thing you could look into are Vampire: the Masquerade and its reboot Vampire: the Requiem. They are Tabletop RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, but about playing vampires in the modern-ish night, where you have to survive in a secret underworld of vampire clans and covenants. The clans and covenants are all patterned after different kinds of vampire, the Ventrue are nobility, Nosferatu hideous monsters, Gangrel are bestial and so on. A major theme is balancing between being a monster and being human "A monster I am, lest a monster I become". The writers of What We Do in the Shadows take a more comedic thone, but they most definitely played Vampire, with the different kinds of vampires and how being a vampire sucks, actually.

[@aragathor]

Not only that, Vampire the Masquerade in it's late revised edition times, was the only piece of media that asked really in-depth question about religion, morality, and vampire existence. Like how do observant Jewish vampires go around the ban on blood consumption? Do Muslim vampires wake up during the day to pray? How does a vampire influence a community if they take, say 400 year interest in it? How does modern day work for a vampire turned in ancient Greece? The whole game was a fascinating look beyond the personal horror and gore of the vampire tropes.

[@sephirothii13]

Great Video! I enjoyed it! one of the media I was shocked that wasn't covered was Vampire: The Masquerade and how that add so much new story to vampire and how you can step in and feel and deal with being a monster.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

I shall add it to the list!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Check out Vampire: The Masquerade - L.A. By Night

[@MrDrewwills]

VTM was also the origin of the vampire vs werewolf, and the act of being a game really changes your engagement with monster. How long you fight off the urge to drink, who you drink from, how you feel about your actions and their consequences, it's really powerful stuff.

[@sephirothii13]

@@MrDrewwills I really like the links to the story of both Caine and Lilith as well as the Clans and the three factions of Vampires and how they handled being centuries old monsters. I remember it being called "a game of personal horror" having you try and understand what it was like to be a monster.

[@antoinebelle3506]

Also VTM, with the clans, played ALL the vampire tropes by making them différent traits of différent clan: you want an aristocratic vampire like lord Ruthven? Ventue. Sexy hedonistic vampire like Lestat? Toreador. Orlok style? Nosferatu. Weirdly obsessed with counting things? Malkavian , und so weiter...

[@SpiffierShindigs]

New subscriber who has blown through all your other content in a couple days here: this isn't what I came to the channel for, but damn if it isn't exactly the kind of content I want! I was literally looking for a longform video essay about vampires the other day!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

She's become my favorite KZbinr over the past few months or so and I hope you will continue to enjoy her content. Her Veggie Tales video is hilarious is you need something light and breezy to watch.

[@BrodieVickers-tk9sd]

Welcome to the group!

[@koltrasten]

Thank god we can see her reflection in her bookshelf, I was worried for a while, she did the whole vampire getup too well

[@PrinceTrish]

I appreciate and respect how you have transitioned from a part-time Hobbit to a full-time analysist and literary critique with Bombadilish flair and the nuance of Steve pemberton and Reese Shearsmith

[@joeybrandin]

My nerd compulsion feels the need to point out that Fright Night is a remake, also “Let The Right One In” is a Book, Film, and subsequent English Remake that deserves to be mentioned. That aside, great video. Fun to watch from beginning to end.

[@alexkats30]

3:30 Greek here. The greek word "βρυκόλακας" , or vrykolakas is spelled vree-kO-lakas Loved the video. You'd also make a great vampire on the screen 👍 😂

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Thanks for the note, and for watching!

[@Ned_of_the_Hill]

That myth was very loosely adapted for the 1945 Boris Karloff movie "Isle of the Dead", produced by Val Lewton. There the creature is called a vorvolaka. The movie also plays on the connection between the vorvolaka and the plague.

[@hunterdelta1585]

I love the attention to detail, editing in a reflection into the small mirror on the bookshelf ;) /s, if it was not obvious. I had a nervous twitch just imagining the amount of editing that would take… Excellent video! Truly your best work in my humble opinion.

[@karentucker2161]

I love Caitlyn doughty videos. She does good in explaining stuff. Thank tou for shouting her out. This is a well done video.❤ You git a new subscriber from me😊

[@deforeestwright2469]

This is so beautifully put together and comprehensive. I love it and you are brilliant. Btw I love that you refer to Quincy Morris exclusively as “the cowboy.” 😂

[@_daboi]

Why yes, I did just watch a 2.5 hour video talking about vampires. And I enjoyed every second of it. Absolutely fantastic video, Jess; one of the best researched videos I've seen on KZbin, and probably my new favourite from your channel. :D Also I gotta know; what was in that wine glass?

[@altheamaeve]

Recently been hyper-fixated on everything vampire after reading Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire" so I was looking for this exact video. Very wonderfully made, thank you 🖤.

[@citrus8944]

It has taken me a while to get through this whole video but it has greatly inspired me, I really admire the amount of effort (and obvious passion) that you've poured into this. The research, the visuals, the OUTFIT, its all just fan(g)tastic I cant wait to watch more of your work

[@ronaldmccomb8301]

This was an incredibly beautiful video, in all senses of the word. Absolutely love the research that was put into it. May your video go viral!

[@LCR-iy6xq]

You absolute queen! An amazing 2 and a half hours of fascinating lore and thoughtful analysis. Thank you so much, really made my day 🦇

[@12345maxtor]

2:30 hrs!!!! You are spoiling us Jess!

[@user-mc6mr3su6o]

kind of wish u had mentioned Vampire Hunter D or Castlevania but this video was such a good watch !!

[@penultimateh766]

Holy Hannibal, a feature length Jess video?? I'm calling in sick tomorrow!

[@GholaTleilaxu]

The Sunday'll come out, tomorrow Bet your bottom dollar, that tomorrow There'll be Sunday! Just thinking about, tomorrow Clears away the cobwebs, and the sorrow 'Til there's none! When I'm stuck in a day That's gray and lonely I just stick out my chin And grin and say The Sunday'll come out, tomorrow So you gotta hang on 'til tomorrow Come what may Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, tomorrow You're always a day away!

[@penultimateh766]

@@GholaTleilaxu Uh, wow. Thanks?

[@neant2046]

I really liked this long-format video! I love the classic vampire genre, and it was a pleasure to go through its history related in such a neat, consistent and witty manner. Thank you for this one, and I’m looking forward to more content like this ❤

[@matthewuchiha]

Time to get some popcorn and watch!!! Thanks for the amazing content 🧛🏼‍♀️

[@DreadAnon]

I've been a fan of your videos for a while but you really outdid yourself with this one! This is some A+ spooky season content

[@RABartlett]

"There's a cowboy in Dracula!" is always something that I feel we don't talk enough about. Like, "vampire-hunting cowboy" sounds like something that's juvenile or high-concept, but a cowboy fighting Dracula (And the cowboy being the one to deal a mortal blow!) was like, ground zero for the genre. It's sort of funny how much vampires are considered "old world" and bringing it to America is seen as a major reinvention or "Not your grandpa's vampires" like "Interview With a Vampire" or "Twilight", but so much of it has drawn from American folklore. Lucy was supposedly based on Rhode Islander Mercy Brown. Rhode Island! The home of Peter Griffin accents and Dunkin' Donuts marking every mile was an intergral contributor to vampire lore! On the subject of Lucy, I think the recurring idea that the narrative is kind of having Lucy "punished" for being a potential floozy or would be-polyamorist (Note: I don't know if that's what you're saying and I am certain it's not a sentiment you agree with!) is something of a very modern interpetation that resulted from 1) The Coppola movie, (Which had Sadie Frost being very forward in a "shocking for Victorian times" way) and 2) That dating culture has changed a lot since then. People didn't really have "boyfriends" or "girlfriends" the way we did now, until you were engaged it was fair game, and one of the few concessions to women was that they could entertain all offers (With the understanding there was no body count) up until the words "I do". When Lucy says she wishes she could marry them all, it's meant to be taken as the all-loving innocence of a Disney Princess. That all three men stay devoted to her and each other, even after marriage, even after death--it's not meant to be a kinky polycule, it's meant to be a testament to both Lucy's and the men's virtue. I suppose you could say that in the "old vs new" theme of the book is just as Dracula's death means the end of superstitions and tyrannical overlords, the death of Lucy means the death of royalty and the last stand of courtly love and knightly virtue, as it gives way to the sensible but genuine middle class coupling of Jonathan and Mina. To tie it in to the overall bread and butter of the channel, it's sort of like how to the destruction of the One Ring also put a nail in the coffin of the dominion of the Elves.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

I do think its funny how vampires are rather American when you get down to it. But Americans like to pretend that they're European because it fits the vibe better lol. Excellent points about Lucy as well. I would say, if anything, Lucy and Mina's incredibly close relationship would be the thing that Stoker was speaking against, but that warrants further investigation

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire A Victorian writer was appalled by a dynamic that could be perceived by some as sapphic? WHO WOULD HAVE EVER GUESSED?!?

[@RABartlett]

So on the subject of the vampires as a vessel for Europhilia--as your video gets into the the racial aspects of vampire fiction talking about Blade and Twilight, something that always struck me was 1) How a lot of the vampire's journey paralleled the nature of what "whiteness" means and 2) How the...(excuse me) de-fanged vampire really (sorry again) crystalized around the time of G.W. Bush and the War on Terror. The historic Vlad the Impaler was, lets just say, revered to the extent that he was for keeping the Ottmans (a.k.a. Muslims) bottleknecked from expanding too far into Europe and was heralded as a defender of Christianity. This was really not considered an important part of Dracula, for several reasons, but to a major one is that, I wouldn't say Islamaphobia didn't exist, but it was probably not something that occupied American headspace, and in the grand scheme of things, the focus was on the U.S.S.R. (This will become important.) BS Dracula was maybe the first to really draw on that (It's very interesting it came off the heels off the first Gulf War, although I think what Coppola was going for was the irony of a "Defender of Christendom" pulling a 180.) But then then 9/11 happened, and the culture really began to explore the relationship between the Western and the Islamic World. (The Marvel comics Dracula, who is probably one of the more sadistic takes on the character, was actually stated to despise Muslims, which chafed with some of the other supervillains, especially those who were ethnic minorities.) It's also said that a major, major part of Twilight's subtext is Stephanie Meyers's Mormon background--the . Mormons themselves hold an interesting place in American history. At one point they were considered a dangerous, insurgent sect in America. The history of the LDS Church is itself so complex and fascinating, but for the purposes of this conversation, Mormons would go on to hyper-assimilate (Not super difficult because they were often descended from Anglo or Germanic peoples anyways) and to a certain extent, represent America at its most 1950's--sometimes to the point of the Uncanny Valley to many. (For those on the left who consider anything "too white" to be fishy, and to the right, imposters and still not "real Christians" who deviate from more hardcore Evangelical policies.) The "Twilight" franchise is, among other things, a sort of polemic for abstainance until marriage--and there's a certain irony that until that point, figures that represented sexual liberation, for better or worse, were now spouting fans as promise rings. It's also interesting that the first movie exploded off the heels of Barack Obama: America's first Black President and one conspiracy theorists insist was a covert Muslim. (It's also funny that in 2012, when the Twilight phenomenon was winding down, as Mitt Romeny, a member of the LDS Church, failed to seat him). But something I want to talk about was this was the rise of Vladimir Putin. While he had been around since the early 00's, and never got on particularly well with Bush, his relationships with Democrat leaders have always seemed to be more frought, and those on the Right have been more cordial. Like, "Russkie" used to be something you would hear your flag-waving, army haircut waving uncle say, and now the more right-leaning people tend to carry water for the nation. (Something to keep in mind was a MAJOR piece of subtext in the original Dracula lovel was a prejudice against slavic people.) I don't know if it's all coincidence, or this evolution is entwined, but it's something I think about a lot. (Tbh, I don't expect anyone to have read this far, I just thought it'd be a nice place to document it)

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@RABartlett You've clearly put a lot of thought into this!

[@You_Are_Romantic]

Beautiful, this is exactly what I wanted this time of year. You excited me with each new topic you pour your passion into. Definitely becoming my favorite channel. Keep being you.

[@Uesurii_San]

My favorite versions of the Vampire and also one of the best subversions of the Vampire is Terry Pratchett's Discworld, with the Vampire rehab group called the League of Temperance, where reformed vampires forswear blood and other vampiric qualities and transfer the desire to something more socially acceptable (e.g. photography and coffee) in order to assimilate into society. My favorite vampire character is Otto Chriek, the vampire photographer who keeps turning to dust every time the flash is on, and he's constantly trying to improve his craft so he doesn't have to crumble every time he takes a picture and then reform himself with a small glass jar of blood around his neck. As Terry Pratchett put it, "The only thing more dangerous than a bloodthirsty vampire is a vampire who is interested in anything else."

[@bobken8024]

Epic and engrossing video essay. Originally put this on as background noise then found myself sitting on couch watching on big screen. Well done, you've also reminded me to order new copies of vampire chronicles as I lost my old ones back in my student times

[@lockwoodthexton]

As a former mortician, I can say that I have never seen anything out of the ordinary with a dead person, and I've embalmed thousands of bodies.

[@ronweasley9001]

You're not tricking me, undead creature of the night!. Away you go! YOU SHALL NOT PASS

[@ADADEL1]

I wonder if embalming makes the unusual cases less common. I kinda doubt that there would be a huge amount of blood related stuff when most of the blood is replaced.

[@rikhuravidansker]

@@ronweasley9001 Gandalf did not fight Thuringwethil.

[@rikhuravidansker]

@@ADADEL1 Embalming kills vampires?

[@rikhuravidansker]

Since "undead" would refer to a state between life and death, it would refer to undetectable brain activity, breathing, and heartbeat, as well as a lack of brain necropsy. As brain activity continues several days after death, all humans pass through an undead stage (which would explain ALL near-death experiences).

[@alexmarsh8464]

Dracula is such a cool book. More people should read it. It has so many awesome little short stories within the story itself

[@hamletprimeiro]

Excellent video. Congratulations. And I just realized that The Doctor is kind of a Byronic hero.

[@wakkosan]

This was amazing and very in depth. Thanks for the hard work.

[@ALEXA_beep]

Not gonna lie this was maybe the most accurate reteling of probable and actual historical facts, legends, and beliefs about Vlad Dracula I have seen. Historical channels never got this much accuracy as far as I saw, as a native of the lands that he ruled. There are also many historical theories that he may have learned his preferred torture methods from growing up as a (political) prisoner in the Ottoman Empire.

[@Benjamin-nf2ir]

Your opening was truly shocking. I actually gasped. Well done

[@williampalmer8052]

I'm not sure if you've noticed that you were involuntarily baring your fangs at times, as you reached the more dramatic parts of your narrative. Now, your secret's safe with me of course, but be careful! I wouldn't want the villagers to notice and learn the truth...

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Oh dear, I'll have to keep an eye out for this...

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Vampires are all about *the drama* so that nicely added to the presentation.

[@AndrewKendall71]

- Who's your favorite vampire? - Um, the one on Sesame Street - He doesn't count - I assure you, he does.

[@LeoAngora]

A two hour and a half, excellently written and produced Jess Halloween special? Cancel my weekend agenda!

[@yorkshirej2219]

I’ve been off work sick and this was the perfect video to get stuck in to, 2 and a half hours in one go!

[@DavidMacDowellBlue]

You look adorable as a vampire btw. I have adapted both DRACULA and CARMILLA for the stage. I also edited together THE ANNOTATED CARMILLA. Carmilla in fact walks around during the day throughout the story. So did Dracula. Vampires avoiding sunlight was mostly made popular by movies, such as the silent NOSFERATU in which Graf Orlock perished at Dawn. I will also note CARMILLA does not really read as a polemic against women at all. Rather it feels much more like a gothic version of the tales of Le Fanu's native Ireland, in which a mortal has an intimate encounter with one of the Fae and is never, ever the same. It is important to understand when the story was published the vampire hunters are all servants of what was viewed (accurately) as a tyranny, a despotic empire without the liberties and laws of which the English speaking world was so proud. Quincey the cowboy is hardly in any film version of the story, alas. I agree with you about Lugosi's performance. DRACULA'S DAUGHTER is blend of the wonderful and the silly. Your description of the end of NOSFERATU (1979) is inaccurate. I am more than a little disappointed a lack of any mention of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN by Jan Alvide Lindqvist, as well as the two excellent films based on it. So please...some of that!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

[@missanne2908]

For no mention of _Let the Right One In_ Jess should treat us to an in depth video of just that book and both movies. If by some chance she hasn't seen either movie or read the book (which is probably the case, otherwise why would she have left it out?), we would really doing her a favor by holding her feet to the fire to experience all three. I remember going to the Swedish film, for no other reason than a reviewer's saying that it was a vampire movie for those who don't like vampire movies. I left the theater gut-punched, and directly read the book upon which it was based. If you haven't seen the movies (especially the original Swedish version), stop what you are doing and go see it. Same goes for the book.

[@thomaslance5428]

In all respect, I wouldn't say adorable lol. Let's just say very attractive and leave it at that lol.

[@DavidMacDowellBlue]

@@thomaslance5428 That's okay. You didn't. I did.

[@rikhuravidansker]

@@missanne2908 She said she didn't have time to include everything... and I am pleased she did not, as Chole Grace Moretz in early 2020 admitted she was sexualized as a child, but of course the media didn't hammer it home, being the idiots who normalized the sexualization of women and girls since 1915's "Intolerance." Whenever I see her name or hear news about her (along with other child stars of my cohort like Ariel Winter or Ariana Grande), I get stressed out and often sweat, as I have seen them from 2010 or before be exploited as child stars: I hardly had any good role models as a child, and I don't have many as an adult. What makes it worse is that I suffer from intrusive thoughts: I personally would thrive in a rigid society like a Mormon community or being a shipman.

[@edenbourne1458]

This deserves more views. What an amazing video that clearly took a lot of time and effort. Well done!

[@LydiaTarine12]

Well, this feels a bit surreal. I found your channel sometime after leaving another one that primarily focused on vampires stopped making the videos I went to that channel for. And now here you are with a vampire video. Things have come full circle.

[@Hauntedasylum666]

This video was just as encapsulating and hypnotic as the context. What a great video!

[@bemasaberwyn55]

I'm just gonna say, this is a good look for you 😍😍. I would love to see more long form essays, especially with this particular topic Jess.Because I think you absolutely rocked it in this video.And I was engaged throughout the entire thing. ❤❤

[@kzamanis]

Wow, what a fantastic deep dive!!!! I've been watching this video essay over the course of a few days as I've been doing chores and I'm honestly sad it's over!

[@Anna-B]

I absolutely love Vampires! They’re so fun. I love the sparkly vampire, the ugly monster vampire, the deadly seducer vampire, all of them are fun

[@jbaidley]

I have really enjoyed your videos for a long time, but this was the one that finally made me join your Patreon. Thanks for all the videos and looking forwards to the next!

[@Hahndrei]

Striga comes from strix, which was an owl monster that drank the blood from unattended babies. Owls in taxonomy are called Strigiformes. The first letter in Țepeș is pronounced like tzatziki. A little sad you didn't talk about Count von Count from Sesame Street because, not only is he based on the Béla Lugosi portrayal of Dracula, but also in some of the stories from Romanian folklore (and probably other folklore), vampires (in Romanian there are strigoi, vârcolac and pricolici, all of which have some vampiric traits), at least the strigoi, has arithmomania, so villagers would put sand or grains at the entrance to the cemetery so the vampire would spend all night counting them and by the time it was done counting it would be morning and it would have to go back into its grave.

[@garrick3727]

This entire comment is brilliant. "The first letter in Țepeș is pronounced like tzatziki" - my mind is like a slowly spinning hourglass.

[@rikhuravidansker]

Yes, you can scatter rice and the vampire would have to pick them all up: of course, the vampire has preternatural speed and agility, so this only buys you a little time.

[@rikhuravidansker]

It would appear "strix" and "Lilith" share a common Nostratic root, which would imply a Paleaolithic belief in blood-drinking owl-men associated with the dead and nightmares. Doe sit remind you slightly of the giant bats and spider from "Primal?"

[@allisongliot]

I love how you hit so many big vampire stories from different time periods. I’ve noticed that in the last 20 years there have been a lot of vampire stories or vampires in stories for kids and teens (beyond just Twilight). I’d love to see you do a deep dive into vampires for kids and teens someday and how adapting stories for younger audiences can change the way we approach tropes that were historically more for adults!

[@andrewstevens2782]

I cant stop staring at that necklace. 2 thumb's up

[@diegochipi8383]

Have to say I was impressed with how many vampire names of the Castlevania series came from classic vampire stories. Also impressed that castlevania anime wasnt mentioned lol. Great video!!!

[@syranas]

Lets freaking go. Im stoked for this.

[@wandering-bard]

I believed you mean Stokered for this...like Bram Stoker...I'm sorry but not really.

[@syranas]

Ayyy. Don't worry puns are my life blood :D​@@wandering-bard

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

this is truly awful. i applaud you

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Please don't take offense but I will have to stop at a certain point and resume tomorrow. This video is great, I have already shared it with a couple of people, but I do ultimately have limited endurance and I will have to submit some posts to the discussion board of one of my online classes after dinner.

[@BrodieVickers-tk9sd]

You've earned respect with that one. Well done👏👏👏

[@nadinejanecalonia7690]

I wish this video essay had been recommended to me sooner, it definitely piqued my interest. I'm so glad that you included "Only Lovers Left Alive" and "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night." Sadly, these vampire films aren't talked about a lot (at least, in my country). I immediately subscribed to your channel. Also, your makeup and your whole look are hauntingly divine, it would be awesome if you put out a makeup and hair tutorial. 🖤🖤🖤

[@Thraim.]

I didn't realize how long this video is before I clicked. We're feasting on Vampire lore today.

[@MosBaked]

When I clicked this, this was incredibly more thorough than I expected, I think a deep dive on some of these pieces would be awesome

[@ambrose5586]

Hi, from Malaysia here. Happy that my country was mentioned. Although, the closest to vampire adjacent we have would be the Pontianak. Although menanggal or penanggal won’t exactly be considered undead as they technically still considered “alive”.

[@DiamondWoodStudios]

First of all I love how long this video is, maybe I might have a deep seated need to escape my thoughts but I am truly appreciated for you making this video, I will continue to watch and rewatch this because you are a gem in analysis and analogy, cheers (with my …… wine glass….)

[@Jedwink]

No mention of True Blood? I’d accept your blind eye due to the shows absurdity, but you mentioned twilight . . . . True blood plays on so many of the tropes, doesn’t it have both monstrous villainy and the sympathetic woes of eternity? I mean, I didn’t finish it, but, it was a thing. Also, only lovers left alive is my favorite vamp flick, I’m so glad you included that one

[@fnh123]

I'm surprised as well. True Blood has a pretty decent world building. I wish it spent more time with vampires intergraring into human society.

[@antoinebelle3506]

Somewhat disoppointed that there wasn't any mention of "Vampire: the Maskerade" the RPG, also; but I realise it more a niche in an already two jours and an half video that mostly adresses movies, TV and litterature.

[@cuttleb0nes]

I was surprised by no Castlevania!

[@rikhuravidansker]

@@antoinebelle3506 I would think, asides from the fact she had no time, it is because the game is based on cliches and launched them as well: Dracula is a popular character in stock culture, but the game created the concept that a good chunk of vampires are this (as opposed to deciding to become sophisticated like the Theatre of Vampires), with some being nosferatus and such to make up the numbers.

[@starfish.sunfish.moonfish]

It took me a while to get through the video, but it was so worth it. New insights and new entries in my to-read- and to-watch-lists.

[@Terriblyexplainingcomics]

Blade, the first black superhero I’ve ever saw growing up, bro was my black panther

[@MrEzuma]

Brilliant video! On a vampire kick lately since Eggers imo amazing version of the Nosferatu/Dracula story. Very entertaining to hear a deep dive like this.

[@WeldonGlenn]

Oh my god. I can’t love this video enough!!

[@TheArtsy_]

this video was such a wonderful deep dive, thank you for all the work and for taking us on this journey! I have definitely added a thing or two to my watch list

[@edamamame4U]

A 2.5 hour video from our favorite Tolkien scholar- let me grab a delicious hobbity snack, some lovely tea, and get cozy!

[@shawnp601]

Okay I have to say that I came here out of love of horror movies…..that said I have been binging nearly your entire library of LOTR. Amazing content friend and you’ve earned a new subscriber!

[@bobsherwood3542]

This was an excellent video. Thank you.

[@LKMNOP]

Catherine's channel is fantastic. She talks about funeral type stuff but with humor. Lots of information.

[@Yuval_L1974]

Well, this was an unexpected yet delightful way to start my Saturday morning. A bizarre combination of ASMR vibes, your near perfect cadence, and - dare I say it - a sultry vampire vibe 😊 - definitely giving off some essence of Yvonne de Carlo's Lily Munster. There is something chaotically reassuring about that bookcase, too. Your flow is smooth, almost extemporaneous sounding, but of course - so much work goes into what you do! Thanks for such a tasty bite of vampyr and strigoi lore.

[@ananyasharma9506]

Your long-form videos are so delightful. They're my favorite ones to watch

[@jmartense]

I haven't even watched this yet and I already know it's brilliant.

[@justdarija3890]

I’m loving this long form format a lot! Perfect for weekend evening with crafts and tea. Thanks for this incredible deep dive Jess!

[@jaguarking2892]

Before I dig in, I hope there's a reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer somewhere in there. The impact it's had on the supernatural TV/urban fantasy genre is immeasurable. Not to mention its impact on the concept of the modern vampire and the tropes it has subsequently popularised and/or invented.

[@radagast7200]

Yeah, Buffy was a big part of the whole 'vampire boyfriend' trope. But even in that show, vampires were still evil. There was just an exception with a one cursed vampire. (And later a brain chipped vampire). Then Twilight kind of changed that and made them inherently redeemable. Even Being Human and Preacher still left them as inherently evil with some exceptions.

[@jaguarking2892]

@radagast7200 Well, if you put it in the context of the time, Buffy was a subversion of classic horror movie tropes at the time. Hence, animalistic vampires. But even then, we have Angel and Spike, who both play into and subvert the "vampire romance."

[@radagast7200]

​@jaguarking2892 yeah, I just like my monsters to be more monstrous, I guess.

[@Faerygoddessofwar]

Ok, this video was recommended to me and I have already listened to it twice. It helped me clean my bathroom and do laundry. Ma'am, I could listen to you talk about vampires all day. And already watching your Tolkien videos. Lol the algorithm was very on point today, and I am so thankful. I love your channel!

[@jodyestevens9911]

say goodbye to the rest of todays free time

[@karenwapinski4822]

Wonderful video as always! I've never read Carmilla or Varney but after your analysis of them I will have to give them a try. Dracula and Salem's Lot were my real introduction to horror and I've always loved the slow burn suspense of both those books. That said, the nearest and dearest vampire to my heart will always be Bunnicula.

[@spacemanspiff3052]

You nailed the vampire look . . . or should I say staked it!!! I’m really impressed at how clearly you could speak when you had the fake teeth in your mouth. Anytime I ever tried to talk with fake vampire teeth I always sound more like I have marbles in my mouth . . . and my mouth gets pretty drippy and spray-ie, but not with blood. Anyway, great Halloween themed post. Love your show! P.S. Your “red wine” seemed suspiciously frothy . . . hmmm. Maybe I need to give you the gander of geese test! I toast to your undead health with a glass of tah-mah-toe juice, bah-ha-ha!!!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Thank you so much! I can only talk through the teeth for a few minutes before I start sounding rather lispy haha. Thanks for watching!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire It's amazing just how well vampire and goth looks work for you!

[@samforsyth]

I finally read Dracula for the first time last week and now this is the kind of video i needed cause I can’t stop thinking about vampire origins! Thank you!

[@rbweston]

I may have to watch this in a few parts, with several glasses of Port.

[@davidnystrom9059]

This was spectacular! A great dive into the genre. Some stuff I knew, some I didn’t. Growing up in the 90’s and early 2000’s, that Buffy-Twilight era was a wild ride for somebody like me who loves the classic horror and the themes they explored. The modern context is interesting in how some themes have continued, some have flipped, and everything in between. I really enjoyed this and would totally love to see similar genre dives. Wizards and magic perhaps? Zombies too? Also, kudos for doing so much of that video with the teeth!

[@pillmuncher67]

Fun Fact: "Schreck" (as in: Max Schreck) means "fright" or "scare" in German.

[@Zihark_]

These long form videos are beyond perfect for putting on while grinding Runescape. 😎🙌 Thank you Jess 🫶

[@Marchochias]

Channeling contrapoints with that film length and very high effort production value!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

True! Also, the fact that she hearted this comment proves that she has good core values.

[@Marchochias]

@@sebastianevangelista4921 They should do a collaboration of some kind!

[@martipujals]

great work!! i've started reading dracula recently after sometime planning to so this has really come in handy