Jowett, L. (2013) Horrible histories? Vampire television, period drama, intimacy and spectacle. Paper presented to: TV Fangdom: A Conference on Television Vampires, The University of Northampton, 07-08 June 2013. (Unpublished)
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Vampires are essentially immortal and thus, while contemporary vampire TV is generally set resolutely in the present, the epic scale of a vampire’s existence affords vast potential for period drama visited via flashback. Even a show as realist in its style as Being Human (UK) has flirted with period flashback, albeit in restricted ways. This paper examines the different ways vampire TV has accessed the spectacle of period drama, presenting an alternative version of its usual televisual self, and playing with a different set of genre conventions. Period flashbacks are designed to provide novel spectacle, and can also afford the pleasure of a different version of a familiar character appearing in a new context. Yet this paper argues that contemporary vampire television shows, as exemplified by Angel, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood and Being Human, tie this refreshing new perspective to recurring characters and ongoing thematic preoccupations, balancing novelty and epic scale with the familiarity and repetition characteristic of serial drama on television. Thus, while Linda V. Troost describes ‘heritage space’ as ‘a space for the display of heritage properties rather than for the enactment of dramas’ (2007, 81) vampire TV shows integrate heritage and period elements with drama informing current character arcs and plot lines |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Vampire, television, period drama, character, back story, intimacy |
| Subjects: | P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1992 Television broadcasts > PN1992.8.H67 Horror television programs |
| Creators: | Jowett, Lorna |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing Research Centres > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing |
| Date: | 8 June 2013 |
| Date Type: | Presentation |
| Event Title: | TV Fangdom: A Conference on Television Vampires |
| Event Dates: | 07-08 June 2013 |
| Event Location: | The University of Northampton |
| Event Type: | Conference |
| Language: | English |
| Status: | Unpublished |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/5498 |
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