1. VAMPIRES
By: Brett Byron

2. What is a Vampire?

4. History of the Vampire
One of the earliest accounts of vampires is found in an ancient Sumerian and Babylonian myth dating to 4,000 B.C. which describes ekimmu or edimmu (one who is snatched away).
The ekimmu is a type of uruku or utukku (a spirit or demon) who was not buried properly and has returned as a vengeful spirit to suck the life out of the living. 

5. History of the Vampire Some other Ancient vampires:
Lilitu - Ancient Mesopotamian Demon
Epusma – Ancient Greece
Baobhan sith – Celtic sucubbus

6. History of Vampires: The “Biblical” Version
A farmer named Cain prepared a sacrificial offering to God, of his finest fruits and vegetables. His brother Abel also prepared a sacrificial offering, it being of the finest animals that he had raised. Either there was a dispute over whose offering was better, or God really favored Abel's over Cain's. The final result ended in Cain "sacrificing" Abel on the sacrificial altar, his brother being the "finest" offering he could give. As punishment, Caine's "Father" cursed him with a mark, and cast him out to wander in darkness in the Land of Nod. Roaming the Land of Nod, Cain encounters Lilith. She notices a swirling stain in the air around him, a mark of some dark unfathomed power: murder. He possessed the power to kill higher beings -- not to hunt as Adam have, but to kill as had Jehovah. She was amazed, for he bore no signs of godhood but wandered in the dust like a lesser beast. Seeing that he is cold and hungry, she welcomes Caine into her warmth. Lilith identifies herself as Adam's first wife, the original wife of Cain's father. After staying with her for some time, the two become lovers. He realizes that she has powers and magic that he too would like to possess, so he pleads her for these gifts. The hesitant Lilith then prepares an Awakening ceremony by cutting herself with a knife, bleeding into a bowl, and giving it to him so that he may drink.

7. History of Vampires: The “Biblical” Version continued…
After Cain partakes of Lilith's blood, he is visited by three angels who are agents of God. Each angel offers Cain a chance to repent for the murder of Abel. However, Cain rejects each of them. And for each angel he rejects, a curse is added on to him. He and his children are cursed with a weakness to fire, vulnerability to sunlight and the Beast Within that hungers for blood.
A fourth angel then appeared to offer the way of Golconda, the only way to "light", by the mercy of God. After the experience, Caine becomes officially "Awakened", possessing the following Disciplines: Celerity (speed), Potency (influence), Fortitude (resilience), Obfuscate (disguise), Dominate (power), Presence (appearance), Proven (truth), Animalism (nocturnal animal control), and Auspex (prophecy). Caine then became aware of the Path of Blood, the Final Path from which all paths stem. And with all these powers, he breaks his bond with Lilith and leaves her.
Caine continues to wander the Land of Nod in loneliness. The memory of his sin drowned him in sorrow. It wasn't for many ages until he decides to be amongst mortal men again. His powers and his mark were well known to mortal men and some even worshiped him. Finally, Caine settled in a small agricultural community, named Ubar. It was here, in this First City that he became the Dark Father.

8. History of Vampires
A vampire originates from folklore, its frequently described as a being that survives by feeding on the blood of the living. In European folklore, vampires were undead that often visited loved ones and caused trouble or deaths in the neighbourhoods they once lived in when they were alive.

10. Late 20th Century
The physical appearance of vampires dramatically changed in film at this point, they were no longer portrayed as revolting monsters, they no looked human with a minor differences. At this point vampires began to be seen as mysterious and sexy, only coming out at night. For example, the film Embrace With a Vampire (1995) the story of a young woman who is seduced by a vampire. This was the beginning of the trend of moral women falling for the sexually charismatic vampires, sometimes in full knowledge of their monstrous traits.

12. 21st Century
The portrayal of vampires in the 21st century is almost completely different from how they were shown in the times of Nosferatu, some of the only common characteristics is the fact that they are un-dead and feed off human blood. Twilight (2008) was one of the first films to portray vampires in an almost entirely human and extremely romantic way, the film is about a 17 year old girl and a 108 year old vampire fall in love. The film portrays many vampires as gentle and kind, as the main family feed on animal blood instead of human, the vampires also sparkle in the sun instead of traditionally burning.

14. VAMPIRES FROM
1900s to Now

15. Nosferatu (1922) Earliest adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Derived from Slavic “nosufur-atu,” or plague-carrier.
Resembles more creature than human.

16. Dracula (1931) More human in appearance Dark, cobwebbed castle
Awkward in speech and action
Kills entire crew of ship in hunger
Tries to steal Mina

17. Hammer Films (‘50’s & ’60’s)
Rich color of blood made deaths of victims less clean and clinical
More comparable to life appearance than previous
Battle between Good and evil less “black and white” (distinct)

18. Dracula to Hammer:
Although there are some basic changes, the depiction of Dracula is still very similar at this point.

19. The Lost Boys(1987)
Teen vampires appear to be human until a voluntary “change” occurs

20. The Lost Boys The protagonist begins his transformation - sympathy
The group has a family structure
“Half-vampires” exhibit qualities that the later vampires will: human with a curse.

21. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Vampires take a step back – only creatures to be “slayed”
Protagonists immediately become antagonists when victimized

22. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Vampires do evil deeds by choice
Main characters struggle against desires and needs
Human qualities of isolation, loneliness

23. BLADE (1998) Half mortal-half immortal Vampire Hierarchy
Human needs/issues: family, power, sense of belonging/purpose

24. Buffy: the Television Adaptation (1997-2003)
Blurred line between Good and Evil with invention of Angel
Vampires became very human protagonists (Angel) and likeable antagonists (Spike)
Romances between humans/vampires

25. Vampire character is still visible as a sign of anger, fear, or evil The “beast” is inside, often benign, unlike Dracula

26. Queen of the Damned (2002) Sequel to Interview with the Vampire
Vampire protagonists
Sacrifice of self for humans
Loneliness and isolation
Love for human innocence/life

27. Underworld SERIES (2003-Present)
Vampires are a family
Do not drink blood from humans – manufactured
Protagonist vampire breaks her own bonds to help a human
Human/vampire romance
Very Human in appearance

28. Full Circle…
From the vampire’s sacrifice of the human for personal gain to the vampire’s sacrifice of self for human gain