English Discussion M6

Respond to each post in 100 words or more. There are 4 posts. Use references and NO plagarism. Ensure to complete my noon PST tomorrow.

POST 1:

 Best of Both Worlds

COLLAPSE

To me, it seems in Underworld they are rich, arrogant and dress in Goth clothing, seem sexy, and even the elders are in great shape (models), no one living on the streets. While in all the rest of the vampires they just seem to exist from night to night. Underworld we see the introduction of lycans and vampires from one family, Alexander Corvinius which has two sons, one that bitten by a vampire Marcus (which can turn into a human) and the other bitten by a werewolf William (who cannot change). Something goes wrong with Michael, he goes rogue and uncontrollable by anyone except his brother Marcus. When a vampire drinks their victim's blood, all the knowledge they had are absorbed. Marcus has been dead for centuries and has a lot of catching up to do; he can learn all that needs to be determined to find the whereabouts of his brother who has been imprisoned for centuries and sets him free. Selene is considered a fearless lone warrior that cannot go into the daylight until she is asked to drink the pure blood of Alexander Corvinius. Where she learns that she will become "the new future" of their species, all the knowledge he has passed to her; his sons do not have. Soon they will not be considered auditees of nature except when she and Michael have an intimate moment that will change everything forever.

POST 2:

1 day ago HEATHER RUPPLE 

M6D2

COLLAPSE

            In Underworld, vampires are not out in the open, but remain hidden. However, it would seem that they try to stay that way and even are trying to find alternatives to human blood. At one point, Kraven mentions that Viktor would get tired of feeding on livestock and would break his own rules by gorging on humans on occasion. Also, the vampires had been able to clone blood. I would assume this was done so that they wouldn't have to feed on humans. Kraven does mention at one point to Selene that humans were food for the lycans, but we never witness this nor is it mentioned again (Wiseman, 2003). Other than Michael, humans are mentioned very little in Underworld. In fact, it would seem that humans don't matter much and are of little interest to these vampires or lycans. When Michael finds out about vampires and lycans, he doesn't seem all that surprised and seems to accept it pretty well.

            It is interesting how the elder vampires are depicted in Underworld. The three of them take turns ruling. While one is awake and rules, the other two are put into some sort of hibernation until it is their turn. This apparently is to assure their survival (Wiseman, 2003). Like the vampires in Guilty Pleasures, the vampires in Underworld are not able to be in the sunlight and heal rapidly; however, it's unclear if religious symbols adversely affect them or not. Both Dracula and the vampires in Guilty Pleasures have the ability to perform some type of mind control or suggestion, but that doesn't seem to be the case in Underworld.

            I don't think the introduction of lycans or were-creatures changes how we view vampires. They are simply another type of super-human creature that exists. In some instances they work together, in others, like in Underworld, they are at war. Maybe the addition of were-creatures only adds to the humanness of vampires, since they physically are more similar to humans that other creatures. For me, vampires, humans, and other supers will always have those that are good and those that are evil and everything in between. 

Reference

Wiseman (Director). (2003). Underworld [Motion Picture].

POST 3

Nothing says I love you like Impact Danger Close

COLLAPSE

Danger and sex have been inexorably linked both in media and in reality. When looking at Underworld, and Guilty Pleasures, we constantly see our protagonists making impactful, and socially questionable, decisions based on their close proximity to death, violence, and danger. This has some to do with story line and the idea that sex sells. Underworld in particular we see attractive male and female leads falling for each other in a parallel story to the more traditional Romeo and Juliet story. Not houses, but bloodlines locked in a bitter fight to the death where love conquers all. This story was a success before it was written. But there is a very real parallel in reality that duplicates this sort of behavior. A heightened fight / flight experience releases adrenalin into the system. The same response oxygenates the blood so you can run faster without tiring, and releases endorphins to counter any pain you might be in so that you can fight on. The human body is amazing in this regard. Because of the endorphin response you have a surplus at the end of a traumatic event which is why baser feelings of romance or intimacy may be exacerbated into lust. And anyone that has been in a traumatic event knows that you have to do something with that energy whether it is to laugh for no reason, cry, or go chat up the female lead and see if you can't work something out. Art imitates life and voila. The characters have greater empathy to the reader or viewer because of an akin reaction to the stresses. In both stories the protagonists even go so far as to ignore the social stigma of being with their chosen mate due to a symptomatic response.  

POST 4:

Vampires and the objects of their desires.

COLLAPSE

How are the major characters (both protagonists and antagonists) impacted by seduction, sex, and the threat of death in GUILTY PLEASURES and UNDERWORLD?

Vampires use seduction to get what they want. In Guilty Pleasures we find that Jean Claude playing against his own kind is somewhat of a departure from other vampire books that we have read. One of the ultimate rules throughout The Interview with the Vampire series is that you don't kill your own kind. But we find here that John Claude ultimately goes against that type of rule in guilty pleasures because he was in love with Anita Blake. Yes, ultimately he chose to assist Anita Blake in order to gain favor and to obtain what he wanted…her.

I find this is much like Lestat in Anne Rice's books. He was very self-serving and everything he did was in an effort to gain for himself. He seduced women to get their blood when ultimately we all know he more so desired the beauty of young men.

I don’t feel as if Underworld really portrayed the true nature of some vampires to use their gifts in order to seduce a human. We do see however that after the vampire Selene’s love interest Michael is bitten by a lycan she then goes against her ban of vampires in order to protect him. She also makes him into a hybrid by biting him. All of which makes him one of the most hunted and feared creatures, yet it kept him alive. She did this for love. The threat of death is what caused each side (vampires and lycans) to hunt down Michael.

In Guilty Pleasures we find that Niklaus actually intimidates Anita Blake and scares her but ultimately Anita cannot let her know it. Another student mentioned that they felt Anita was not very smart but I think this shows that she is a true studier of human behavior and I guess in this case Supernatural Behavior because she was able to read Niklaus's behaviors enough to critique her on how she covered her mouth and to cause anger in Niklaus. She used her fear of being hurt and harmed further in order to decide how she would act towards Niklaus (Hamilton, pg. 70)

Hamilton, L. K. (1993). Guilty Pleasures. New York, NY: The Berkley Publishing Group.

Haslinger, Paul (2003). Underworld (Original Score). Lakeshore Records.