Kiss Of The Vampire

Question 1

What year was Kiss of the Vampire released?

Answer 1

1963

Question 2

Which studio produced Kiss of the Vampire and which studio distributed it?

Answer 2

• Produced by Hammer Film Productions
• Distributed by Universal

Question 3

Why is ‘In Eastman Color’ a significant feature of the poster?

Answer 3

• connotes that this is a modern telling of an older story
• concept of vampire coined by Bram Stoker in 1897

Question 4

Enigma codes in the poster

Answer 4

• Enigma surrounding fate of the victims, introduces narrative book and themes of violence
• Enigma surrounding relationship between male and female vampire, reinforced by ‘kiss’ in the title

Question 5

What font is the title written in and how for it link to the vampire genre?

Answer 5

• serif, reflects gothic themes
• Wooden styling (stake, coffin) and blood dripping from letter V’s fang connotes vampire genre

Question 6

Symbolic codes connoting vampire genre

Answer 6

Bats, castle, blood

Question 7

How does the representation of the female characters on the poster reflect the historical context of the 60s?

Answer 7

• introduction of contraceptive pill in 1960
• Equal Pay Act 1963
• Betty Friedan Feminine Mystique 1963
• representations of women as both dominant and passive reflect period of social change

Question 8

Apply Van Zoonen’s theory to Kiss of the Vampire

Answer 8

• by representing the female as a co-antagonist, the female vampire may be contributing to social change by representing women in a Co antagonist role
• Yet female victim sexualised, reinforces stereotypes, inhibiting social change

Question 9

Apply Stuart Hall’s theory of representation to the poster

Answer 9

• generic iconography of bats, castle, vampire’s cape, dripping blood, form part of the conceptual roadmap that gives meaning to the world depicted

Question 10

Style of main image

Answer 10

• In a ‘painted’ style, links to Christopher Lee’s Dracula

Question 11

Hammer Film Productions previous succeed in gothic genre

Answer 11

• The Mummy and Frankenstein
• 60s audience will therefore recognise conventions associated with this genre - e.g composition, font, representations

Question 12

Colour palette

Answer 12

• Gloomy, grey, brown with red accents, connoting violence and gothic genre

Question 13

Actors listed

Answer 13

• Stars listed in order of highest paid male actor
• first listed is Clifford Evan’s, starred in Hammer’s 1961 hit Curse of the Werewolf
• appeals to pre sold fan of actor and genre

Question 14

Fear/ vulnerability of victims

Answer 14

Highlighted through gesture codes
• female victim neck exposed
• male victim gesture codes are fearful, arm thrown across body defensively, suggesting fear of female vampire

Question 15

Apply Guantlett’s theory of identity to Kiss of the Vampire

Answer 15

Female vampire acts as a role model for women struggling against male oppression in the 60s

Question 16

Dress codes of women

Answer 16

• Both wearing revealing pale dresses of light materials - dress code reinforces femininity