Kiss of the Vampire Flashcards
What year was Kiss of the Vampire released?
1963
Which production company produced Kiss of the Vampire?
Hammer Film Productions
What genre conventions are evident in the Kiss of the Vampire poster?
Dark, moody colour palette (gothic horror)
Fangs and blood (vampire iconography)
Dramatic, fearful facial expressions
Nighttime setting with bats (symbol of vampires)
What does the title Kiss of the Vampire suggest?
It implies a blend of romance and horror, with the word kiss connoting intimacy and seduction, while vampire connotes danger and the supernatural.
How are gender representations shown in the poster?
The female victim is in a vulnerable, submissive position, connoting traditional gender stereotypes of women as weak or endangered.
The male vampire appears dominant and menacing, reinforcing patriarchal power dynamics.
However, the second female figure holding the male victim subverts expectations by showing a woman in a position of power.
What is significant about the font style in the poster?
The jagged, dripping font resembles blood, reinforcing the horror genre.
The uneven, distorted lettering creates a sense of unease and danger.
How does the poster reflect 1960s social anxieties?
The sexualised horror reflects fears about changing gender roles and sexual liberation.
The supernatural themes symbolise anxieties around the loss of traditional values in a rapidly modernising society.
What intertextual references can be identified in the poster?
References to classic vampire tropes (e.g., Dracula) through costumes and setting.
The damsel in distress motif is reminiscent of gothic literature and horror films of the 1930s and 1940s.
What techniques are used to create suspense or fear in the poster?
The contrasting light and shadow creates a sense of mystery and danger.
The fearful facial expressions of the characters evoke a sense of threat.
The bats flying in the background symbolise death and the supernatural.
How does the poster use binary oppositions? (Levi-Strauss theory)
Good vs. Evil: The human victims versus the vampires.
Masculine power vs. feminine vulnerability: The male vampire preying on the helpless woman.
Life vs. death: Suggested by the vampiric threat and gothic iconography.
What media language is used in the composition of the poster?
Diagonal positioning of the characters creates a sense of movement and tension.
The colour red (blood) symbolises danger, passion, and violence.
The full moon and bats create a stereotypical horror setting.
How can Stuart Hall’s Reception Theory be applied to the Kiss of the Vampire poster?
Preferred reading: Audiences in the 1960s may have accepted the patriarchal gender roles and seen the film as thrilling entertainment.
Negotiated reading: Some may have recognised the subversion of gender roles with the powerful female figure but still viewed it as primarily a horror film.
Oppositional reading: A modern audience might view the poster as sexist, objectifying women and reinforcing outdated gender stereotypes.
How does the poster reflect Roland Barthes’ theory of semiotics?
Symbolic code: The bats symbolise the supernatural and death.
Enigma code: The poster creates mystery- who are the vampires? Who will survive?
Semantic code: The red colour connotes danger, passion, and violence.
Cultural code: The vampire iconography draws on pre-existing knowledge of vampire myths.
What does the costumes in the poster signify?
The flowing, elegant dresses of the women suggest femininity and vulnerability.
The vampire’s dark, formal attire connotes gothic elegance and danger.
The revealing dress of the female victim highlights her sexualised and vulnerable status.
How can you apply David Gauntlett’s theory of identity to the kiss of the Vampire poster?
The poster offers traditional representations of gender, with women as victims and men as aggressors.
However, the second female figure offers an alternative representation of female power, suggesting that identities are becoming more fluid and diverse.
How does the use of colour contribute to the horror genre in the poster?
The red text and blood-like splatters suggest violence and danger.
The contrast between pale skin and dark shadows highlights the theme of life vs, death.
The muted, desaturated background creates a bleak, ominous atmosphere.
How does the poster reflect the influence of 1960s popular culture?
The sexualised representation of women reflects the increasing sexual liberation of the 1960s.
The gothic horror style reflects the popularity of Hammer Horror films during this era.
The poster’s dramatic, theatrical design reflects the marketing style of mid-century B-movies.
How does the Kiss of the Vampire poster use mise-en-scene?
Lighting: The chiaroscuro effect created dramatic contrasts between light and shadow, adding tension.
Props: The bats and moonlit sky enhance the gothic horror aesthetic.
Facial expressions: The characters’ fearful and aggressive expressions convey terror and threat.
Costume: The male vampire’s dark suit connotes danger, while the flowing gowns of the women emphasise their femininity and vulnerability.
How can you apply Liesbet Van Zoonen’s feminist theory to the poster?
The submissive female victim reflects traditional patriarchal ideals of women as passive and weak.
The sexualised representation of the female victim (bare shoulder, flowing dress) reinforces the objectification of women.
However, the second female figure challenges this by displaying power over the male victim, offering a more complex representation.
How does the Kiss of the Vampire poster demonstrate genre hybridity?
It blends horror with romance through the title and imagery (e.g., the kiss suggesting intimacy, while the vampires represent danger).
The gothic elements (moonlight, bats) are combined with melodramatic romance tropes (women in distress, dramatic poses).
How does the Kiss of the Vampire poster reflect Todorov’s narrative theory?
The poster hints at the disruption stage of the narrative structure.
The vampire attack implies that the characters’ lives have been disturbed by the supernatural threat.
The enigma of whether the victims will overcome the vampires suggests the possibility of a future resolution, though the poster does not reveal the outcome.
How does the composition of the poster create a sense of imbalance?
The diagonal positioning of the characters creates a dynamic, chaotic feeling.
The vampire’s aggressive stance over the female victim creates a visual imbalance, emphasising her vulnerability.
The opposing female figure holding a male victim adds a contrasting imbalance, subverting gender expectations.
How does the poster use anchorage to convey meaning?
The title Kiss of the Vampire anchors the image in the genre, suggesting a blend of romance and horror.
The fearful expressions of the characters anchor the audience’s interpretation of the situation as dangerous and threatening.
How does the poster reflect Steve Neale’s theory of genre?
It conforms to genre conventions (vampires, horror iconography).
It offers slight variation by including a powerful female figure, subverting typical victim roles.
It relies on audience familiarity with vampire tropes while offering new visual elements.
