Kiss Of The Vampire Poster (L&R)

Question 1

(KOTV) When was the film created?

Answer 1

1963

Question 2

(KOTV) Who was the film produced by?

Answer 2

Hammer Film Productions

Question 3

(KOTV) Who was the film distributed by?

Answer 3

J. Arthur Rank and Universal

Question 4

(KOTV) What was the film initially intended to be?

Answer 4

The sequel to 1958 Dracula

Question 5

What were some of Hammer Film Productions’ other successes?

Answer 5

Other ‘monster movie’ franchises such as The Mummy and Frankenstein

Question 6

(KOTV) 1960s audience

Answer 6

The 1960s audience would be familiar with the codes and conventions of ‘monster movie’ film posters

Question 7

(KOTV) Connotations of the wooden serif font in the title

Answer 7

• Links to the vampire genre (could be in reference to a vampire’s coffin or the stake needed to kill a vampire)
• Blood dripping from the ‘V’ could make it look like a fang

Question 8

Connotations of the fact that it is a painted image

Answer 8

• Highly conventional of film posters of the period
• Links to the ‘Dracula’ poster in that both are painted but that one is in B&W and this one is in colour (a modern telling of an older story)

Question 9

Connotations of the gloomy grey, black and brown colour palette

Answer 9

Reinforces the film’s dark, scary conventions

Question 10

(KOTV) Historical context

Answer 10

In 1963 (when the film was released) the first women was sent to space by the USSR which symbolises the evolution of women’s rights during this time.

Question 11

(KOTV) Barthes’ Semiotics theory - conform or challenge?

Answer 11

It conforms!

Hermeneutic code - suspense is created through enigmas surrounding connoted relationship between male and female vampires (emphasised by the ‘kiss’ in the title) and the fate of their 2 victims

Semantic code - images of bats and their conventional association with vampires and horror

Question 12

(KOTV) Levi-Strauss’ Structuralism theory - conform or challenge?

Answer 12

It conforms!

The binary opposition is shown through the opposing representations of the vampires and their victims and the romantic connotations of “kiss” opposed to the stereotypical vampire poster.

Question 13

(KOTV) Political and social context

Answer 13

The 1960s was the start of women’s sexual liberation (e.g. the introduction of the contraceptive pill). Also, more women were starting to be in the paid work force (1963 equal pay act) and there were several protests/campaigns for equal rights

The ‘male fears’ at the time of women challenging male dominance could be encoded in this poster

Question 14

(KOTV) Dress codes

Answer 14

Both women are wearing pale dresses made of light materials which reinforce their femininity and sexualises them by highlighting their curves.

Question 15

(KOTV) Gesture code of the woman

Answer 15

Stereotypical passive victim of the ‘monster’ by her body language - looks like the damsel in distress

Question 16

(KOTV) Gesture codes of the male vampire

Answer 16

His power and strength is highlighted as he can lift the female victim with just one arm

However, he seems fearful with his arm thrown across his body as though he is protecting himself from the female vampire. This is uncharacteristic for a male and a vampire.

Question 17

Gesture codes of the female vampire

Answer 17

Several aggressive gesture codes (e.g. baring her teeth) which represents her in a dominant way which was not stereotypical of a woman at the time.

Question 18

Gesture codes of the male victim

Answer 18

He is in a submissive and sacrificial pose towards the female vampire - not typical of the time.

Question 19

(KOTV) Hall’s representation theory - conform or challenge?

Answer 19

It conforms!

Images of castles, bats, the vampire’s cape and dripping blood form part of the “conceptual road map” that gives meaning to the “world of the poster”

Question 20

(KOTV) Van Zoonen’s feminist theory - conform or challenge?

Answer 20

It challenges it!

With the female vampire being a ‘co-antagonist’, she is perhaps contributing to social change by represent women in non traditional roles.

However it could conform as the passive female victim still does reinforce these traditional ideas of women.