Kiss of the Vampire Representation Flashcards
Who produced and distributed “Kiss of the Vampire”?
Hammer Film Productions
What was “Kiss of the Vampire” intended to be a sequel to?
1958’s “Dracula”.
What significant historical events occurred in the 1960s?
Equal Pay Act
Legalization of the contraceptive pill
Roe vs Wade
Moon landing
What does the capitalized, serif font of the title “Kiss of the Vampire” signify?
It creates connotations linked to the vampire film genre, with its ‘wooden’ styling and the blood dripping from the letter V’s ‘fang’.
What does the use of a ‘painted’ main image in the poster signify?
It is highly conventional of films of the period and links to the poster for Christopher Lee’s “Dracula”, indicating a modern telling of an older story.
How does the color palette of the poster reinforce the film’s genre?
The gloomy grey, black, and brown colors reinforce the dark, scary conventions, while the red highlights draw attention to key visual signifiers like attacking bats, the vampire, and blood.
How does the listing of stars on the poster reflect industry conventions?
The more highly paid male actors are listed first and in order of fame.
How are the women in the poster represented through their dress codes?
They wear pale dresses made of light materials, highlighting their femininity by revealing the curves of their bodies and the flesh of their upper chests and arms.
What does the gesture code of the woman on the left signify?
It signifies the stereotypical passive victim of the ‘monster’, with the monster’s power highlighted by holding her with just one arm.
How does the gesture code of the second woman differ from the first?
The second woman’s gesture codes are more aggressive, with her baring her teeth and raising her arm almost fist-like as she’s being bitten by the bat.
What does the submissive pose of the male ‘victim’ signify?
It represents him in a non-stereotypically dominant way, with his head back and throat exposed.
How does Stuart Hall’s theory of representation apply to the poster?
Both the male and female characters are represented through stereotypes (strong/ vulnerable respectively) which reflect the hegemonic elite at the time.
What does David Gauntlett’s theory of identity suggest about the female vampire?
The female vampire might act as a role model for women struggling against male oppression or seeking equality with men.
What binary oppositions does Claude Lévi-Strauss’ theory highlight in the poster?
The opposing representations of the vampires and their victims, masculinity and femininity.
How does Liesbet Van Zoonen’s feminist theory apply to the female vampire?
By assuming a ‘co-antagonist’ role, the female vampire might contribute to social change by representing women in nontraditional roles, though the passive female victim reinforces traditional stereotypes. The male vampire is also represented as ‘spectacle’
