Dracula Transformation Essay

dwarf of the Vampire is a post-modern text edition which is a reconstruction of Dracula, a novel by Bram fireman, and Nosferatu a film directed by F. W. Murnau. The use of intertexuality in Shadow of the Vampire is a key brass which aloneows it to echo themes, the mediaeval mode and issues that ar present in the other(a) two texts. Through a clear pastiche, Merhige produces a new text from the old.Immortality is a key theme which has been subverted from the physical scent out finished drink blood, as its represented in Dracula, to the spiritual sense through art by producing a perfect film which will last and entertain many generations. Bram Stoker uses many motifs such as the wafer, stake, rood-tree and garlic flowers to demonstrate the Counts immortality as these reoccurring images show the contain objects that can rid of a vampire, emphasizing his strength and power.Although these symbols are all present and continual in Shadow (crosses arent for decoration- village r says to Murnau), they put ont portray the immortality, instead Merhige uses film techniques to replace the language techniques of Dracula. The whir in of the camera is an example as it shows the deep expression and discouragement of Murnau to achieve his perfect picture and effectively his immortality. Dialogue and particular quotes mend his goal obvious our memory wont blur or fade and context that will last like the graves and alike shows his obsession to earn immortality.Murnaus obsession with his picture in Shadow causes him to turn into the mad garter of the film and instead all our abject emotions begin aimed at Count Orlock, who is a poor and weak return key of the vampiristic image set by Dracula1. In Dracula the protagonist (being the Count) in any case becomes obsessed with immortality and the female instances (Mina and Lucy) as he repeatedly visits them the illicit beloved that Dracula has for these women adds to the terror and gothic romance of the novel.A s the female characters become threatened and distressed by the Count, they add to the suspenseful and mysterious gloriole and engage the reader as they share similar emotions 2 the female character of Greta in Shadow is a resonance of this distress as she is unknowingly affected by the presence of Orlock which causes her to turn to drug yell to deal with it (does too Murnau and the producer).Greta is overly unknowingly being distressed by the camera itself which acts as a symbol for an oppressive male protagonist which contains characteristics of Dracula her naive comment theatre gives me life, this thing only takes it away, is an example of irony and too foreshadows future events and feelings such as she subconsciously knows it (like her other comments) but instead of acting upon it she again turns to drugs to avoid the fact.Murnaus obsession is proven by his willingness to use other people as affords, most notably Greta as he generates a deal with Orlock for her life. The flashbacks of Greta ( beforehand she is feed upon) causes shock to the viewer as the quotes like consider it a sacrifice for your art and make the ultimate sacrifice for love cause the emotions of sorrow, repugnance and excitement to flourish as the viewer realises Murnaus ambition from the run and its inevitability. These quotes are well-crafted examples of foreshadowing and irony.His obsession with his art is continuously shown end-to-end as he makes ridiculous demands and is easily aggravated, such as when the photographer was bitten by Orlock, Murnau exclaimed lack of enthusiasm, I told you to fix it. In Dracula sacrifice is dominantly skillful in a positive way with the heroic pigeonholing make many sacrifices to finally reach their goal of destroying Dracula (however, this heroic group is omitted in Shadow and is the primary reason for Murnaus conquest).Arthur sacrifices his love for Lucy to part with her soul and his own, but as a result he moldiness kill her gruesom ely also, the men (Morris, Billington, Van Helsing and Seward) sacrifice their blood in transfusions to find Lucy alive. This is foreshadowed by Lucy as she previously exclaimed if only I could shit them all when she was deciding her lover between these men this gives the blood grammatical gender to it (sexual innuendo) and this is an example of gothic romance with the presence of rival lover and ten-fold suitors.This sexuality of the blood is present in quotes such as the young lady went on her knees and away with you, hes mine and these show the popular opinion and empowerment of the male characters in a patriarchal society. The sexuality disposed to blood in Dracula is again subtly echoed into Shadow of the Vampire, with Orlocks lust and desperation for Greta being portrayed in the sexual sense as he is given blood from bats and other sources throughout the film but none satisfied him like Greta with him falling sleepy soon after to lighten the mood with black humour befo re the action-packed ending is aroused.The mysterious atmosphere that is obvious in all one-third texts is similarly brought about through the usage of slightly subverted gothic elements and techniques. The empty-bellied and ruined castle setting of Dracula is important to setting the headmaster superhuman/gothic tone that the novel continues throughout as shown by Jonathan Harkers diary entries the castle is a veritable prison and I am a prisoner and doors everywhere, locked and bolted. Additionally, the position of the castle adds to the mystery scarce on the borders of three states portions of Europe as these names arent old(prenominal) to us. Shadow of the Vampire incorporates this setting as small rooms, caves and an abandoned monastery are all used in the majority of the film and the transition of cinematography from the developed west to the unknown and strange east (Helgoland).Both texts also use the dark of night to represent the dark, supernatural tone that each are setting Stoker uses the sun as a symbol of protection from poisonous (the dark) and is evident in comments of Mina I keep waiting till the sun be to me a safety and that bonny sun life was to me again. Shadow of the Vampire sets most of its scenes in the dark and uses images of the silhouetted moon and shadows together with eerie background music to make the viewer feel uncomfortable and scared like the characters.Shadow uses pursue sounds like thunder and howling in night scenes to give the supernatural sense (in the same way Nosferatu does) which is an echo of the onomatopoeia used by Stoker such as muffled roar and howling of dogs. Both texts also make use of the gothic palette as a dominator of the act upon used because they give the sense of age (grey), danger (red) or evil (black) which are essential to the quick-shifting moods as they hint to the audience whats glide slope up next.Overall, the incorporation of a post-modern style and the subversion and inclusion of theme s, issues and gothic elements from Nosferatu and Dracula were crucial to the success and transformation of Shadow of the Vampire. The continual success of this film is due to its excellent depiction of vampires and their nature which can be evident in modern day life and in the character of people which has never been paralleled as its so ferociously received.