Literature of Horror, Sci Fi, and Fantasy

Present in the writing style of Japanese stories are very different emphasized elements than their western counterparts. One such element is the concept of the self. While most Western stories feature a descriptively introduced min character. The main character tends to be the most deep and fleshed out of all, whos inner thoughts we often hear and relate to. However, the Eastern style of Kwaiden reflects a completely different presentation of characters. All characters tend to be introduced shortly, as just their name, their position in society, and very little if any of their background. People have unremarkable individual existences within Kwaiden, focusing instead on what the character represents rather then materially what they are. The purpose of this is to emphasize the concept of the self, not as its own entity, but as a cog in the universal wheel. One individual is a piece of a whole, whether that whole be a familial unit, a member of a society, or a citizen of Earth. Thus,...

One of the most fascinating aspects of Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice is it's cast of characters and their interactions. Vibrant contrast is offered between the three main characters, and between the vampires and the world around them. Interestingly enough, the vampires of both this world and in the film Only Lovers Left Alive consider themselves superior to humans in every apparent way. Even Louis grew tired of the ways of man more quickly than he'd like himself to believe. However, this relationship differs between the two works as the vampires in Only Lovers Left Alive tended to see themselves as higher, more spiritually aware, almost celestial beings, while in Interview they tend to see themselves as hunters with humans as prey. Both works gravitated to a culture of a small group of vampires rather than large communities. The small group in Interview functioned not unlike a family, despite the idea of a family with two fathers being typically viewed as unacceptab...

The film Only Lovers Left Alive is an aesthetically pleasing and highly symbolic movie. Straight from the beginning, we see the camera spiraling over our two main characters, Adam and Eve, in their respective environments. The spinning itself is a motif of the film, that to me appeared symbolic of the passage of time. Adam and Eve, being immortal vampires, have a very distorted idea of time compared to us humans. The characters appear calm and at peace with the spinning of the camera and the passage of time, while we, the human audience, might find it dizzying. Instead, they rest with a beautiful, unearthly stillness that also characterizes them as inhuman beings, to whom time has no meaning.  Though their opening scene mirrors each other and establishes their eternal connection, I also get a sense of the differences in the characters through their environment. Eve is surrounded by white and blue, and a great multitude of books. Her hands are outstretched and rest on piles of th...