Home

vampirism

Vampirism refers to beliefs and depictions of vampires—beings said to sustain themselves by feeding on the blood of the living. In many traditions, vampires are revenants or undead that threaten communities and resist conventional death.

The term derives from Slavic languages, and the modern vampire image was shaped by literature and film,

Folklore is diverse. European legends describe revenants that depart their graves at night to drink blood,

In contemporary media, vampires range from monsters to heroes, and vampire fiction often uses the creature

Scientific perspectives hold that there is no evidence for real vampires. Explanations for vampire myths include

Some modern subcultures adopt vampire aesthetics or identities, sometimes incorporating consensual blood practices within safety guidelines.

notably
Bram
Stoker's
Dracula
(1897),
which
portrayed
vampires
as
powerful,
seductive,
and
nearly
immortal
through
blood
consumption.
with
weaknesses
such
as
sunlight,
religious
symbols,
garlic,
and
stakes.
Other
regions
offer
different
forms,
including
shapeshifters
and
spirits
who
prey
on
humans.
to
explore
themes
of
mortality,
desire,
power,
and
social
difference.
misinterpretations
of
disease,
decomposition
after
death,
and
the
symbolic
function
of
the
undead
in
human
fear
of
death
and
predation.
These
movements
are
cultural
phenomena
rather
than
evidence
of
real
vampirism.