Worldview in pop culture, #2: The Redemption of Cain

Will Smith, directing and starring in a new movie with a Biblical plot, the story of Cain and Abel, vampires...wait, what? Did you just say vampires? I mean, the rest of that stuff was pretty ordinary, but vampires? Well, I'm afraid so. It turns out that (according to the internet, source of all knowledge) Will Smith is set to release a new movie, The Redemption of Cain, sometime in the next few years. Perhaps 2010, perhaps 2015. Either way, sources are unanimously certain that this retelling of the Cain and Abel story will have a vampiric element. How will vampires fit into this Biblical narrative? No one is really sure. Why on earth would anyone want to fit vampires into this Biblical narrative? No one seems to care.

Okay, I'll admit that this post is not really about Will Smith's new movie, it's more about vampires in general, and their place in pop culture. Every time I hear about a new vampire book, movie, or TV show, I cast my gaze upon heaven with a questioning look on my face and say, “Why?” Why are vampires so popular? Why do people actually read these books and watch these movies, spreading this idea like an infection? Are we being punished? The answers do not come easily. However, it seems that the vampire mythos has a strong grip in pop culture, especially over young people.

The idea of vampires has existed in mythology for quite a while. It became most popular in the 18^th century, which saw people accused of vampiry (?) and stakes driven through hearts. How and/or why vampires came to be associated with weaknesses to sunlight, garlic, and the figure of the cross, the world may never know. Recently though, vampire mythos saw a rebirth of popularity with the release of “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer. This is worth some note. It should be noted that Stephenie Meyer is a Mormon. Mormonism came about when Joseph Smith was visited in a dream by an angel (or God Himself, depending on where you heard it from) and told that all Christians had it wrong. He was supposedly given prophetic revelation and wrote it all down in the book of Mormon. I am reminded of Galatians 1:8, which says “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” Anyway, the interesting thing is that Twilight also came about by a dream. Stephenie Meyer (who is a Mormon, remember) had a vision in a dream about two young people in a forest clearing, arguing. They were talking about being madly in love with each other; the one, a boy, was having a difficult time resisting to drink the blood of the other, a girl. From this vision, Meyer sketched out a chapter, later writing the book around it. I cannot explain why it became so popular with young girls in America. I cannot explain how mixing vampires with romance could ever become popular at all. The idea of being in love with a vampire or a warewolf is an idea that I cannot wrap my head around. Thankfully.

But ever since Twilight, vampires have invaded many forms of media and entertainment, spreading popularity and box-office dollars wherever they go. Perhaps the most recent example is Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. It is my sincere hope that no one will confuse this work of historical fiction for actual history. Although I am sure that some will be confused. Let's just get the facts straight: vampire bats exist, and drink the blood of other animals to live. Vampires, basically humans who are immortal, pale, and drink the blood of other humans, remain mythological creatures.

 So what does this have to do with worldviews? How do we think about this? Is it bad? Okay? Good? I don't have the answers to all of these questions, but I can tell you that the cover of the first Twilight book contains the image of an apple, which Meyer admits is a picture of the “forbidden fruit” from the garden of Eden. I can also tell you that if I ever have a teenage daughter, I pray that she will choose better quality fiction to read.