Vampire narratives: Looking at queer-centric experiences in comparison to hetero-centric norms in order to model a new queer vampiric experience

This thesis examines vampire narratives such as Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Gilda Stories, and Fledgling using queer and sexuality studies frameworks to look at salient patterns in the texts. The project focuses on how gender performances take place in the text, what the performances mean, and what the implications of them are. In addition to gender performance, in the thesis, I also look at how vampire narratives influence and transform binaries related to gender and sexuality. Furthermore, while popular narratives such as Twilight are fan favorites, there are other alternatives for vampire narratives that dismantle and obliterate a hetero-centric patriarchal view and instead opt for a queer-centric, open, and non-misogynistic message. Texts like Fledgling and The Gilda Stories reveal just how transforming the vampire is as a queer figure who opens up discussion about what constitutes “healthy” and “fulfilling” ways to live