https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tLor_KRXoI&feature=youtu.be

The All time classic: Coppola’s Dracula (1992) & Stoker’s Dracula (1897)

Given the fact that Coppola’s Dracula movie, which is based on Bram Stoker’s novel, is a classic collection, I am glad that this week’s topic allows me to watch this amazing movie again. In regards to Coppola’s Dracula, besides the elements of mysterious and horror in vampire movie, Coppola has added the element of romance and love in the movie. One of the romantic scenes that caught my attention the most is the vampire blood giving and blood-drinking scene, where Count Dracula is letting Mina Harker to drink his own blood and becomes a vampire. The line where Dracula said “drink and join me for eternal life” has reflected the true love of a vampire for an everlasting love. Moreover, for instance, you can find the element of romance that not only in the movie, but also in the movie’s trailer. There is a line in the trailer, which mentions “Love never dies.” Moreover, I personally really like Keanu Reeves; he is one of my favorite male actors. Comparing to Stoker’s original version of Dracula, the main difference can be spotted on the main female character. In the original novel version, she is more of a passive, and weak character. There is lack of romance element as well as sexual scenes in the original version of Dracula. However, in the 1992 Coppola’s version of Dracula, Mina is illustrated as more sexualized. Mina has more control over her life decision, including her love and body. There is such a succinct difference in both versions, it is mainly because of the factor that the times of each version were published are different. The societies in 1897 and 1992 have critically different views in regards to the ideas of gender, feminism, romance, and sex.

In the literature work of “The Blood-Drawing Ghost,” it is an interesting and a different perspective to view the topic of the vampire story. The title itself is already catchy to my sight. In the literature work, there are several scenes that definitely caught most of my attention, and creates a lot of imagination areas for me to think further about the characters and the story. These scenes also bear a significant role of constructing the mood of the literature work, and help describe the main characters: Mary, John, and the dead man from the graveyard even more succinctly. Firstly, one of the important scenes occurs when John operates a test for the three ladies, and to decide whom he will get married to according t`o the result of the test. The other scene occurs in the setting of the graveyard, where Marry meets the dead man. This mysterious scene creates a lot of imagination aspect for me, and it enriches the story a lot. Furthermore, in the scene where Marry and the dead man from the graveyard are at John’s house. Mary is ordered by the dead man to drink the blood with the oatmeal. However, Mary hides the oatmeal, and pretends that she has ate it. Nonetheless, the scene nears the ending of the literature work is also very stunning and dramatic for me, which is one of the reasons why I really enjoy reading this literature work, as it offers a lot of freedom for me to explore even further by my own immigration. This scene occurs when Mary has finally returns to John’s house, in order to rescue him from his death, and return the blackthorn stick. However, there is one requirement for Mary to save his life, which is the only option of marry her.

I apologize for the delay of week 10 posting, I have trouble figuring out the “spaces” in two creative works.

In this week posting, I am trying to compare the spaces between the creative works of “Taming Space: Drug use, HIV, and homemaking in Downtown Eastside Vancouver,” by Leslie Robertson between Tomson Highway’s “The Kiss of The Fur Queen.”

In regards to the space and setting of Highway’s “The Kiss of The Fur Queen,” the residential school setting plays a pivotal role reflecting the author’s past experience, and represents the theme of the creative work itself. The space of the residential school offers a lack of freedom for the students. Some of the students, like the main character himself experienced sexual abuse in the school. As it is illustrated in the novel, the author describes the residential school is like a nightmare to the main characters of the novel, and they loss their freedom and respect at the school. From the boys’ perspective in the novel, the setting of the residential school relates to feeling such as unpleasant, lack of freedom, and the memory of being sexually abused.

For the setting and space in “Taming Space: Drug use, HIV, and homemaking in Downtown Eastside Vancouver, the location setting of the creative work is in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, which is an area of Vancouver that is renowned for it’s population of drug users. The article also relates to areas such as medicalized space, living spaces, and public health service spaces in Eastside Vancouver Downtown. These “spaces” bear a crucial roles for individuals who live in Eastside of Vancouver Downtown, as it reflects the cultural identity as well as self-identity of the individuals who live in that area.