Catch-up time

My entries on here can be fairly sporadic, as I don't feel compelled to write just for the hell of it but only when I've got something to say or find something particularly compelling. That said, I don't like to let this thing go dormant, either. So, occasionally, I'll do a little 'catch-up' time with my readers to see what I've been up to and whatnot.

Firstly, you may've noticed that I've reinstated LinkWithin after banishing it several months ago. Wow. October. Time flies! I brought it on the same day I wrote the previous post. What inspired me to do that? You might be surprised. 

The article's full of useful tips for getting your stuff 'out there', but here's another: quantity may be more important than quality, according to a study by The British Psychological Society. The theory's not without criticism, however.

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I've noticed Hammer's interested in making another Dracula flick. They've already had a recent stab at the vampire genre with Beyond the rave (2008). Prior to that, Hammer tried 'keeping up' with the young'uns by adding more sadism, more boobs and more groovy theatrics in the flicks that (not coincidentally) served as the last gasps of their reign over British horror films. 

Yes, I'm talking about Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972), The Satanic rites of Dracula (1974) and, let's not forget, the kung-fu 'spectacular' that was The legend of the 7 golden vampires (1974). Christopher Lee patently refused to star in that one and was replaced by John Forbes-Robertson.

I'm a fan of the Hammer Dracula flicks. Taste the blood of Dracula (1970) is one of my favourite vampire movies and I also enjoy their non-Dracula effort, Vampire circus (1972). What I'm saying is, these guys knew how to do it 'right'. Mostly.

So I can't help wondering whether they're gonna 'update' Dracula like they did in the latter stages, only to compete with other hyper-modernisations of the vampire myth like the Blade and Underworld series. Hopefully, Beyond the rave's not a warning sign. Point is, that angle's been done.

The thing that worked best in the Hammer Dracula/vampire flicks, in my opinion, was their 'gothicness'. That angle's lost when you update the vampire too much. They just become run-of-the-mill leather-jacketed action antiheroes—with fangs. Boooooring. I'm so over it. And enough with the bloody ramping, already (see point 3)! This isn't the bloody Matrix. And get offa my lawn!

Anyhoo, if there's anything that demonstrates what an updating of Hammers' gothic Dracula would look like, it's this. That said, they were also smart enough to back Let the right one in, so I probably shouldn't be cutting 'em down just yet.

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Robin Hood—and Highgate vampire—fans, for that matter, will get a kick out of Kai Roberts' recently-published, Grave concerns: the follies and folklore of Robin Hood's final resting place (2011). The 'resting place' is located on the Kirklees Hall Estate, Yorkshire. It was also the scene of Sean Manchester's second-most famous vampire case.

Roberts presents an objective overview of the case and—before I continue, I've gotta disclose that he's a mate of mine. But he's a mate as a result of the correspondence that place during the draft stages of the book.

You see, its sixth chapter, 'Vampire blues', deals with the Highgate vampire case, which I was asked to view before it was 'locked in' for publication. Kai was familiar with my other blog, Did a wampyr walk in Highgate? and thought I might be qualified to do so. I made forty-eight notes to it, but not many made the cut. Mind you, they weren't major alterations, more like expanding on points—with a few corrections—Kai made throughout the draft. There wasn't really much more I could add, as Kai did such a brilliant job of summarising the case.

Now, because I mentioned on Facebook that I helped 'edit' his chapter (before I'd seen the final copy, no less), Della Farrant, and her husband David, took it upon themselves to jump down my throat—with hilarious consequences! What I also find funny, is that Kai's criticism is much more brutal than mine, yet they compliment him. Bit of a Freudian slip there! That, or they don't want to muddy the waters with someone who's given 'em public exposure and knows how to cut down their 'work' a peg or two with utmost precision.

As if it wasn't sad enough, Dave's wife's now started writing weaksauce apologia and bitter diatribes on her husband's behalf. A real shame, because she's a very smart woman and a talented writer (cursive font to the contrary). Just goes to show how 'blind' love can be.

Apart from that, I've also dealt with the usual pitiful, passive-aggressive mind games the President of the Highgate Vampire Society likes to play.

Anyhoo, grab a copy of Kai's book. I've started reading the rest of it—keeping in mind I only saw one chapter, pre-publication—and it's proving to be a gripping read.

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Speaking of reads, Bertena Varney sent me a copy of her book, Vampire news: tasty bits to sink your fangs into (2012), which I'll get round to reading properly when I have some time.

You might recall her as the author of Lure of the vampire: a pop culture reference book of lists, websites and "very telling personal essays" (2011). The same book also reveals the head of the Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency, which many people think is a legit government organisation.

If Vampire news is non-fictional—as my brief flick-through suggests it is—you may even see a review on this blog. Stay tuned! But let this also be a head's up to other authors/publishers: please don't send me movies or fictional works. I appreciate the effort, but I won't review them. If you've got vampire documentaries (like this one) or non-fiction vampire books, on the other hand...

In the meantime, I actually kinda dig the cover and you can download a copy of it free—yes, free—from its co-author, Stavros', website: Bite me really hard. Click on the cover to take you there.

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Even though this isn't a movie review blog, I'll occasionally refer to vampire flicks I've seen, keeping in tune with the online 'diary' nature of blogs. So, in that spirit, I'll mention that I caught Lesbian vampire killers (for vampire content, honest!) on DVD. 

Despite the rash of negative reviews—and its co-star calling it 'a pile of shit'—I kinda liked it. It reminded me of a far-less gorier version of Død snø (2009), another enjoyably mindless horror-comedy released the same year. It's not Shaun of the dead, sure, but dumb fun, nonetheless. For another 'take', see what Andrew M. Boylan had to say about it.

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Well, that's enough rambling and links to wade through, for today. We'll catch-up again soon. Oh, but before I forget, John Edgar Browning gave me a head's up on the release of his book, Bram Stoker's Dracula: the critical feast, an annotated reference of early reviews & reactions, 1897-1913 (2012). It's now available in paperback form on Amazon; there's a copy for the Kindle-inclined. Another addition to my wish list—and yours, too, I hope.

My reading list 3

Been a while since I updated the thing. First, some familiar 'faces'. Michele Hauf's VampChix, Elizabeth Miller's livejournal, Curt Purcell's The groovy age of horror, Brian Solomon's The vault of horror, and bshistorian's The bs historian have been reinstituted. Blog's felt naked without 'em.

Speaking of naked, I should point out that Purcell's blog occasionally contains explicit content, if you catch my drift. Not one for the kiddies or workplace.

Wesleyan University Press

Time for the newcomers; although, this one should've been on the other blog all along. Can't believe I hadn't included Michael E. Bell's online writings in my old blog's 'Reading list'. Readers may recognise him as the author of Food for the dead: on the trail of New England's vampires (2001; 2011)—a book which should be in every vampire scholar's library.

This time round, I've added not one, but—count 'em—two of his blogs here: Food for the dead and Vampires grasp. If the latter's title doesn't sound familiar, strap yourself in: it's a 'teaser' for his next book. His user profile reveals it'll 'be published in 2012 by Wesleyan University Press'. Keep your eyes peeled for that one.

While it doesn't exclusively deal with vampires—indeed, they're barely mentioned—I've added Paul Bibeau's Goblinbooks to the list, as it makes entertaining reading. It does have a vampire connection, though: its author wrote Sundays with Vlad: from Pennsylvania to Transylvania, one man's quest to live in the world of the undead (2007).

Minor adjustments

I've just been toying with the design on this blog. Haven't changed much. Just some font types and link colours. They're brighter now. Bigger blog title, too.

So now the main text's a 12pt Georgia, rather than Arial. Looks better in my view. Hopefully, it's just as readable. I've also pulled the random posts function, as it was screwing with the rest of the layout.

I was thinking of formatting subsequent pics with Instagram-style filters, until I read this hysterical rant decrying the habit. It made some good points. We'll see.

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Speaking of adjustments, I should point out that the 'trailor' featured in the previous entry is not a trailer, misspelling to the contrary. It's actually a teaser. Some pre-production footage, giving viewers an idea of what the film'll look like when it's done. That'd explain why that swooping owl looks so poxy.

Random post

On your right, you'll see the new 'Random posts' widget. I'm sure you can guess what it does. I got it from here. My old blog, Diary of an amateur vampirologist, used a random posts function called LinkWithin, which shared 'related posts'. 

LinkWithin

I would've used it here, too, but as my posts are generally shorter, they'd be a bit of an eyesore on the page. However, if they had a 'list' function rather than 'thumbnail' display, I woulda used that instead.

Commenting with difficulty

Techi

It's been brought to my attention that there's some issues with the commenting function on this blog. I've also noticed it, meself. When I tried writing this reply to Dave, I noticed that instead of posting, it'd just refresh. I had HTML coding in it for italics, but I don't think that's the issue, especially as such coding is enabled (albeit, in a limited capacity). However, once I replaced the italics with talking marks, it worked. Hmm...

I've been trying to Google a solution and, by consolation, it's a 'relief' to find out that this isn't a local issue as this, this, and this attest. Byway of solution, I've tried what was recommended here. Hopefully, everything's working ok now. I think you know how to determine that, but if it still doesn't work, feel free to e-mail me.

I've also noticed that a few of my recent footnotes won't all jump to where they're supposed to. Grrr. Seems to be something screwy with this template, even though it's one of Blogger's relatively new ones. Get with the program, guys! Also, add a bloody footnote function already! It's a pain in the ass adding that stuff in manually.

Footnote follies

Until now, I was baffled by how to add footnotes to blog entries using HTML code; a major weakness when I rely on my ability to cite my sources. But I'm now getting the hang of it, thanks to this article. 

That said, it's still a bit of a pain. Blogger should've added a footnote function to its 'Compose' view by now.

Anyway, I've been cleaning up the entries that've used the footnote-adding method derived from here (above). My first attempt with adding footnotes didn't do trackbacks, instead linking to my sign-in for the blog. After paying closer attention to the instructions, I realised it was because I was flipping back to 'Compose' mode before posting. And you're not meant to do that. Whoops! However, even though I 'got it', the code, itself, was so daunting, it took another coupla goes to get right. And even then, I was too 'scared' to add other footnotes. The footnote numbers at the bottom of the page, would also provide links to the same page, too. For some reason. That's been fixed.

I've been meaning to add a footnote to 'Nic Cage, vampire?': a link to The Onion article taking the piss out of Birthers. As a general rule, I don't like having to revise blog entries after I post them—makes a mockery of the publication date, ya see—but I had to add that article there. It fits perfectly and I've been holding onto it, trying to figure a way to add it to my blog after forgetting to include it the first time 'round. Welp, it's there now.

Incidentally, the referencing style I'm using is the documentary-note system derived from a widely-used Australian style guide.¹ For style guides more suited to your region, publication or discipline, consult Wikipedia.

Edit: I've noticed that the previous coding I was using does the same thing this version does: it only works properly if you're viewing the article on its own, rather than as part of the whole blog. Otherwise, if you click on the 'take me back' link, it'll redirect to the specific blog entry. Sigh. Can't catch a break with this bloody thing. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

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^{1. Style guide: for authors, editors and printers, 6th edn, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd, [Milton, Qld], 2002, pp. 190–1, 208–15↩}

My reading list 2

Vampire news

I've made two additions to the reading list. Both scored entries in Carrie Carolin's list of 13 great vampire blogs.

Firstly, Everlost's Vampire news. Don't recall how I first came across his blog, but his Fright night coverage certainly lured me in. Fright night (1985), you see, is one of my favourite vampire flicks. It was recently remade (groan) and, thanks to him, I got the drop on which actress was playing Amy. As it happens, his latest blog entry concerns the remake, too: DVD cover art. 

Blimey. It's only just started screening in cinemas here. It must've died in the arse up in the States. If that'll deter the spate of pointless, cash-grab remakes we've been forced to endure in the last few years (with more on the way), then I say—good!

The second addition's Patricia Altner's Patricia's vampire notes. It's effectively an extension of her 1998 book, Vampire readings: an annotated bibliography and contains her 'musings on vampires and various other fictional, paranormal critters.'

As to the reading list, itself, I'm still thinking of revising it. Not the entries, themselves, mind, but figuring out a way of incorporating other, not-necessarily-vampire blogs on the—or a—list. I'm thinking something along the lines of the various blog categories ('Comics', 'Culture', 'Horror', 'Books', 'Movies') featured in Curt Purcell's The groovy age of horror. Something like that.

Oh, and by the way, I've got a new e-mail addy: thevampirologist [at] hotmail dot com. I've added it to my profile.

Precursor

Click to embiggen

The Vampirologist is a concept I've carried around for a while; but wasn't always meant to be a blog. In 2006, I laid the foundation for a personal website—designed with Microsoft Publisher 2003, no less (left).

It was composed of four major sections: 'Writings', 'News', 'Images' and 'Mail'.

'Writings' would've been 'dedicated to my writings on the topic of vampirism', with 'a section on essays and such which are linked to via the web.' It would've included reviews, essays and short stories.

'News' was intended to relate 'any mention of updates here or items of interest relating to the site or to vampire research.' I would've also used the page to 'announce any news of my Secret Projects©', which, I guess, are still under wraps.

News articles relating to vampires would've featured, too.

'Images' is fairly self-explanatory, as is 'Mail'. The latter would've been like a letters to the editor column featured in magazines and journals.

I never got around to completing the design, nor composing the required content. It 'gathered dust' on my hard-drive, as I pursued other interests. Incidentally, the black strip under the text of 'Welcome to my homepage' does not feature in the original design: it's masking personal info. 

The homepage design featured mock articles to give a 'feel' for how the site was gonna look, with accompanying thumbnails. It's interesting to look back and see the pic I amended to 'Talking with the Experts' five years ago. That's Thomas J. Garza, who, as it happens, I interviewed for real, recently.

Recommended websites

Skuggen.com

In conjunction with 'My reading list' (which I'm thinking of revising), I've decided to share a few websites which I find handy for research purposes.

First, Rob Brautigam's Shroudeater. It is, without doubt, one of the best vampire resources on the 'net. However, if you're into fictional representations of the undead, you'll want to look elsewhere as it deals with 'the old traditional undead corpse of the European mainland.'

Next up's Melinda K. Hayes' Vampiri Europeana,  or,  a bibliography of non-English European resources on vampires in literature, folklore, and popular culture. An invaluable resource, its 'Chronological list of pre-20th century resources' has been incredibly helpful in tracking down obscure vampire works.

If you're a Dracula fan, you'll find Dracula's homepage by Elizabeth Miller, handy. I'm a big fan of her work. She's the president of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula, Canadian Chapter, which publishes the Journal of Dracula Studies. Members receive hardcopies of the journal, but the articles are available for download here.

In terms of accessing resources, the Internet archive's been great for finding obscure, out-of-print books. Among other things, I found a copy of Augustus JC Hare's The story of my life, vol. 4 (1900) through the site. Readers might recall that title's significance to the Croglin Grange vampire case, but few have actually read the original book. Thanks to the IA, you can!

Lastly, Google Books, has also been incredibly helpful. There are many regional versions, depending on which country you live. I use the Australian version (by default). Indeed, thanks to Google Books, I vindicated an author's use of the term nosferatu.

Those'll do for now. If you feel like I'm missing something, feel free to offer a suggestion for the list.

On referencing

If my old blog had a major flaw, it inconsistent referencing styles. Not just in the styles I chose, but in the inconsistent way I deployed them. Not that anyone seemed to notice.

Wiley

In that blog's early days, I was using the Modern Language Association style. Later, I utilised the author-date 'Harvard system' outlined in the Style manual: for authors, editors and printers, 6th edn (John Wiley & Sons Australia, 2002).

Referencing in blogs, however, isn't an easy thing to do, as it's not aesthetically-pleasing. For an example, see the way I've cited the e-mails in the previous entry. Unlike Wikipedia, in most cases, you're unable to jump back and forth between the reference and the text. Unless, of course, you're good with HTML coding. I'm not.

That said, the author-date system probably isn't the best to use, either. At least, in a blog. It's not interactive; it involves scrolling down a page to double-check the source. The documentary-note system (also outlined in Style manual), on the other hand, involves footnote citations. Wikipedia's probably most famous for this method. Click on the superscripted number near the text, jump to a citation—or note—near the bottom of the page. Click the little upwards arrow, and you're back to the text. Perfect. That's the citation method I want to use with this thing.

I've even found an article which explains how to add footnotes to Blogger entries. If only I could get my head around it. Gah.

Referencing is an invaluable tool for writers. I've previously explained the importance of paper trails and why lack of references is a 'plot hole' in a famous vampire case. 

There are many different referencing formats, but they're generally designed for specific 'fields'. Diana Hacker and Barbara Fister have published a handy, general guide on which citation style to use in which field (humanities, social sciences, history and sciences).

Incidentally, style guides don't just refer to referencing, but 'a set of standards for the writing and design of documents, either for general use or for a specific publication, organization or field.' Their purpose is to introduce consistency in writings in specific fields. And maybe blogs, too, once I get a handle on that bloody footnote coding.

My reading list

Current reading list

I've started collating a blog roll of recommended resources. They're all carry-overs from the old blog, but this time 'round, they'll be vampire-centric. Theresa Bane's blog made the cut, as did Andrew M. Boylan's Taliesin meets the vampires. Bertena Varney's The search for the lure of the vampire's in, and Niels K. Petersen's Magia postuma's a given.

As to the ones that didn't make the cut, it's not that my view's changed on their quality, it's that I'm not sure they'll be relevant to the direction I want to take this thing in. We'll see. Still, bshistorian's The bs historian's good value and I enjoy Curt Purcell's musings on The groovy age of horror and Brian Solomon's peeks inside The vault of horror. The others are good, too.

Ultimately, I want the list to serve as a 'library' of blogs devoted to vampire studies and/or to highlight the works of vampirologists, or, at least, authors prominent in the field. Therefore, I might create a separate list for 'entertainment' purposes.

The question is, am I being too restrictive? Would a broader representation of various disciplines be more suitable? That's why I struggle with omitting a blog like The bs historian, as their writings on 'nonsense' history—and occasional forays into vampire lore—are incredibly insightful and may enhance the study of the undead. We'll see.

Testing, testing

Good evening. My name's Anthony Hogg and this is the first entry of my new blog, The vampirologist. Until recently, I was the author of Diary of an amateur vampirologist. The 'amateur' tag was a self-imposed albatross 'round my neck, which left me wanting to branch out into something a little more...professional.

That's where this blog comes in.

Sure, it'll feature news snippets, random thoughts, interviews, things that've caught my attention, stuff I've bought—just as the 'old' one did—but it'll also give precedence to scholarly subjects (I hope).

I've also gone for a design far more 'streamlined' than my last effort. Not too many distractions in the background. No more bolding the entry's opening. That was a pain in the ass to do for every subsequent entry, let me tell you. I like the Wikipediaish look of this template and, to be honest, it's one of the factors that lead to the creation of this blog.

Incidentally, this blog doesn't 'invalidate' my other one. There's a lot of good stuff on there, including the first (print) article I've ever written. I'm still proud of it. So, I'm not closing that blog because I'm ashamed of its content; far from it. Think of this as the latest 'phase' in my 'evolution'.

My long-term ambition is to write my own books on vampires, which is why I spend so much time researching them. If you want to know how I got into this 'trade', check out my contribution to VampChix. If you're interested in being a vampirologist, yourself, I've got some tips for you.

So, sit back, relax, enjoy and if you were a reader or follower of Diary of an amateur vampirologist, I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this one, too.