Below is a 3 Page Essay for Critical Reading & Response. It's due tomorrow. Any thoughts?
Older Soren 9/18/08
Monster Mania Assignment #1
If I could be any monster for a day, I would be a vampire. I wouldn’t sparkle in the sun, but I would be a fierce hunter. I’d be stunning and fast, and I’d drink blood to survive. Vampires are the perfect beings, perhaps a bit tainted by the media, but a lesser known monster makes for less material. A Sphinx or a Gorgon were two ideas I entertained, but I only have so much I can say about them before I run out of ideas. With vampires, I have more than enough to say. I’ll be writing about vampires as I see them, not by any specific depiction.
Vampires are depicted in many variations throughout literature and cinema. Some say that vamps turn to dust in the sunlight, others that they sparkle, and still others that the sun affects them in no way at all. Personally, I don’t believe that the sun is of any consequence to a vampire. Perhaps it may be a minor annoyance, but nothing more. I think that as a vampire, I’d just be more susceptible to sunburn. Vampires are all very strong and beautiful creatures, lithe and muscular. Their reflexes are perfect, as their muscles are so powerful and their joints so flexible, that they can move their bodies much quicker than a human thanks to their immense strength. This of course leads to a vampire’s overall speed. They would be much faster sprinters than humans, though long distance may be hard due to breathing problems. These well developed muscles would be able to withstand a lot of outside pressure, and would even prolong a vampire’s healthy lifespan, creating the illusion of immortality. A pureblood, natural born vampire, known as Laemya, has the ability to stop the aging process at the physical state of their choosing. They may resume the aging process at will, but their body will quickly catch up to their true age and deteriorate, resulting in a hastened death. Their hearing is much more keen than that of a human. A vampire can hear noises clearly before a human can. Footsteps or heartbeats are much louder to a vampire’s ears, and even frequencies outside of the human range can be heard by a vampire. Impeccable eyesight is a given. Distances would be sharp and clear, objects viewed close up would be much more detailed, darkness, or poor light wouldn’t hinder a vampire’s sight in the least. The mind is much more developed, along with the muscles, and so more often than not, a vampire will have some form of psychic ability. Telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, empathic abilities, and more are all possibilities for an average vampire. If I were one of them, I would most likely possess an empathic power. With such a power, I would be able to perceive the moods of those around me, get some gist of what they’re thinking, see auras, and more.
There are downsides to everything. Even vampires have their weaknesses. The dependence on blood, for one thing, would be a bit of a nuisance. In this case, blood isn’t food or drink, though it is a form of nourishment. Drinking blood is necessary for a vampire because their blood lacks hemoglobin required to carry oxygen. They don’t feel hunger or thirst so much as suffocation. Because of this, many vampires suffer lung-related illnesses such as asthma. The only unavoidable outside factor that may bother a vampire would be a very bright light, such as the sun. Still only irritating to a vampire, it may bother their eyes and perhaps lead to a bad burn. There is also wood to consider. Most types of wood, or other plant related materials, carry toxins that are poisonous to a vampire. Being stabbed with a wooden stake would certainly harm a vamp, and even a minor nuisance such as a splinter could lead to a serious infection thanks to these toxins. Fire can burn a vampire, and loss of blood, in excess, can cause death, as can suffocation or drowning. Vampires are not immortal, even given the gift of a long life. They can still die.
A day as a vampire would not be enough for me. I would want to remain that perfect being. I suppose it’s only natural that a person would want to be perfect like that, but I can’t imagine getting such a small taste and having to give it up. In one day, the most I could do is stun people with my incredible powers. But a taste is better than nothing at all. I would run that day. I would run so fast that it would feel like I was flying. I would use my powers as an empath to understand just how my friends feel and what they think about me. More than anything, I would probably use my powers for revenge. I would be so stealthy, so subtle, that no one would ever know I had done it. I would truly become a monster if I had that much power.
Vampires are often seen as grotesque, evil creatures. They suck blood and steal the life-forces of others. In this sense, I suppose they may be considered pathetic by some standards. The fact is, vampires do not have to kill to survive. A bite alone will not change a victim. Hypnosis can make a victim forget. Vampires that are cautious and in control of themselves are harmless. They are beautiful and far from pathetic, and I would give nearly anything to be something so flawless, even for only a day.
Monster Mania Assignment #1
If I could be any monster for a day, I would be a vampire. I wouldn’t sparkle in the sun, but I would be a fierce hunter. I’d be stunning and fast, and I’d drink blood to survive. Vampires are the perfect beings, perhaps a bit tainted by the media, but a lesser known monster makes for less material. A Sphinx or a Gorgon were two ideas I entertained, but I only have so much I can say about them before I run out of ideas. With vampires, I have more than enough to say. I’ll be writing about vampires as I see them, not by any specific depiction.
Vampires are depicted in many variations throughout literature and cinema. Some say that vamps turn to dust in the sunlight, others that they sparkle, and still others that the sun affects them in no way at all. Personally, I don’t believe that the sun is of any consequence to a vampire. Perhaps it may be a minor annoyance, but nothing more. I think that as a vampire, I’d just be more susceptible to sunburn. Vampires are all very strong and beautiful creatures, lithe and muscular. Their reflexes are perfect, as their muscles are so powerful and their joints so flexible, that they can move their bodies much quicker than a human thanks to their immense strength. This of course leads to a vampire’s overall speed. They would be much faster sprinters than humans, though long distance may be hard due to breathing problems. These well developed muscles would be able to withstand a lot of outside pressure, and would even prolong a vampire’s healthy lifespan, creating the illusion of immortality. A pureblood, natural born vampire, known as Laemya, has the ability to stop the aging process at the physical state of their choosing. They may resume the aging process at will, but their body will quickly catch up to their true age and deteriorate, resulting in a hastened death. Their hearing is much more keen than that of a human. A vampire can hear noises clearly before a human can. Footsteps or heartbeats are much louder to a vampire’s ears, and even frequencies outside of the human range can be heard by a vampire. Impeccable eyesight is a given. Distances would be sharp and clear, objects viewed close up would be much more detailed, darkness, or poor light wouldn’t hinder a vampire’s sight in the least. The mind is much more developed, along with the muscles, and so more often than not, a vampire will have some form of psychic ability. Telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, empathic abilities, and more are all possibilities for an average vampire. If I were one of them, I would most likely possess an empathic power. With such a power, I would be able to perceive the moods of those around me, get some gist of what they’re thinking, see auras, and more.
There are downsides to everything. Even vampires have their weaknesses. The dependence on blood, for one thing, would be a bit of a nuisance. In this case, blood isn’t food or drink, though it is a form of nourishment. Drinking blood is necessary for a vampire because their blood lacks hemoglobin required to carry oxygen. They don’t feel hunger or thirst so much as suffocation. Because of this, many vampires suffer lung-related illnesses such as asthma. The only unavoidable outside factor that may bother a vampire would be a very bright light, such as the sun. Still only irritating to a vampire, it may bother their eyes and perhaps lead to a bad burn. There is also wood to consider. Most types of wood, or other plant related materials, carry toxins that are poisonous to a vampire. Being stabbed with a wooden stake would certainly harm a vamp, and even a minor nuisance such as a splinter could lead to a serious infection thanks to these toxins. Fire can burn a vampire, and loss of blood, in excess, can cause death, as can suffocation or drowning. Vampires are not immortal, even given the gift of a long life. They can still die.
A day as a vampire would not be enough for me. I would want to remain that perfect being. I suppose it’s only natural that a person would want to be perfect like that, but I can’t imagine getting such a small taste and having to give it up. In one day, the most I could do is stun people with my incredible powers. But a taste is better than nothing at all. I would run that day. I would run so fast that it would feel like I was flying. I would use my powers as an empath to understand just how my friends feel and what they think about me. More than anything, I would probably use my powers for revenge. I would be so stealthy, so subtle, that no one would ever know I had done it. I would truly become a monster if I had that much power.
Vampires are often seen as grotesque, evil creatures. They suck blood and steal the life-forces of others. In this sense, I suppose they may be considered pathetic by some standards. The fact is, vampires do not have to kill to survive. A bite alone will not change a victim. Hypnosis can make a victim forget. Vampires that are cautious and in control of themselves are harmless. They are beautiful and far from pathetic, and I would give nearly anything to be something so flawless, even for only a day.
