This book explores the narratives of girlhood in contemporary YA vampire fiction, bringing into the spotlight the genre’s radical, ambivalent, and contradictory visions of young femininity. Agnieszka Stasiewicz-Bieńkowska considers less-explored popular vampire series for girls, particularly those by P.C. and Kristin Cast and Richelle Mead, tracing the ways in which they engage in larger cultural conversations on girlhood in the Western world. Mapping the interactions between girl and vampire corporealities, delving into the unconventional tales of vampire romance and girl sexual expressions, examining the narratives of women and violence, and venturing into the uncanny vampire classroom to unmask its critique of present-day schooling, the volume offers a new perspective on the vampire genre and an engaging insight into the complexities of growing up a girl.
Author(s): Agnieszka Stasiewicz-Bieńkowska
Series: Palgrave Gothic
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 288
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
1 Vampire Fiction, Girls and Shame: Introduction
References
2 Writing (on) Girls’ Bodies: Vampires and Embodied Girlhood
2.1 The Markings of the Vampiric Body
2.2 Such Hot Fangs! Vampirism and Beauty
2.3 You Don’t See Fat Vamps: The Meanings of Body Size
2.4 No One Mourns the Ugly: Beauty, Style and Belonging
2.5 Velvet! Platinum! Pearls! Vampire Girls as Consumers
2.6 The Magic of Makeover: Style as Oppression and Resistance
2.7 Conclusion
References
3 A Love So Strong that It Aches: (Re-)Writing Vampire Romance
3.1 Mates, Consorts, Oath-Bound Warriors: House of Night and Polyandry
3.2 The Truest of True Loves: Soul Mates and Enchanted Bonds
3.3 Tying the Knot: Love, Marriage and Power
3.4 The Lovely Bliss of Her Bite: Vampires and Same-Sex Romance
3.5 Conclusion
References
4 Pangs of Pleasure, Pangs of Guilt: Girls, Sexuality and Desire
4.1 It Tasted like Liquid Desire: Virginity, Blood Consumption and Sexual Awakening
4.2 Didn’t the Earth Move or the Planets Align? The Tales of the “First Time”
4.3 A Bloodlust-Filled, Hornie Freak: Slut Shaming and “Excessive” Desire
4.4 Blood Whoring, Female Virtue and Defensive Othering
4.5 Conclusion
References
5 Save Your Butt from Getting Raped: Girls, Vampires, Violence
5.1 No Anger and No Condemnation: Vampires and Romanticised Abuse
5.2 A Questioning Touch of Teeth: Violence and Consent in House of Night and Vampire Academy
5.3 A Monster Abused Me: Narrating Rape and Rape-Revenge
5.4 Black. Angry. Merciless: Girls’ Violence and (Self-)Defence
5.5 Conclusion
References
6 Biting into Books: Supernatural Schoolgirls and Academic Performance
6.1 Heaps of Awesome Classes: The Unique Education of the House of Night
6.2 Slamming the Math Book Shut: Supernatural Girls and STEM Education
6.3 Miss (Im)Perfect Schoolgirl: Girls and Academic (Dis)Engagement
6.4 Too Smart? Academic Excellence and Popular Femininity
6.5 Conclusion
References
7 Conclusion
References
Index
