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Film, Media and Photography
24/07/2025
Media Studies
A-Level Media | Kiss Of The Vampire
Representation
The Kiss of the Vampire poster provides rich material for analyzing representations, particularly in the context of 1960s social and political changes.
Political & Social Context
The 1960s marked the beginning of women's sexual liberation and saw significant advancements in women's rights:
- Introduction of the contraceptive pill in 1960
- More women entering the paid workforce
- Feminist campaigns for equal pay and an end to sexual harassment
- Equal pay legislation passed in America in 1963
Highlight: The film poster encodes both older stereotypes of women as passive victims and more modern male fears of women challenging male dominance.
Construction of Representations
The poster's visual elements construct complex representations of gender:
- Women's clothing: Pale dresses made of light materials, highlighting curves and revealing flesh.
- Contrasting female representations: Left woman: Stereotypical passive victim Right woman: Non-stereotypically dominant, with aggressive gesture codes
- Male vampire: Uncharacteristically fearful, with defensive gesture codes
Definition: Gesture codes - The way characters are posed or positioned in an image to convey meaning or emotion.
Hall's Representation
Stuart Hall's theory of representation can be applied to the poster's use of familiar horror iconography:
- Castle, bats, vampire's cape, and dripping blood form part of the "shared conceptual road map" that gives meaning to the poster's world.
- The audience is encouraged to actively decode this familiar generic iconography.
Gauntlett's Identity
David Gauntlett's ideas on media and identity suggest that the female vampire could serve as a role model for women struggling against male oppression or seeking equality.
Quote: "The female vampire could act as a role model for women who are struggling against male oppression or want to be seen as equals of men."
This representation is significant regardless of the film's actual narrative or the character's role within it, as it offers a powerful visual symbol of female strength and dominance in a traditionally male-dominated genre.
Product Context and Media Language
The Kiss of the Vampire was produced by Hammer Film Productions in 1963, intended as a sequel to their successful Dracula franchise. This period marked the beginning of the "swinging sixties" and saw significant cultural and political events unfold globally.
Cultural Context
The 1960s audience was well-versed in the codes and conventions of "monster movie" film posters. These typically included specific composition styles, font choices, and representations of monsters and their victims.
Highlight: The film's release coincided with the early stages of 'Beatlemania', the assassination of JFK, and the Soviet Union launching the first woman into space.
Codes and Conventions
The poster for Kiss of the Vampire employs several genre-specific elements:
- The title font creates connotations linked to the vampire film genre, with its 'wooden' styling and blood-dripping 'fang' on the letter V.
- The use of a 'painted' image is conventional for the period, but the color aspect (highlighted by the text "In Eastman Color") suggests a modern retelling of an old story.
- The color palette reinforces the film's dark, scary conventions, with red highlights drawing attention to key horror elements like bats, the vampire, and blood.
- The listing of stars follows the convention of placing more highly paid male actors first and in order of fame.
Example: Clifford Evans, listed first among the stars, had previously starred in Hammer's 1961 hit "Curse of the Werewolf".
Barthes' Semiotics
The poster can be analyzed using Roland Barthes' semiotic codes:
- Hermeneutic Code: Suspense is created through enigmas surrounding the relationship between the male and female vampires and the fate of their victims.
- Semantic Code: Images of bats are conventionally associated with vampirism and horror.
- Symbolic Code: Horror, darkness, and fear are reinforced through signifiers like the moon and the male victim's 'submissive sacrifice' gesture.
Lévi-Strauss' Structuralism
Claude Lévi-Strauss's concept of binary oppositions can be applied to the contrasting representations of vampires and their victims, as well as the juxtaposition of "kiss" and "vampire" in the title.
Vocabulary: Binary oppositions - A structuralist theory that suggests meaning is created through the contrast between two opposing concepts.
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Stefan S
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Kiss of the Vampire: Fun A Level Media Study Guide
The Kiss of the Vampire is a 1963 horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions, offering a unique take on vampire lore. This A level media study guideexplores the film's context, media language, and representation, providing valuable insights for... Show more
Representation
The Kiss of the Vampire poster provides rich material for analyzing representations, particularly in the context of 1960s social and political changes.
Political & Social Context
The 1960s marked the beginning of women's sexual liberation and saw significant advancements in women's rights:
- Introduction of the contraceptive pill in 1960
- More women entering the paid workforce
- Feminist campaigns for equal pay and an end to sexual harassment
- Equal pay legislation passed in America in 1963
Highlight: The film poster encodes both older stereotypes of women as passive victims and more modern male fears of women challenging male dominance.
Construction of Representations
The poster's visual elements construct complex representations of gender:
- Women's clothing: Pale dresses made of light materials, highlighting curves and revealing flesh.
- Contrasting female representations: Left woman: Stereotypical passive victim Right woman: Non-stereotypically dominant, with aggressive gesture codes
- Male vampire: Uncharacteristically fearful, with defensive gesture codes
Definition: Gesture codes - The way characters are posed or positioned in an image to convey meaning or emotion.
Hall's Representation
Stuart Hall's theory of representation can be applied to the poster's use of familiar horror iconography:
- Castle, bats, vampire's cape, and dripping blood form part of the "shared conceptual road map" that gives meaning to the poster's world.
- The audience is encouraged to actively decode this familiar generic iconography.
Gauntlett's Identity
David Gauntlett's ideas on media and identity suggest that the female vampire could serve as a role model for women struggling against male oppression or seeking equality.
Quote: "The female vampire could act as a role model for women who are struggling against male oppression or want to be seen as equals of men."
This representation is significant regardless of the film's actual narrative or the character's role within it, as it offers a powerful visual symbol of female strength and dominance in a traditionally male-dominated genre.
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Product Context and Media Language
The Kiss of the Vampire was produced by Hammer Film Productions in 1963, intended as a sequel to their successful Dracula franchise. This period marked the beginning of the "swinging sixties" and saw significant cultural and political events unfold globally.
Cultural Context
The 1960s audience was well-versed in the codes and conventions of "monster movie" film posters. These typically included specific composition styles, font choices, and representations of monsters and their victims.
Highlight: The film's release coincided with the early stages of 'Beatlemania', the assassination of JFK, and the Soviet Union launching the first woman into space.
Codes and Conventions
The poster for Kiss of the Vampire employs several genre-specific elements:
- The title font creates connotations linked to the vampire film genre, with its 'wooden' styling and blood-dripping 'fang' on the letter V.
- The use of a 'painted' image is conventional for the period, but the color aspect (highlighted by the text "In Eastman Color") suggests a modern retelling of an old story.
- The color palette reinforces the film's dark, scary conventions, with red highlights drawing attention to key horror elements like bats, the vampire, and blood.
- The listing of stars follows the convention of placing more highly paid male actors first and in order of fame.
Example: Clifford Evans, listed first among the stars, had previously starred in Hammer's 1961 hit "Curse of the Werewolf".
Barthes' Semiotics
The poster can be analyzed using Roland Barthes' semiotic codes:
- Hermeneutic Code: Suspense is created through enigmas surrounding the relationship between the male and female vampires and the fate of their victims.
- Semantic Code: Images of bats are conventionally associated with vampirism and horror.
- Symbolic Code: Horror, darkness, and fear are reinforced through signifiers like the moon and the male victim's 'submissive sacrifice' gesture.
Lévi-Strauss' Structuralism
Claude Lévi-Strauss's concept of binary oppositions can be applied to the contrasting representations of vampires and their victims, as well as the juxtaposition of "kiss" and "vampire" in the title.
Vocabulary: Binary oppositions - A structuralist theory that suggests meaning is created through the contrast between two opposing concepts.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user