Animation Link: https://vimeo.com/238455880
Script for Live Action Scenes
Section 1:
When viewing an artist’s work, people will question the meaning behind it, whether the content gives the issue away openly or subtly.
This is especially the case with widely-known issues. In the case of this piece, I want to talk about the issue of racial stereotyping.
As an analogy for this issue, let’s assume that supernatural creatures (or more specifically in this case, vampires) actually exist and are revealed to mankind.
And no, I do not mean vampires that sparkle in the sunlight. What I am referring to is the vampire established by film directors such as Tod Browning (who directed the 1931 film Dracula). This established vampires with a tendency toward rape and defilement of women.
But enough with the long introduction. Let’s follow a vampire around for a while and see what happens.
Section 2 (takes place after scene 6):
So vampires are just monstrous blood suckers, right? Did anyone watching see him attack anyone as he walked along? Didn’t think so. If we consider vampires as being similar to humans, then it should make sense that they can be just as diverse personality-wise as anyone else. Not every person you pass on the street is a psychopath that will attack or pursue you. Why does it have to be any different with this character?! All he did was walk down the street and people were whispering about him and giving him dirty looks. There was even a place that forbade him from entering! And what was this based off of? Nothing more than uninformed preconceived notions about him.
THIS IS STUPID. Why can’t people reserve judgement beyond appearances? He did NOTHING WRONG and people still hated and judged him.
Enough ranting for now. Let’s continue watching.
Section 3: (takes place after scene 12)
And again we see that the vampire has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG. ALL HE’S DOING IS GROCERY SHOPPING! Even so, we see a person who can’t even be in the same aisle out of fear. The cashier can’t do her job just because he is her next customer. Instead, she feels the need to complain to her manager. Seriously? GET OVER YOURSELVES! HE HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG! HE DESERVES THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESPECT AS ANYONE ELSE WHO IS A PROPER CUSTOMER!
The fact that we can AND STILL DO define people based on race is unacceptable. People need to learn to treat people for who they are, not for the color of their skin.
Jasmine Marie Angelo 