"Do
you realize," Bill says to Sookie during the first episode, "that every
person in this bar is staring at us?" Sookie asks "Who cares what they
think," to which Bill responds that, since he plans to make Bontemps his
home, he does.
Respond to what is at stake in this moment. What's occurring, what is
the moment standing in for allegorically? Why are people staring and
what is the political import of Bill's decision to obey the authority of
the public glare? Does his choice seem, at the time, to threaten or aid
the causes he claims to represent? Try to incorporate the readings into your answer if they help your argument.
Bill is trying to make the transition from coming out of the coffin to normal everyday life. He is trying to simulate into society, a society that is resentful to accept vampires. If Bill was to fight this glare he would seem to be the violent stereotype everyone thinks he is. In order to successfully move into society, and be treated normally, Bill must contain himself and sort of go with the flow for awhile.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you wrote him fighting his glare. It's extremely important that he not let out his "violent stereotype" or else then he would single-handedly bring to light all of the stereotypes that people have of vampires. The whole town of Bon Temps would then think that all vampires are the same, and never try to actually assimilate them into society, talk to them, or interact with them. It is in Bill's hands to break the stereotype of the typical vampire and show Bon Temps that they are not all the same, and that the citizens should give them a chance!
DeleteIn many way the Vampire's need to change thier identity to be accepted in society mirrors that of poeple we give the title of "outsider". In the end it is an act to satisfy others to be accepted.
DeleteIt's compelling, is it not, that Bill feels duty bound to combat the stereotype rather than refuse it. In this way, the stereotype becomes the standard, and the living, on-the-ground people whom the stereotype represents thus become forced into dialogue with it. Homi Bhabha, a literary theorist, proposed that the stereotype "is that which is always already known, yet must be anxiously repeated." In other words, even though the characteristics marked out by a stereotype are supposed to be self-evident, they must be ever repeated to remind society that they are self-evident. In what way does the show both critique and fall prey to cultural stereotypes?
DeleteIn the moment where Bill and Sookie are talking in the bar, Bill's reputation, and essentially his life, are at stake. Sookie stated when he walked in, “I think Merlotte’s just got its first vampire!” Although some of Bon Temps' citizens are pro-Vampire Rights, those who are not could be after his blood, "V-Juice," to sell it on the drug market. This moment could allegorically represent the fact that Bill knows there is harm in him "coming out of the coffin" and trying to mainstream into society. People are staring at him because just as Barthes has explained in his article "The World of Wrestling," people love to see a spectacle. Anything new or different from their ordinary life is fascinating to them, and they want to see more. Some even want to see justice being done to the vampire, as Barthes would suggest. It is in Bill's best interest to obey the authority of the public glare as to not get himself into any trouble.
ReplyDeleteYour comparison from this scene to 'The World of Wrestling" is really interesting. When watching this scene, everyone is watching the spectacle because it is interesting to them, especially since this is the first vampire to come to Bontemps. People do not really know what to expect so they are going to watch his every move. Like you said, some people will be out for his blood and some will stray away because of his potential. I also agree with you when you said that Bill has to obey authority figures to not get into trouble. There are some people who are probably waiting for him to do something wrong so they can bring him down, so he has to be especially careful to keep a good name for himself.
DeleteI agree with what sam says. If he does anything to ruin his reputation not only will they bring him down but all the other vampires too because he is the first vampire they have have ever met and been to the town.
DeleteI agree with you, especially when you make the comparison of "The World of Wrestling" with True Blood. The vampire in True Blood does represent a spectacle because of the image of the vampire the town has created.
DeleteSince this is the first vampire to reside at Bontemps, there are a lot of questions circling the air. During this precise moment, Bill's reputation is on the line. People in this town obviously do not know a lot about vampires, so they do not really trust Bill. In this context, I think that this is the moment where people are afraid of the monster they think he is. No one has really gotten to know him, expect for Sookie, so everyone is worried for her safety. I think the importance for Bill to obey authority is to keep his image clean. So far he has not done anything, that people know of, to spoil his name. Being a vampire is enough to keep people suspicious, so on top of that he does not need the added pressure of also being someone who disobeys authority. It would not look good on his part. Since Bill is the first vampire, his choice to only talk to Sookie makes him suspicious. During this scene, Bill comes in to primarily see Sookie so it makes him seem like he is out for something more, even if his intentions are innocent.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the town doesn't know about vampires so they don't trust Bill. I disagree when you said that Bill only talking to Sookie makes him suspicious. I think he would want to talk to other people but they are judging him and aren't open to understand and get to know him.
DeleteThis is true but perhaps Bill doesn't necessarily want to become friends with everyone in the town. He just wants them to accept him and not turn to him as the scapegoat every time someone else commits a crime. Bill just wants to be an accepted citizen like everyone else, but he knows the mortals couldn't ever forget that he is, in reality, dead.
DeleteIt is unknown to us why Bill wants to reside in Merlotte, and it is hard to tell how much influence Sookie really has over that decision. I think the town is just as much fascinated with the vampire as they are afraid. Bill is presented as a very seductive character. Veiwers can see directly that humans are curious about their interpersonal (as well as their sexual) relationships with the vampires, as seen at the beginning of the episode. That may generate the idea that Sooki's fascination with Bill will lead to more than a friendship, and that would be very dangerous to her.
DeletePeople are frightened by that which they do not understand. When you say the town does not know a lot about vampires and that they do not trust Bill, it is because they sense something strange is going on; like the natural order of things is coming apart. But on the other hand, like in previous comments pertaining to "The World of Wrestling" the people also sense a spectacle is about to happen, and their stares are almost like them waiting for a scene to break out, and they are probably excited for that. Bill obviously knows he is no longer flying low under the radar and it was a wise choice to keep quiet and avoid gazes. His first impression on the town could be very important for his acceptance into the town and could be useful in the later episodes so it was very wise of Bill to forsee how important his first impression was and keep quiet.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was wise of Bill to try and stay under the radar. The town has preconceived conceptions about what vampires are like and will assume that is how Bill will act. If he continues to attempt to blend into society, he is more likely to be accepted. I like how you said how important the first impression is. For Bill, it is much harder to fit in because he has to overcome the stereotype of vampire in society.
DeleteI agree with the original post. The fear of the unknown was and is a consistent theme across human history, and it is out these fears that we act irrationally and out of fear.
DeleteThis theme is apparent in this first episodes in all the ways that you identified in your initial post.
Bill is trying to get used to everyday life in Bontemps, which he wants to make his home. People are staring because they know he is a vampire and they don't know how to react to him. The people of the town are stereotyping him by thinking he is really a monster and are scared of what he could do. Bill allows people to stare because he knows that people are going to judge him because he is a vampire and because he is the first vampire to come into the bar in Bontemps. Bill is just trying to get used to everyday life and wants people to treat him normal. In order for him to be treated like a normal human he is going to have to learn to act like a normal human and take in the norms of that society.
ReplyDeleteI think your comment that Bill has to conform to society and learn to act as a human is interesting. I personally didn't think of the fact that vampires have to pretend to act as humans to fit in to society. I think it will be difficult for Bill to be accepted by society now that the town knows his true identity. However, I don't think Bill will find it difficult to act as a human because he's done it thus far without people realizing he's really a vampire.
Deleteyeah I agree with Missa for the most part, but I think that the people in the town are staring at him because they they are stereotyping and judging him, not because they have never seen one before and do not know how to react. They are stereotyping him because they have never seen a vampire before. They are staring at him with more hate than looking at him to observe him and learn about him.
DeleteI also think that he is not trying to act human i think that Bill is trying to be accepted into society as himself not change what he is to be accepted.
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ReplyDeleteBill is the first vampire to walk in the bar so people are judging the image that they think of when they hear stories of vampires. Bill has to change that image in order to blend or coexist with humans, so he does nothing out of the ordinary. His choice helps him coexist in my opinion because the humans have an image of a blood thirsty monster. Bill is trying to change this image by acting normal and by accepting the human lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying about image. There is a certain image cast upon Bill already simply because he is a vampire. Bill will have to try his best to assimilate into the community and change people's images about vampires. I like that you pointed out he is trying to coexist. If Bill didn't care what people think, he would not try to live in Bontemps where he will not necessarily be accepted. This is clearly the life he wants because he is going to try hard for it.
DeleteWhen Bill reveals that he cares what people think since he plans to make Bontemps his home, I feel that it is his way of hinting to Sookie that he plans on staying here and wants to create a life in this town. Everyone is staring because they don’t know what to make of Bill. For most people, this is the first vampire they have ever seen. Bill wants to have a somewhat normal like in Bontemps, but I don’t know if that will be possible because people will treat him differently no matter what. People are also staring because everyone is naturally a little nosy. This is a spectacle they are not used to seeing. Like in Barthes writing, people want to watch what they cannot live themselves. They want to see how Sookie is going to deal with Bill even though they would never do so themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting that Bill said that he wished to make Bontemps his home and that he cares about what people think. The way he acts seems like he could care less what everyone thinks of him. Being a vampire means that you will automatically not fit in but that is what he wishes to do. It is not clear if he really does want to fit or if he has a different motive for wanting to stay in Bontemps. He possibly could have just made up his mind at the table when he was talking to Sookie that he wants to stay in this town only because she is there.
DeleteDuring this moment Bill is exposing himself as being interested in Sookie and she reciprocates that feeling back. What is at stake is Bills life because it is obvious that the other people in the bar are not fond of him, and they want to protect Sookie. People are staring at Bill because he is the first vampire to walk into the bar and they are cautious about him. Bill has to be good while in public for his own safety, which means he has to allow the people to stare at him instead of saying something that might offend them. At this scene, I think that by allowing the people in the bar to stare at him and act like nothing is wrong he is threatening his reputation because it gives the impression that he does not care what they think, and that he will do what he wants.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of Bill's relations with Sookie, but I would have to disagree with your analysis of the reasoning behind Bill's reaction to people staring at him. You say that "by allowing the people in the bar to stare at him and act like nothing is wrong he is threatening his reputation because it gives the impression that he does not care what they think." I disagree. I believe that the reason Bill ignores their stares is because he does not want to reenforce people's negative stereotypes of vampire because he wishes to blend into society and be treated as an equal.
DeleteWhile they are sitting in the bar, sookie is able to read everyone’s thoughts about her and bill sitting there. When she tells him that she doesn’t care what they think he seems to get a bit defensive. The reason behind that is because he is trying to he starts his vampire life in Bontemps since that is where his whole family was from. The decision is viewed as a smart one because he is a vampire in a public bar where almost everyone from that town is at and he just happens to be talking to the most innocent person in the whole town. The best way for him to even talk to her without everyone judging is meet in private and that is what he or she seems to do. His decision also aids what he claims to represent because he is trying to start things off on the right side. Which by making these public viewings and even though getting involved with killing people he doesn’t want to be viewed as a crazy vampire.
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ReplyDeleteThe people in the diner stare at Bill and Sookie because some of them find it disgraceful for a mortal woman to get entwined with a vampire; that Bill is believed to be leading Sookie on so he could take her blood. Bill doesn't seem to either threaten or aid the causes that he represents, he doesn't feel positive or negative about being a vampire; he just wants to be a normal person in society, regardless if he's a mortal or a vampire. The people staring at Sookie with Bill could apply to a particular theme of interracial discrimination, because some people in society then and now are against the idea of two opposites going together (neglecting gender) based on religon, ethnicity, and more.
ReplyDeleteI think that's an accurate approach. There's the hint of scandal applied here in the human-vampire romance that serves as a threat to the town. Sexual prohibition is frequently the front line in systems which depend on an other-ing process to maintain social self-understanding. In her article "Vampires, Anxieties, and Dreams," Shannon Winnubst describes Dracula as a "one-man miscegenation machine," since he, by design, mixes his blood with all he comes into contact with, often in an erotic fashion, and threatens to make their blood "impure" by the act. If we see Bill here as standing in for the figure of miscegenation, of threatening the "true blood" of Bon Temps, I think it leads to some other interesting observations in the show.
DeleteDuring this scene, Sookie and Bill are sitting at a table together in a restaurant. The moment is very intimate and Sookie is holding Bills hand because when she does, she can’t hear other people’s thoughts. The people around them are staring because Bill is a Vampire and they don’t trust him with Sookie. Bill wants to fit into society but is being judged based on his status as a vampire. His choice to leave Sookie at that moment represents that he is attempting to blend in with the people and does not want to harm Sookie. He aids his cause in society because he walks away from the situation and proves he cares what the town thinks of him.
ReplyDeleteFor an outcast, societies image and impression is the most important thing. When people have certain expectations and stereotypes of your behavior, proving them wrong could make the difference between acceptance and exile. Bill is a vampire who has recently "came out of the coffin" and is attempting to assimilate into regular society. He is different than everyone else in the sense that he is a vampire, but he wishes to become a regular member of society and not be treated differently. This is hard for him because everyone has misconceptions and stereotypes of vampire being violent monsters, when in reality Bill really isn't that different from everyone else. If he were to act out against everyone stares, he would be alienating himself and proving everyone's stereotypes of him right. If he wants any hope of blending into society he must ignore people's stares and prove them wrong; prove to them that he isn't a violent, blood-thirsty monster.
ReplyDeleteBill's decision to lay low and not create a disturbance in Bon Temps is a smart decision because it helps destroy the classic monster image that everyone cannot get out of their minds. They have heard of the crimes that some vampires have committed, so they have a hard time abolishing those preconceived notions that all vampires are only capable of monstrosity. If the townsfolk see a vampire that can just hang out and seems to partake in relatively normal life, they will start to accept Bill and other vampires that may come to town if they behave themselves. This, however, may not be a good thing after seeing how all the other vampires are, except Bill.
ReplyDeleteYou make an interesting point about Bill laying low in Bontemps. I believe that if he chooses to not make a disturbance within the town, he could be the turning point for vampires. I believe he needs to be cautious with his possible relationship with Sookie because people may get the wrong idea about what he is trying to do; again I think this is due to the prejudices the hold against what is foreign to them. They are not used to vampires "out of the coffin", so it no surprise that they feel the way they do. I also agree that Bill will have to work hard to prove that their is good in some vampires, especially because other vampires seem to be living up to their typical stereotype.
DeleteAt this moment in the series, the potential of a relationship to sprout between Sookie and Bill is being seen by the people in the bar. This scares the town because the vampires coming out of the coffin is still a new occurrence and they don’t know much about the creature and if it is harmful or not. The people in the bar know Sookie and are worried for her because they do not know the true nature of vampires. Bill wants vampires to assimilate into society and make a good name for vampires so he doesn’t want to move too fast with Sookie, making people think he is up to no good. Due to the town not knowing what the future holds with vampires being a part of society, they are hesitant and protective when Sookie starts showing interest in Bill.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you said. The town has never seen a vampire before so they don't know to react. They still see them as monsters and are worried about Sookie associating with one. Bill wants to make a good impression on the town, but its hard with everyone breathing down his neck, waiting for him to mess up. Like you said, the town is scared. They're not ready yet for such a huge slap of reality, and while some people may want the town to move forward, its hard to convince the others when they see one of their own being preyed on by the star of their nightmares.
DeleteIn the fictional world of True Blood, vampires have just come out of the coffin. They have shed their century-old cloak of ambiguity and have announced to the world that they have redeemed their ways and are ready to be accepted by society. The problem is, not all of society is ready to accept them. Years and years of fear and prejudice stand in their way. There is also the problem that not all vampires are ready to give up their human sucking ways and weren’t exactly thrilled about the light being shed on them.
ReplyDeleteThe story starts off in the small southern town of Bontemps, a town that had never seen a vampire until Bill came to town. The citizens knew about the vampires, they had heard about them on the radio and seen them on the news, but they were content to go about their days as if nothing were different. This is a little hard to do when the aforementioned, seemingly reformed, nighttime terror strolls into the town bar and orders synthetic blood. The townspeople are in shock; they don’t know how to react. It gets worse when one of their very own, a young woman known by everyone in town, sits with him out in public. Just because the vampires are out doesn’t mean everyone accepts it. Bontemps still sees vampires as dangerous creatures and they worry for Sookie’s safety. Bill knows this. He knows that many people aren’t okay with him being a vampire and he doesn’t want to give them any more reasons to distrust him. He endures the public’s hatred in silence and acceptance, knowing that any outward backlash would make his situation infinitely worse. He also knows that he has to be seen out in public to prove to the people that he isn’t a threat. Bill is stuck between trying to appease the town and trying to be happy. People fear the monsters that haunt the night, but what they fear the most is the unknown.
Bill is the first vampire to enter the bar and the town of Bontemps, and, because of this, people are not sure what to make of this. Vampires are foreign to their area, so for one to actually settle down in their residency is something foreign to the citizens. They are wary of such a thing, but it is evident that Bill has made plans to stay. I believe his choice to make Bontemps his home is showing that their pretenses about him and other vampires are indeed absurd. He is trying to give a new face to vampires, one that shows not all of their kind are bad. I think it will take more than just settling in town to change the minds of the citizens about how they feel about vampires. When people are staring at Bill and Sookie in the bar, Sookie is listening to everyone's thoughts. One woman thinks to herself, "I wonder what kind of nice Christian girl would ever look at a vampire." This part reminds of the Civil Rights Movement when people, back in the day, would ask themselves what a nice Christian white girl/boy would be doing with someone of color. It shows the true prejudice people hold against the things with which they are not familiar, and I believe they hold these discriminative thoughts because they fear things that are different from what they are accustomed.
ReplyDeleteI think it's hard *not* to draw this connection, especially given the usage of stock imagery of civil-rights-era marches in the introductory montage. What struck me in your comment is the line "a nice Christian girl," which certainly would apply to 60s-era expectations surrounding interracial affairs, but, given that this show was produced in the 2000s, could the religious identification identify something more contemporary. The theme, in this show, seems to be "What happens when we are forced to politically absorb the other?" If we think about the ways in which Muslim Americans have found themselves trapped between the ideologies of the post-9/11 globe, could this be a nod to our most recent publicly accepted ethnic stereotyping?
DeleteGenna, I love that you pointed out the connect between race in older times and the vampires of True Blood. That is exactly what I thought of as I was watching it. Sookie seems to be the only person without that bad stereotype of vampires in her head. I wonder if maybe that has something to do with the fact that she is a "nice Christian girl" or that she can read minds. Maybe it's neither and she really is naive but it makes you wonder "Why is Sookie so different from the rest of her town?"
DeleteJust like many other things, society fears what they do not know. In the case of True Blood, they fear vampires. They are just coming into society and it is somewhat comparable to when blacks came out of slavery. People weren't okay with it, but there wasn't much they could do about it. Bill is trying to transition into a new town and because he is different he is looked at it with disgust. However, Sookie is intrigued by Bill. She is the small percentage of people that are non-judgmental and are willing to accept. Maybe Sookie represents the light for the understanding of vampires. Just like the people willing to accept the transition of blacks into normal society.
ReplyDeleteI think even more than "somewhat comparable." I think the show is trying to build upon that history while at the same time broadening its scope to allow for similar patterns of cultural shunning. The vampire here becomes an allegory for any socially marginalized group seeking legal protections and acceptance, but given the different eras and contexts, the metaphor, it seems to me can get muddled.
DeleteAs to Sookie, doesn't her fascination with Bill seem *itself* like a kind of exotifying gesture? While most of the bar sees him as automatically bad, is the urge to see him as automatically good not just another form of fetishizing his difference?
In True Blood, Vampires are finding it hard to adapt to the world because they just awoke from their coffins. They're finding it hard to fit into society because society does not understand if the vampires will harm them or not. The people in the bar are looking at them because they do not accept vampires for what stories they have heard. Some fear the vampire, others just want to use them for their own personal gain. Snookie can read the minds of others. Snookie is implying that their thought mean no threat. Bill only wants to give vampires a good name because they just have entered into society. He doesn't want them to give them a bad reputation
ReplyDeleteThe people in Bontemps are unfamiliar with real vampires. They are aware that vampires exist but they have never had to personally deal with one. In their narrow minds, they still have the idea of a "killing machine" who is after every naive woman's blood. Seeing Sookie with this mysterious being scares them all. They fear for Sookie's life because they are ignorant to the true facts of vampires. Bill wants to prove them wrong and set a good name for vampires. He wants to fit in and have a normal life, including a social life. To do this he has to behave in a human-like fashion which is why he decides to obey the authority. If he loses control or uses his strength against them he will certainly never gain their trust.
ReplyDeleteI think your comment about the people of Bontemps being very narrow-minded is very accurate. It seems as though Bill has to watch every thing that he does in order to gain respect from everyone in the town. I also like how you said that Bill has to act in a normal human way because I noticed the exact same thing.
DeleteThey really are trying to build trust. The true success in "coming out of the coffin" is found only when the vampires are trusted. I feel like there is some significance that the show takes place in the south. It was a nearly impossible feat to get the south to accept African Americans after being released from slavery and even today some friction can clearly be seen.The vampires already have an uphill by trying to convince everyone that they are civil creatures just like us but in a place that has a reputation for rejecting what is different and unknown, the task of gaining trust is made that much harder. Well thats what i think anyway.
DeleteI agree with you that the towns people come off as narrow minded. When I typically here the phrase "narrow minded" being used it normally has some type of negative connotation. In this case, however, you might expect the people to be narrow minded when it comes to vampires because they were notorious for bad things. So I suppose what I am saying is that you have to side with the towns people to a certain extent and respect their concerns about vampires.
DeleteBill being inundated into normal society, specifically the society that surrounds a small town, is nothing short of a microcosm for the introduction of the vampire race into the modern world. It would be safe for one to observe that Bill represents the Vampire collective - for the line between the coffin and our world is very thin, and fragile, so Bill and hopefully the rest of the Vampire populace respect those boundaries, just as Bill attempts to do. .
ReplyDeleteIt is also important to note that this Episode establishes that Vampires arent as predatory as one would assume, but rather the majority of them are prey; victim to the ways of humans. This role is embodied by the "Ratrays" a duo that seeks to capitalize and profit from the blood of Vampires.
On another note, the term "Coming out of the coffin" could also allude to the modern gay rights struggle that is very apparent in our society. [Coming out of the coffin = Coming out of the closet? (Please avoid R. Kelley references.)]
At This Moment In The Film Bill And Sookie Are In The Setting Of The Bar In Which Sookie Works At. They Are At Their Second Encounter With One Another. They Talk About Amongst Society About How Bill Wants To Belong. This Is the Moment Where We Hear Bill State That He Wants to Belong And Blend Into Society. He Wants To Become One With The Rest Of The Mortals. It’s Very Vital That Bill Shows Some What Of A Concern, Or A Mortal Type Gesture In Front Of Everyone In The Bar. This Human Like Act Is A Gesture To Show That He Is Willing To Migrate To What Is Considered The Norm For A Human. Bill Wants To Use This Gesture As An Opener To See That He Is One Who Doesn’t Follow The Stereotype. At The Time The Gesture May Seem As A Still A Threat. Everyone In The Bar Is Concerned And Doesn’t Look Away From Him Even After The Action. It May Seem Like How A Lion May Look When They Are Alert And Analyzing Their Pray, But If Bill Were To Really Become One In The Society, He Must Stay Contained And Go In The Opposite Direction Of The Vampire Stereotype.
ReplyDeleteVampires have already been given a bad name, but what also makes a monster is the breaking of a social norm, and having a monster wanting to conform to a society is already breaking many social and cultural norms. We have seen this pattern throughout history, be it the introduction of African American culture during the civil rights movement, to the immigrants that entered Cincinnati (the Irish and the German)The Scene is meant to show how through time, the situation dissolves itself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Anytime there is major change in our society such as people who are different from what we are accustomed to coming into our lives, there is panic and prejudice. People become cruel and do everything in their power to preserve the way things are. Eventually the hype simmers down and we learn to accept the changes. I'm guessing that is what will happen in the town of Bontemps with the vampires entering society.
DeleteI absolutely agree with Ashley. From experience, being new in any society creates an uproar. It's not easy being completely different in a new place. Nobody wants to accept you or take you in. Your basically the oddball now with no friends. If a society is set in their ways and use to the way things are, they will do any and everything in their power to keep it that way.
Deletesoftcore porn..
ReplyDeletebill is trying to blend in with society, and it seems like only sookie is helping is helping him do so. That being said, it seems like we agree on what the onlookers think. They think he is a monster, but she sees more in him than that.
DeleteBills needs to make a good first impression in the town. He can't alarm anyone because they're not used to vampires being in there town. They have heard rumors about them and if lives up to those stereotypes then the people are always are going to think thats the way vampires are.
ReplyDeletei agree with ryan, he does need to make a good impression on the town, and defy th vampire stereotype.
DeleteBill and Sookie exchange a somewhat intimate moment in the bar. Bill wants to be accepted into Merlotte, but he has obstacles that stand in his way. For example, there are people who want to drain him of his blood and he will potentially become the main suspect for every crime committed in the town. As for Sookie, her careless and free-loving attitude draws her toward Bill. Her fascination with him could become deadly. Sookie's safety is clearly an issue among a few of the people in the bar, and everyone seems to know that she is in danger except her. Everybody stares at this spectacle because what she is doing is out of the ordinary, and to the others, very foolish.
ReplyDeleteI do not think she is in any danger. The townspeople seems to think she is in danger because of the stereotypes of vampires. I think Sookie is being open-minded, unlike the townspeople. We see Bill is not a violent man but rather is able to help Sookie when she is in trouble.
DeleteI feel like the moment itself represents a few concepts that parallel the assimilation of the post slavery African Americans with the rest of the nation. The boldness that Sookie has actually upsets people. She is going to go talk to “those people” that society says you shouldn’t talk to. Think of Bill as a black man just after the Emancipation Proclamation. Sookie is breaking the law of the land by talking to a vampire. She’s not only talking to him but making a personal connection in a way that society says you aren’t supposed to be able to. The people are upset because they assume that since Bill is a vampire then he is evil and since Sookie associates herself with a vampire then there is something wrong with her. Another concept is seen with the way Bill behaves when those people stare and judge. He understands the importance of showing civility and not living up to negative stereotypes. The whole movement of coming out of the closet would be slowed or even stopped if the vampires give the people a reason to fear them or reasons to hate them or do anything that justifies all of their fears and assumptions.
ReplyDeleteIn this moment Bill’s entire reputation is at stake Bill just moved in and no one in town knows much about vampires so they do not know what to expect from Bill. The town is showing discrimination because he appears different from everyone else in the white religious town. Allegorically this moment is standing for when people become afraid of what Bill is capable of becoming. Bill knows that he cannot mess up and get in any trouble because it might make it harder for him to be accepted into the community.
ReplyDeleteThe inception of True Blood is found in a southern town known as Bon Temps. At this point, vampires had been in the media but nothing was made of it. By the second episode, the vampires have emerged from their coffins and were ready to assimilate into society. Unfortunately for the vampires, the rest of society is not so keen to accepting them. Things begin to change when one the vampires,Bill, is found in one of the local bars. He is here to prove to people that he isn't a threat to other people. The towns people are dumbfounded and are uncertain of what to do with the situation at hand. To make the situation worse, one of the locals, Sookie, accompanies Bill at the bar. They converse about his desires to fit in with the rest of the people. Bill is quite aware of the situation around him and chooses to remain silent, because he knows any form of aggression would give people more of a reason to distrust him.
ReplyDeleteIn the town of Bontemps, vampires are of a certain fascination to the people. Some may be be accepting of them, but others are out to get them and their "v juice". This is why it is so crucial for Bill, a vampire, to always be aware of his actions. The people in the town aren't used to newcomers so Bill is the sight to see. They are all waiting for something to happen; for some sort of outburst from him. He has to be careful not to fall under the typical violent stereotype of vampires. By Bill trying to fit in with everyone else, he is protecting himself from potential danger. It is necessary to take these precautions since he is planning on making Bontemps his new home.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Bill is attempting to blend in with everyone in his new society. Even though most of them do not accept him and think that he is a criminal, maybe Sookies interaction with him will change this. Everyone is staring when they are talking because they dont understand, but maybe this will open up a new door for him and people wont be as scared since they are seeing sookie talk to him and nothing bad happened to her.
DeleteSookie and Bills moment in the bar is very important to the progression of the episodes. It seems like Bill and Sookie are becoming more intimate with their relationship because she seems to accept him, even though the people around her are greatly confused with what she is doing. The onlookers absolutely do not trust vampires and believe that they are murderers so they do not want anything to do with bill thats why they are so confused and stare when sookie interacts with him. Overall, Bill is attempting to fit in with the rest of society, but the only person that seems to even remotely accept him is sookie, which could create an alliance in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on how Sookie accepts that Bill is in fact a vampire and how the onlookers stare with confusion and concern. It almost shows us that as much as the vampires may seem to be monsters, the real monsters are the ones who treat the vampires like they are mere entities that aren't really there.
DeleteThe fact that everyone is staring at Bill and Sookie is because Sookie is assimilating with the monster. Bill is the monster in the society for the obvious reason that he craves blood, but also because he is unknown. This kind of reminded me of nosferatu, because society knew him as a monster (Like Bill) and warned Hutter not to go to house, but Hutter refused. Like Sookie, they were more intriged by the unknown than scared. Everyone seems to know it is a bad idea except for Sookie.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that he has a lot on the line here, and he knows it. He is trying to make this his new home and a home isn't a home if you are not comfortable there. He knows that he is the minority there and if he ever wants to be treated like everyone else in town he has to be extremely careful of what he does and how he does it. This scene sets the mood for the rest of the episode and maybe even the rest of the series. It will be interesting to see how the creators of the show juggle this situation and I am curious to see how it ends.
ReplyDeleteIn episodes one and two of True Blood , vampires are now out of the coffin and have the right to integrate into the world with humans. Like Polidori's Lord Ruthven Bill is a mysterious new face in the small town of Bontemps and also one of they towns first known vampire resident, which is why he's getting the judgmental stares from the patrons in the bar. Much like Lord Ruthven, everyone is thrown off yet drawn towards Bill and they are curious to know who he is and what he's about. Does he pose a threat to the small town called Bontemps?
ReplyDeleteInterpreting Sookie's intentions of her saying "who cares what they think", could be taken as her way of telling Bill their thoughts of him don't matter and to not be self conscious about the insulting glares he's getting. What I think is that Sookie is clearly flirting with Bill. Her curiosity quickly turns into infatuation as she and Bill have they're friendly but intimate moment at the bar. She's probably a bit turned on knowing that at any moment, this man could rip through the veins of everyone standing in the bar in under one minute. Bill's decision to play it cool easily worked in his favor. He wants to give the impression that vampires mean no harm and to not be afraid of his kind. He also knows that this is where he has chosen to reside and to be comfortable in his own home means to obey the authority and try his best to not draw any unwanted attention. Just like in Polidori's "The Vampyre: A Tale", Lord Ruthven stayed under the radar and strayed away from any rumor or suspicion of violent behavior. Vampire Bill is in a sense doing the same.
I do agree with the fact that even though they don't want to, society is drawn towards vampires. I think it is just a part of who they are in any vampire story. However, I don't think it is fair to make all of those assumptions about Sookie. It does appear that she is intrigued by him, but she is the "good girl" in this story and may just be figuring out her "sexual" desires, if she does have any. There is no doubt a connection or spark between them, but it is too early to tell how the relationship will end up.
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ReplyDeleteIn Bill's decision to conceal his identity he removes the possibility to be outcaste by the small town. Being the first vampire in their town could bring danger and great disapproval on Bill. Since Sookie already knows Bill is a vampire he feels as if he can trust her but the people of Bontemps can tell Bill is different. Bill cares that they are staring at him because this is a moment when the town is in control and he is outnumbered and these people could easily defeat him. Bill’s choice seems to aid the cause of assimilating, however, it attributes a sense of sketchiness to his intensions. This moment stands as an example of Sookie and Bill’s isolation within the Bontemps community. They are both different and these differences provide them both with the ability of understand each other which is shown in this scene.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you say because bill really is trying to conceal his identity by coming back and by having this connection with sookie everyone in the town is judging them because they know he is a vamprie and how he is already judged as a outcast which gives him the way to start off wrong with the community
DeleteBill just wants to fit in in his new home and sookie, the girl that stands for all that is pure in the town, talking to him, a bloodsucking fiend in the minds of the locals is not the way he wants to become known. It slightly threatens it because he wants to be left alone by her, making him even more lonely and coming off anti-social, but at the same time is good because the town doesn’t like him with her so when he says no it may help his case.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even thought of it that way but I do agree that Bill's attitude of annoyance would in deed present a threat to his exsistance. Seperating himself from the group draws the attention that he clearly wants to avoid. I viewed it as a threat that he is dismissing society's views on vampires not in a way towards him but in a way that threatens society.
DeleteBill's whole existence is at stake in this scene. The people are skeptical of Bill he has just upped and walked into their town. Bill cares about the way others view him because this is a society he has chosen to try and coexist within. Bill musnt present himself as a threat to society because vampires are already feared and he knows this will only present a disruption in the society. Bill's actions seem to threaten the claims he represents because he isn't giving into the views that are imposed when one thinks of a vampire. Bill is taking the opposite approach of what is expected showing that he too presents normality in some ways.
ReplyDeleteThat awkward moment, huh? Put simply, Bill's observation and concern serve as an allegory to social conformity. It is frowned upon to be dating a vampire in True Blood's human society, just as the human of the relationship not being abused and submissive is a taboo to the show's vampire society. Bill and Sookie's more domesticated relationship makes them stick out in both societies, thus making their union all the more difficult to facilitate.
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