Artist Statement:

The creative expression of my Modernity Project is a collection of fifteen photos that represent the cultural impact of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. I began by watching movies relevant to my project and reading texts that would help to further my understanding of vampires as depicted in the late 19th and early 20th century. The research revealed trends that I then portrayed in my photos. To express the trends I employ blood, show sexual desires, and depict religious scenes. I created a story line that I wanted to express through my photos. I divided the photo shoot into sets of three to five photos each. I decided that I would use only women vampires as a tribute to the advances women made during the modernity time period. I shot vampires individually and with their victims. I also portray a young woman praying to the Virgin Mary to expel the evil within. Through the photos I attempted to capture the powerful imagery of blood, lust and religion that are so artfully expressed in the novel Dracula.