True Blood is based on the Sookie
Stackhouse series, which takes place in a small town in Louisiana where vampires
are now integrated in society. The series takes on a new twist on the vampire
theme; vampires now live among humans however, they are continuously treated as
second class citizens. The series symbolizes numerous cultural and historical
references to American society, which can be all seen in the opening credits
for the TV show True Blood.
In my opinion, True blood has one
of the most stunning opening credits. The opening title shows the themes of
religion, sex, and racial struggles that are present in the Sookie Stackhouse series
as well. There is a parallel that can be
seen with the vampires as social outcasts and how nowadays people of different
race or sexual orientation can also be out casted from society. One parallel is
when they show the sign for “God Hates Fangs”, which symbolizes the Westboro
Baptist Church and how they discriminate against homosexual people with their
usual “God Hates Fags” sign.
Another theme the opening credits of True Blood was
trying to focus on was comparing sexual ecstasy with religious ecstasy. There
are some scenes which are of women acting promiscuously then it cuts to
different women praying vigorously. It seems as if the writers were trying to
show a parallel between perversion and then them trying to seek redemption
through prayer. The writer is trying to suggest that the belief system of the
south was that no matter of what kind of evil or sin was committed last night,
it can always be redeemed and you can start anew the next day with all of your
sins being forgiven.
There was also multiple archival footage that suggested
race related social unrest, similar to how the vampires are feeling while they
are living amongst humans. Pictures of KKK members and segregated black only
churches hint on the theme of racism in the south.
Another central theme is the
vampire representation of as a predator or parasite. Footage on decaying
animals, carnivorous plants, and images of bones suggest that vampires can be
seen analogous to a supernatural predator, similarly to how nature can be seen
as a predator as well (ex: predators eating their prey). Also there is a scene
with a possum laying dead on the floor with blood everywhere, which can
symbolize how humans are prey to vampires who are easy for them to kill.
Also the opening credits show the
Louisiana swamps and the wilderness and cultures of the south to try and
symbolize the mind set of its inhabitants. This look into the landscape of
Louisiana allows the viewers to see how there is repressed sexual energy paralleled
with religious extremists. The credits show that humans can have a certain
animalistic lust as well, that gives us beast-like qualities, which can be
compared to the similar supernatural beast-like characteristics of vampires.
I agree with the points you make about the opening theme. I’ve also noticed some of the different aspects of Southern life that it portrays, though I didn't think about it as in depth as you have. The KKK shown in the theme can be equated to the Fellowship of the Sun, the “church” organization that is hell-bent on persecuting and killing as many vampires as possible, much like the goals of the KKK regarding African Americans.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the juxtaposition of the sexualized images of women and the images of women praying remind me of later on in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie contemplates the morals of having sex with Bill when they’re not married, though she immediately follows it up with the point that human-vampire marriages aren’t legal anyways, so that somehow makes all her sexual sins okay.