There's a fascinating essay by Friedrich Kittler, called "Dracula's Legacy", in a collection of his essays under the title: Literature, Media, Information systems, edited by John Johnston, which is worth reading for a refreshingly different approach to this subject. Freda Freiberg, Melbourne film historian Bill Didio wrote: > i'd like to again thank everyone who has responded so quickly and > courteously to my query. > > the story i was assigned was to dig up and report on any possible > rumors, legends and media spin that "nosferatu" received possibly > linking it to the origin of some of the concepts illustrated in "shadow > of the vampire". my assignment was never to pass these possible rumors, > legends and media spins off as fact, but to connect today's film, filled > with interesting yet outrageous allegations (presented as a fiction, of > course), to the film of the early 1920s. > > "nosferatu" of course in turn was an interpretation of a novel, the > novel in turn an interpretation of other stories and folk lore, which > were in turn interpretations of historical characters and odd > occurrences predating 24-hour news documentation and modern medicine. > > i'm interested in anything concerning "nosferatu" and "shadow" -- i have > written pieces in the past comparing famous historical moments to their > silver screen portrayal...i am hunting for myths to burst: > - was "max schreck" a real name or a stage name created for 1922's > symphony of terror? > - did the producer of "nosferatu" at some point simply disappear from > the public eye (which could be a myth "explained" by "shadow" with his > death)? > - does vampiric folk lore say a vampire has no shadow? > - other points... > > i sincerely hope i've not offended anybody by my serious query for > information -- i do have a reputation too, in my field, as one who > researches and checks facts thoroughly, looking for corroboration, > sometimes to the point of contention with others i must interact with in > my profession. this is one reason why i engage film historians in > discussion when i find conflicting presentations of fact elsewhere. > > again, my thanks. > > [log in to unmask] wrote: > > > Let's not let facts get in the way of a good story. > > ---- > For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: > http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu