Trueblood: Open Your Mind

     On it's surface Trueblood may seem like just another show about vampires. It would be a mistake to take this position. Trueblood addresses a plethora of issues that plague our society. The writers of the show seamlessly mirror not only the ignorance, and discrimination present in our society, but also displays the widest range of gender, and social constructs than any other type of media of it's kind. Trueblood exposes it's viewers to lifestyles that have histories of being persecuted. The opening sequence of the show assaults the viewers sensibilities, awakening their fears of predator, their extreme desires for sex, and substance. It succeeds at invoking powerful images of religion, the civil rights movement, and people of color in the south.

    So what could be more shocking than finding out vampires exist? Nothing, although introducing a psychic waitress less than five minutes after revealing the existence of vampires comes pretty close. By doing this, the writers have communicated that vampires are not the only unknown in this world, therefore instantly opening the viewers mind up to the possibility of there being more, than what they perceive on a day to day basis. This dynamic is something that is not achieved with such ease when it comes to gay rights issues, women's rights issues, in the real world.

    Sookie Stackhouse hears the most vile, perverted, and unimaginable thoughts drift from the unsuspecting minds of Merlot's Bar and Grill. Imagine what it would be like to hear every thought that passed through an individuals head. To Sookie Stackhouse, the thoughts she hears, which often involve the customer sexualizing her, represent the most base level of desire. They are the statements that do not make it through the filter of what is, and is not socially acceptable. But unfortunately Sookie Stackhouse receives the unfiltered streams of these desires that run through everyone's head. We even see her take advantage of those base thoughts, when she jokes about wearing skimpy clothing to receive larger tips.