This question occured to me the other day and I automatically assumed it was ghosts, since there have been innumerable books, stories, and movies about or involving ghosts. Then again, there have been quite a lot of vampires in popular media, especially in early folklore. What say you dopers?
Ghosts have a huge head start but I think Vampires are catching up quick. However normal rational people talk about ghosts and even half believe in ghosts. I don’t think any normal rational person believes in Vampires.
Ghosts. Vampires may be more popular now, but ghost stories have been around for ages.
Even now, if you check prime time TV with new episodes, you’ll see Medium, Ghost Whisperer, and Ghost Hunters. For vampires, there’s just Moonlight.
I’d say vampires have overtaken ghosts, but that’s just a guess.
When’s the last time a ghost story made the best seller list? Duma Key and Heart-Shaped Box are the only two I can think of, but look what happens when Laurell Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, and Stephenie Meyer publish a new book. More freakin’ vampires.
And True Blood.
Vampires are a fad that comes and goes (same with zombies). Ghosts have long-term staying power.
Besides, every city, village and trailer park has a haunted house/hospital/prison. There’s more than enough ghost material for centuries to come.