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Why did vampires become romanticized?

Changed from the murderous creatures of the night to be feared, hunted and killed? The boogiemen with which to scare children, evil and unclean creatures as preached by clergymen and village elders. Once the biggest taboo of the time, today they are among the most popular of cultural icons, what brought about this change?

To the sensual embodiment of power they are seen as today. Movies and books of today make them loveable, desirable, and in great demand, it seems everyone wants to know more about them.

When did peoples views change and was there a definitive reason for this change?

I think that in the past people were a little more closed minded than today. It seems as if everyone wants to explore the darkness and everything that inhabits it. I also think that hollywood had alot to do with the romanticising of the vampire, as of what caused that, I do not know.

Could some of the change have started with Anne Rice? Interveiw with a Vampire was a huge book and the movie was as well.

because back in the day that's what mothers used to scare their children. today we just have boot camp.

^^ That's great. And so true, I had the boogeyman when I was little.

Well I think the response here of Anne Rice romantisizing vampires is a possibility, but to her they are still monsters, and murders none the less. She only changed the outlook on them slightly, and mostly by creating laws for her vampires to follow, such as the law of feeding on only the "evil doer" though some of her older vamps do feed on the innocent. What I think changed the outlook on them is the fact that in many movies and books released today is that they don't just randomly attack people to kill them, and in some cases don't kill people. Also in the same instance many writtings show them not forcing their "blood curse" if you will upon unwilling victims, it's more of a choice, and lifestyle. The blood bond is also given a romantic side between the creators and created if you call it that. So that is what I think may have brought on the romantics of vampires.

The commercialization started with Dracula and Carmilla.

the end of "being afraid of the dark" came when Science replaced Religion. People became more rational and decided that if science couldnt explain it, it didnt exist. And if it didnt exist, there was no need to fear it.

Well I can agree with that to a point, but has science ever proved the supernatural if you will, to exist or not. And I mean fully prove it. I believe in many things from many different ideas, such as; angels, demons, ghosts, witchcraft, and vampires. Many people believe there are ghosts and angels, so why would demons, witches, and vampires not exist. I fear many things, and ghosts are one of them. Vampires should be feared, not romantisized.

Most people will believe blindly in "good" things with no proof of their existence but not believe in the "bad" without proof.

Its human nature to hope for the best while denying the worst.

Vampires are so sexualized and made sexy and good -looking , how could we really call them scary or fierce , even though some people may think so.

There has always been a touch of the romantic to a creature that needs the very life of another to survive. What could be a more close bond even if it results in the death of one party?

Stoker's dracula was very romantic in my opinion, a dark romance yes but it was there.

Modern science and education has eliminated many myths but since vampires appear physically as human we can still hope for their existance. So today's writers can use them as good guys or bad guys the lover or the victim. It makes for a great read.

I think that it was the novelist and movie makers trying to sell more books and more tickets at the box office.

What's romanticized about them today is the power they have. Who wouldn't want the powers that vampires are portrayed to have?? Anyone would want them and that's what makes them so romanticized and exotic.

Well no matter if you look at vampires as good looking, sexual, or romantic. Vampires are supposed to be the living dead, and dead being the key word in there. So therefore they should be feared, the dead walking amongst us? I mean think of that seriously, no matter what they look like, vampire myths declare them dead.... So what is really romantic, sexual, or good about that?

Thats the problem- the Vampire of Legend has been replaced by the Vampire of Literature and Film.

The only thing they share is the name.

I believe the reason vampires are so fantasized and romanticised because of the hope of eternal life. Our mortal existance is short and fleeting, and to know there could possibly be a way to live on forever, the mortal wishes to obtain it.

Like someone mentioned early who wouldn't want the powers that the vampire has...

The need vampires have- be it blood or life energy from another, shows a weakness. No matter how strong and powerful they are... even they need another.

Walking dead? Hmmm... like to hear more on this position.

Good answer xtcraver! lol I believe that people have become more hardened in this day and age. There aren't many people who believe in the scary stories that children were told. Kids are more aware. I personally believe that it is a horror to frighten a small child with something like the boogyman. In my neighborhood, we fear random gunshots, which is frequent. Thats fear enough for anybody.

I agree with Tzaddi on the whole topic. I guess vampires are more in demand as the romantic type who can sweep anyone off their feet just to get their blood...

Back when, vampires were used as scary monsters to terrify the little kiddies of the village. Stories that were told by old men, same as werewolves and ghosts.

Now we see them more sensual. We find the act of drinking blood and being immortal more erotic than frightening. I think it all started even before Anne Rice, when Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' was published, is when it all began.

I agree with most on this topic, but probably why the boogieman of yesterday that is so popular now and recognized is that now there are more real dangers in this world to be worried about due to the loonies that kidnap children than the monsters under our beds or in our closets

Times change and so do we wheather we like it or not..

Things change...people's minds opened and they didn't fear the unknown as they once did... rationality became important...

Hollywood romanticized the vampire, if you go to the countrys that totally belive in true vampires they will not give you anne rice type vampire storys...

Because human nature is to go toward what scares them and what is viewed as taboo and try to conquer it or just for a thrill and then after a while because that one person sees it this way or did it others will. Eventually it is not as taboo as it was before and they will move on to the next thing.

i feel that todays vampires are not at all as they were in the past... today people just put passion iin it i feel if people want to consider them selves a true vampire shouldnt they be as one use to be in the past

I think it changed with the birth of Hollywood, spandex, latex and sexy actors....

I think that vampires started the evolution into sexy romantic creatures before Anne Rice's mainstreaming. Stories like Carmilla, which showed the lustful side of vampires and various penny dreadfuls helped to humanize them and therefore remove the generalized fear of them.

I think a lot of has to do with the changes in society. People today are more openminded than they used to be. People have begun to believe in things that they can't see. Back in the day, if a person could not see it with their own eyes they beloeved it to be a myth or imagination. Today soem people want to desire a mythical creature. They want the temptation of that which goes bump in the night. I believe Hollywood and romantic authors have had a big influence on the way people imagine the vampiric species.

It may have to do with books we read or films we watch, its how we see them...some see them as evil monsterous creatures who only lust after blood & mayhem...others see them as loners who wonder throu the world, feeding as they go! Others see them as close kit families who love & protect each other for honour & respect! Thats my view at least but other see them differently!

I think the reason why vampires are associated with romance novels/movies, is because since they live so long, through trial and error, they can improve their sexual lives along with making themselves perfect. At least that is what went on with that vampire in this series by Keri Arthur.

So the vampires has revolved into what it is today due to books and movies? Losing the danger they bring to humans?

It might have to do with the perception that even an evil monster may be capable of love as well.

The early stories of vampires and evil monsters fell on the ears of people who were unlearned. They did not know how to read, for the most part, and as stories were retold, they were changed.

Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy...were all designed to frighten and tantalize the reader.

Hollywood attempted to keep the bad guy image as long as possible. But, people have changed. We now embrace what we don't understand and try to learn about it. So, Hollywood and authors changed also.

They began to glamorize the bad boy image with special effects, story lines, hero vampires saving the day, and so on.

Our culture is too attuned to the effects of popular belief to find the "monsters" scary anymore. We are now excited to meet them.

Anne Rice had a lot to do with it. Her vampires had cuture. They were students of history and the arts. They would try to prey on the dregs of society. They wore nice clothes. After all who wouldn't invite them in.

On the otherhand who would invite in something that is covered in dirt and blood

my guess is that people were really superstisious in the past....

sometimes the shaggy beast with sharp claws hiding under the bed is none other than the family cat.

the boogey man is no longer relevant. he was just a representation of our fears of that which is different. the vampire, the werewolf, the alien monster are just allegories for people who are different - the reds, the foreigners, the gays, the people of another creed, race, or religion.

but now we have learned to appreciate diversity and celebrate it, rather than fear and distrust it.

The most simple and straight forward single reason that I can think of which led to the rise of vampires in literature as anything other than a monster, would have to be the boom of the Anti-Hero as a lead character in novels, movies and later television. The 30's gave us vigilantes, detectives and Batman in pulp fiction novels and comic books. Later writers like Michael Moorcock would give us characters like Elric of Melniboné who truly began to embody this outcast, evil, white skinned near dead looking self loathing hero.

The Anti-Hero is the antithesis of the regular hero. They are often dark or evil in nature, surely following their own morals. They kill. They scare. They are part of the night - and yet they have become todays heroes. Not held down to societies idea of right and wrong but no longer monsters or villains of old. They've been around forever it seems but in the middle of the 20th century, they boomed. Since then, the anti-hero is one of the most popular scripted heroes in movies, tv, comics and books.

Felix, you have opened my eyes to a different way of looking at the question. I never thought of the anti-hero. But, I am digging your point. We do love the anti-hero. Look at the movie Sin City.

the romanticism of vampires started WAY before Anne Rice ever hit the scene- Bram Stoker's definitive novel was said to be so fraught with sexual innuendo and repressed sexuality that "decent people" didn't read it. Vampires have ALWAYS embodied sexuality, but how we react to that sexuality and how well we deal with it has changed over the centuries. Back when Dracula was first out, sexualism and the like were frowned upon and treated as something to be feared, hence the "ugliness" of the character. You can't fear something that is handsome and pretty and lovely, now can you? Plus, vampires were at the time considered to be in league with the devil, and of course, the devil would have to be horrible to behold, since he was evil incarnate.

Trivia - I think the anti-hero has grown to be the most realistic way of portraying larger than life characters. It shows that life is a choice and decisions can be made for good or bad and that everyone (including heroes) make that choice. It also shows us that villains can be heroes and heroes can be villains which is far more interesting than simple black hat vs white hat conflicts. As for vampires, the most popular of the vampire characters are the self loathing villain (Louis) who decides to change (Angel or Spike) or finds himself faced with a larger villain (Lestat vs QotD) or whose love is his savior and undoing (Bram Stoker's Dracula et all). Classic anti-hero portrayal.

i think there more people afriad in the past than there is now

Felix, I am fascinated about your point of view. I have already started researching the anti-hero and his/her portrayal and place in society.

I think that people are more apt yo accept the differences now then before. People are not as afraid now.

i feel hollywood changed them cos how could they compete with a lot of the horror movies out there.. there are so many horror movies made with good story lines and special effects.. would a vampire movies be as productive.. so instead make them sexy and appeal to a diffrent audience

It's been said a few times in this thread- but I will say it again. Ane Rice has given us beautiful stories- but she never created the romanticized vampire. It was definitely in my opinion Bram Stoker- 110 years ago.

Stoker used other influences (previous vampire works and references) to create the definitive vampire novel of all time. One that revealed a sexualized character.

It's my belief that time fostered the change as it does with most things... take for example dinosaurs.... Tyranosaurus Rex translates to terrible lizard, yet we have several forms of dinosaurs aimed at us in children's tv and movies. Let's not forget the fact that vampires became a very lucrative market... that fostered the need for a broader base in vampire tales.

The origional vampire was acclaimed for protecting the human race from the terrors of the night in some cultures (such as sumarian) they were the protectors and they were fed by virgin sacrifice to keep them appeased, when the sacrifices stopped they then became angry and fed upon all of humankind in an act of retribution.

My thoughts on this topic are that vampires have been made more accepted because people needed some thing dark to relate to. I'm sure that even when the first great vampire book was written there where people that where draw to the power of the vampire. And as time went on more people where drawn in.

As more people loved the vampire they wanted to share it with those that where to afraid to see them as the really are. Thus more romantic stories where written.

That's one of the reasons I can think of right now. Of course I could just be rambling because my brain in over heating....lol

To my knowlage they were never terrors of the night they are nothing like what you see in the movies.

I believe that in the past Vampires were used as a scare tactic to keep there children in the house after dark.. Kinda like the boogey men of today... But people are more open minded today then back then.

the romantasizing of the vampire was down to hollywood,the vampire as a cold brutal killer is the stuff of folklore.vampires evolve just as nature and life evolve.but the truth is being a vampire is quite a lonely existance,and the vampire searches for love,just as much as humans do.but the blood,unless you can pranic feed,keeps a barrier up.

Perhaps it is that mankind is gradually waking up, looking around and even thinking for him/herself.

The whole idea of the vampire is based in seduction it was only a matter of time before the human mind warped this into something that physically liked up to the ideal instead of some hideous beast stalking the street we now have an irresistible creature to which there is no shame in falling

well, in my opinion, all the stuff related with feeding of a person, and somebody biting your neck or licking your blood all over your body, you know... it must be performed by someone lustful, desirable, handsome... you see?

i think every living being in this earth needs love be it human beings or animals.we all kinda get attracted to the opposite sex so do the vampires.

i sleep with a night light so the boogieman dosent come to get me, and the closet door closet and locked. thats right, i got a lock for my closet so he cant come out to get me.

TV happened and computers and the internet took away the fear.

Y'know....I remember watching "b" horror movies in the late 70's and early 80's and saw women vampires....sexy women sucking blood :)
Then, Gary Oldman portrayed a very romantic, seductive Prince Vlad (he wasn't seductive to me though) who had a bleeding heart for Winona Ryder. I don't think Anne Rice really started it....she just boosted the romanticism into what it is today :)
I love her! I have always loved vampires and never thought of them as horror.

Vampirewitch39,

A few people have mentioned one idea that I hold to, which is the lack of fear due to the desensitisation of horror among children.

For example, 'R' rated movies are produced which then generate a huge marketing opportunity, for toys and such, which are deliberately aimed at those who are legally not allowed to view said film.

I can go into a toy store in my area and find action figures, comics and other accessories which play on the success of films like Aliens, Terminator and Hellraiser and kids are allowed to buy them.

As well as this, all around us are 'real life' horrors being pushed more and more into the public awareness, which in itself is not a negative thing, but those actual events, such as the abuse which children suffer, are far more terrifying than a movie like Dracula or Dusk Till Dawn.

The vampire is an icon for entertainment, as many have said, being portrayed as beautiful and romantic creatures- thus allowing us to identify and envy them as powerful beings that cannot be harmed by 'mortal' evils.

Characters such as Louis make us empathise with his sorrow and bitterness, giving us a humanised concept to attach liking to and alleviate the fear with.

Well simple ppl grew up and saw past the hediousenes of them and lost the fear from them and now you see what you got

I honestly beleive it was the movies that did it, just like witches, it's no different, but if you look at how people seen things in the 50's to how they see things now, it's a BIG change, I guess people just get more intelligent and more laid back

Modern day stupidity caused it. people just stoped beliving in the super-natural and became more hight-tech and closed minded in what is happining around tham. as if they were just ignoring the inetable *.

The concept of the anti hero, as stated above, has had an inpact on how the vampire is portrayed. There has been a century of vampire evolution since "Dracula". The vampire has been dressed in leather and lace, they have become exotic and erotic, they run nightclubs for other vamps, and express their sexuality openly and graphicly in literature and film. But yet I am not aware of any that are not still bad asses when the get mad.
Many persons who views these new vamps on screen or in literature identify themselves with the vampire, they want to be one, or have sex with one.

Its because of the world itself.. they try to take away everything that is violent for the children and that is the job for the childs parents not the government. They want to take all of it away but yet you can turn on the news everyday and there will be som ething about someone gettting shot,killed,raped,beaten up and robed. so what is the difference

In a way... something that is more then just a mere mortal has a sort of beauty to it...

I think it was just a way to get people to be less fearful of them..... People now-a-days don't believe in the terrors of the night because they all of been romantisied in some way shape or form.... People are always going to be curious about night creatures and they will take what ever is given as an explaination....

I think vampires have always been erotic. yet some are monsterous killers at the same time. people fear them cause they dont understand but then fantasize about them at the same time.

Vampires started out as an erotic myth... it's believed that the vampire itself is a sign of erotic desires... A creature that is able to force another to comply to it's own will, a creature that feeds and kills, and has sex with no shame... without having to look at itself in the mirror...

Vampires have always been an erotic myth... the whole biting of the neck was to allow a little eroticism into mainstream when other things might not have been allowed...

A few thoughts
Nikolai

plus many things stay open 24 hours a day..so theres is activity...

I think it started with the book Dracula...

they have always been sexy but as most said yes feared and sought after..who really knows or cares...they have been and always will be awesome creatures

i blame Hollywood for alot of it and the imagination that went so far in the minds that it brought this idea to the surface!

Well, in todays society, people write stories wich favour the vampire and make the vampire look in the right, when back in the day, vampires were evil blood suckers and were not peace bringer.
Also we accept alot more than we used to. So the curitosity has enchanted us all to want to learn more about these mytheliogical beasts. Oh... if only they were real... :)

I think there is still that fear. However, there is also the lure of immortality. That's quite appealing to some. Oh, and then there's Hollywood. lol It @#*!&% everything up. Dressed it up in pretty bows...just like it always does. :D

It's really hard to say, I think it has something to do with goth culture becoming more accepted and the goth culture are the people who kind of romanticized the vampires.

i disagree that it was the goth culture that romanticized them. i think all cultures do. there is a difference now than there was back in the ancient days. people are more open minded. we are becoming a society that is more and more intrigued with the unknown rather than fearing it. we are desensitizing ourselves to fear and finding solace in it.

Could some of the change have started with Anne Rice? Interveiw with a Vampire was a huge book and the movie was as well.

I'd have to say I believe hollywood had alot to do with it. Chrisopher Lee (I believe) was one of the first film vamps to be romantisized by in the early 70s with a small love scene type bite session going on. The original sexy vamp!

hmm i was one of those children whos parents say if you not behaving the boggie man will get you i think thinkgs started to change when we became more open about things

i would say the government brought all this change.. and the people who think they care for their dear children. Although Ima teenager I hate wat has come from the people who think evil is bad. I hate how halloween is earlier, and how there are no creepy stories about the ghouls and ghosts that come for naughty children. The parents seem to tell their kids about happy stories... its become a weird happy tech. world. Not wat was the real life back when. the terror of the night has been drowned out. I think there should be something done to make it old history again!!

The turning point in popular culture was probably Stoker' Dracula. Ms. Anne helped the image along with Monsieur de Lioncourt. And in between there have been so many pieces added to the puzzle. It comes down to the fact that western culture has an entirely different view on sex, "sin", and darkness overall than what it was in centuries past. Besides, people were taught not to believe in monsters anymore, and the seductive vampire is so much more fun to ponder than a half-rotted walking corpse. We are all in love with the forbidden....

At one point in time vampires were a scary thought to people. Not so much anymore. The terrors of the night dissipated when we bacame a society that gained the ability to function 24 hours a day. With our 24 hour Walmarts, fast food joints, and convenience stores.

The terrors of the night have been replaced by terrors of the day (actually terrors that can happen at any point in time). Terrorist attacks, war, natural disasters, gangs, hate crimes, sex offenders, murderers, other random acts of violence. Life is short and sometimes scary. Real life often takes the sting out of things which aren't as likely to harm you.

Vampires are romanticized because anything that breaks the monotony of the daily grind is appealing these days. Especially something as far out there as someone who comes in the night stealing your blood and changing your life forever. Even Brahm Stoker's tale of Dracula was romantic in nature.

Whatever the reason, I for one prefer the romantic vampire.

I hate the idea of small children being made afraid of anything, so would actively encourage the new vogue vamps.

Well you would think that the idea of the vampire has been highly romatisized. I think though that is just on the screen and in books. In real life people are still truly ignorant and afraid of things they don't understand.

They all want to go see the sexy, erotic vamp of fiction, but what happens when you tell a straight (someone not into the goth culture, especially the christians) IRL that you are a vampire. That you must drink blood to survive. And they look at you and you are not Gary Oldman, Tom Cruise, or even Winona Rider. Do you think then they are going to be all happy with you. No, they are going to look at you funny. They are going to be scared of you.

This place is for people who love the vampire. But if you take the goth glasses off you will see we are a very small community and we still cannot be known in Public. And those who think you are truly open about what you are, walk into the local Southern Baptist Church and announce what you are.

I think what has happened is mankinds begining to take time to educate themselves. Vampires have been around for thousands of years, told in stories by educated people to keep their communities and church goers afraid. we know that if you can keep ppl scared you can control them to a point. when ppl began to read more, you had to have something to get ppl to read your books. as time went on with movies and tv started you now had to capture the attention of even more ppl to watch your show or movies. everybody loves a good scare vampires and werewolves have been there for them to use. vampires hold the intregue of being undead, yet still look like everyone else. ppl want the fantasy of eternal life or beauty. this is what vampires have to offer ppl. hollywood has just evolved with the imagination of everyday ppl.