Vampires in Popular Culture

Vampire Falls: From Horror Tale to Love Story

November 18, 2011

Vampires in Popular Culture

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What kind of vampire wanders about in daylight, sports no fangs, and politely declines glasses of lukewarm blood? The most popular one in the world! Edward Cullen, who will be taking Bella down the aisle (and to the bedroom) in the fourth Twilight flick Breaking Dawn Part 1 out today.

For a genre born out of the dark side, it's become awfully lighthearted. And it's not just human blood these modern vampires are turning away, Twilight's Edward saves himself for marriage even though he's 100-plus years old. The chaste message has caused many to question if today's vampires in pop culture are setting unrealistic and unhealthy expectations for the young girls fantasizing about finding their own brooding 100-year-old virgin vampire. While boys are receiving a very different message from porn, video games, and action movies.

But the concern does raise another pressing question: when did this blood-sucking villain go soft? See how vampires in pop culture went from scary to sexy.

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by POPSUGAR Sex & Culture 16

But the concern does raise another pressing question: when did this blood-sucking villain go soft? See how vampires in pop culture went from scary to sexy.

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16 Comments

citygrl12 1 year 26 weeks

Twilight has completely changed people's views on vampires..they used to be horrifying and terrifying..not]w they're 'beautiful and kind' : )so ridiculous!!

tringa R 2 years 30 weeks

Twilight forever (K)(K) And you haters STFU !!!!!!

2 years 30 weeks

none of u guys no wat ur talking about twilight rules! that movie, vampires suck is a total disgrace.

TammyO 3 years 41 weeks

Twilight is indeed nonsense!

foxymardy 3 years 41 weeks

Twilight is a joke. Sorry, but I've never read (and hated) anything worse!

Isista 3 years 41 weeks

...Wow. This is kind of ridiculous. I love Twilight -- while being very able to say that the vampires are soft and the writing was poor to say the least -- but I would assume most people understand that the vampires presented in the movie/book franchise are not the only types of vampires around. People still love the dark Nosferatu, Dracula, the Blade series, Buffy, etc, etc. There are MANY types of vampire storylines out there, and to point at Twilight and say "You are messing up vampires everywhere!" really doesn't give credit to the strength of the older, stronger, darker vampire legends and stories.

staple salad 3 years 41 weeks

WHY does the romantic aspect of vampires have to be the ONLY aspect of them people seem to want to pay attention to? What ever happened to their whole "I'm a blood sucking undead guy who will seduce the women, despite the fact that I'm pale as a corpse and ugly/potentially good looking but still a corpse, and then suck their blood (and in some cases, soul) out through their neck! (there is significance in vampire lore that the sucking happens ON THE NECK, not ARM like some lame "vampires"). ARGH!!!! Twilight needs to go away, or at least realize that it's "vampires" are NOT "vampires" in the least. I agree with natxx69, worst thing to happen to vampires (and it's not even a decent wooden stake or holy symbol).

phoebitz 3 years 42 weeks

Oh, and I have to agree -- Buffy's vamps and Angel are terrific for the internal character crises they present. Why isn't anyone talking about Spike?????

phoebitz 3 years 42 weeks

There's a significant difference between HBO's Bill and the original Bill in the series of books. In the books, Bill is often not at all what he seems -- certainly not a nice, lovable vamp.

NatalieSuleski 3 years 42 weeks

Twilight was the worst thing to happen to vampires ever. It turned something worth fearing into a complete wimp. Blah, The vampires in it were so lame , come on the reason they couldn't go into sunlight cause they sparkled. Really really lame. Real actual bloodsucking vampires are awesome.

NatalieSuleski 3 years 42 weeks

Twilight was the worst thing to happen to vampires ever. It turned something worth fearing into a complete pussy. Blah, The vampires in it were so lame , come on the reason they couldn't go into sunlight cause they sparkled. Really really lame. Real actual bloodsucking vampires are awesome.

MissHalfway 3 years 42 weeks

I love Buffy's series and Twilight too.

genesisrocks 3 years 42 weeks

High Five Faerie!

FaerieBlu 3 years 42 weeks

The only real vampire was Barnabus Collins!

Hiding55 3 years 42 weeks

Uh, if you watched the last episode of True Blood then you would know that Bill Compton was a pretty normal run of the mill blood sucking vampire during the roaring 20's. He seemed to quite enjoy feeding on humans.