BU’s Joseph Layco*ck on the myth, and the real deal
Vampire expert Joseph Layco*ck (GRS’13) discusses those elusive creatures of the night.
It’s that time of year—when thoughts turn to vampires. But these days they’ve become so embedded in popular culture, it’s fair to say they’re now a year-round phenomenon. There’s HBO’s phenomenally successful True Blood, the CW series The Vampire Diaries, and Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling Twilight saga and the books’ subsequent smash films.
But according to religious studies scholar Joseph Layco*ck (GRS’13), vampires are more than pop culture icons. They really exist. In his book Vampires Today: The Truth About Modern Vampirism (2009), Layco*ck examines teenagers, stay-at-home moms, grandmothers, and professionals, all unremarkable subjects save for one little thing: they claim to feed off of other people’s energy, and every so often drink human blood.
BU Today: How did a religious studies scholar become interested in modern-day vampires?
Layco*ck: While I was teaching high school in Atlanta, I found out about the Atlanta Vampire Alliance, which was conducting a 1,000-question survey for people who claim to be vampires. I found it interesting that people were defining their identities through survey data, so I wrote a paper about it and presented it at the American Academy of Religion in San Diego. Two journals approached me about publishing the paper, and then a representative from Praeger asked me to write a book. They knew what I didn’t: thanks to the Twilight series, it’s a seller’s market for vampires.
Your book describes several different types of vampires.
First there are lifestyle vampires, who admire the aesthetic. They may like vampire movies or writer Anne Rice, and they may own a set of prosthetic fangs or wear Victorian costumes to nightclubs. But at the end of the day, they know they’re no different from anyone else because they don’t feed.
Real vampires, on the other hand, believe that their physical, mental, and emotional health will deteriorate if they don’t feed—either on blood or on energy. There are three types of real vampires: sanguinarian, psychic, and hybrids. Sanguinarians feed on very small amounts of human blood, generally just a few drops.
Do they bite people’s necks?
Not usually, because it’s very painful and highly unsanitary. Most sanguinarians use a syringe or a lancet to feed.
How do psychic vampires feed?
People have auras that protect their energy and charkas, and psychic vampires feed by sipping life energy through a tentacle that’s attached to those auras—although of course not everyone can see either the auras or the tentacles. Psychic vampirism has been part of occult literature since the 19th century, and the idea that some people borrow or take energy from others is common throughout Asia.
Is feeding on people’s energy ethical?
Most vampires believe that it’s okay to feed as long as they go to a place where there are a lot of people and they take only small amounts of energy. Venues where there’s a lot of energy, like a rock concert or a Pentecostal church service, are better feeding grounds. A lot of vampires have consenting donors, people who have lots of energy and don’t mind giving some of it away. There’s also tantric feeding, which involves sexual contact.
Did any of your sources try to feed on your energy?
Not that I noticed. A lot of vampires say that ordinary people don’t sustain them. The really good energy comes from creative, passionate types, like artists or religious figures.
Do any common vampire myths apply to real vampires?
Some report having sun allergies. I know one woman who wears welding goggles whenever she goes outdoors, but I know another vampire who went to Thailand and sat on the beach all day. As far as having to be invited in and not being able to cross running water—no one claims to follow any of that.
Do real vampires believe they are immortal?
No.
Do you believe the people you interviewed are real vampires?
I’m a religious scholar, not a scientist. I don’t really care what the truth is. I’m interested in what other people believe, and they believe they are indeed vampires.
What’s the connection between Christianity and vampirism?
The Catholic Church believes in the doctrine of transubstantiation, which is that the communion bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ, even though their appearance does not change. Martin Luther thought this was ridiculous; as a result, most Protestants have a more symbolic understanding about the Eucharist, but the Catholic Church refuses to budge. So Catholics have been criticized for the doctrine of transubstantiation and have even been called vampires.
Why are vampires so prevalent in pop culture?
For years, the vampire has been a symbol of the romantic outsider, the rebel. And because each new generation needs a rebel, there have been many generations of vampires. Back in the 1960s there was a television show called Dark Shadows, which gave us Barnabas Collins, our first reluctant vampire. Then there was the sexy Lestat from Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, and the tortured Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And now we have True Blood’s Bill Compton and Twilight’s Edward Cullen.
I’m a little concerned about Twilight, because these are the most unrebellious vampires we’ve ever seen. They are essentially Mormon vampires; the author is Mormon, and the Cullen family has Mormon values. And Twilight is not a cult phenomenon. It’s mainstream. The vampire has gone from being a horrible monster to the kid next door. So we’ll see what happens. Perhaps Edward Cullen will be the last vampire.
This originally ran November 19, 2009.
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There are 29 comments on Real-Life Vampires
helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
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Actually there are ones who self identify as Vampires that do believe they are immortal. I wonder what he thinks about the VC of today?
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Lestats from queen of the damned …js
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How can I become a vampire
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Thee mortals that speak of Vampires do not know much of our existent’s. For thee who want to become a Vampire must fulfill my desire and if thou shall fail I will kill thee with my bare hand’s.
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Wait for real? Are you really immortal and you are probably not gonna answer but can you vamp and do you have any kind of powers?How did u turn into a vampire and does it run to your blood or you are not a vampire and you just drink blood( I mean not a real one)
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I have the spell
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I wish someday that I could be immortal.
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I’m a real vampire!
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Vampires do not tell others of there existence for that is against the law
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I share with you all my knowledge to whom it interest, I believe we all want to live a wealthy, long lasting life or immortal. I am a pesach vampire. I only want to give guidelines to become a vampire with great skills, Though being a vampire has certain limitations, But it can also be a ton of fun. Your extra strengths and abilities can make you successful in almost every endeavor you participate in life and before you know it the money and acquaintances will come streaming in. You can build wealth and gain prestige and notoriety and attempt things you may never have even considered as a human. you will have more time to do alot, Beef up your education and learn all you ever wanted. Travel the world to see things most people only ever see on TV. This is going to be especially fun if you turn into a vampire. Clan vampires will show you the wonders of the world. Learn new languages, Travel, Go skydiving or scuba dive with sharks, You no longer need to be scared of nature or wildlife you will become the worlds strongest predator. Have fun with it and your life as a vampire can be more fulfilling than you ever dreamed of. Experience these and get excited. There’s a big world out there with lots to see and do and as a vampire once you have received the vampire Blood and Ring. Powers, Skills, Abilities, Mights you shall poses. The only way to have all these come through is contacting the hindu lord on the below e-mail: worldofvampir@hotmail.com
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You are for sure an evil vampire, that’s (if) you are really one, don’t listen to this person, there are good vampires out there that hate paganism because they know that paganism is an abomination to God.
If you all want to be a good vampire, read the Holy Bible first so in case you make the choice to become a vampire by your own will, you can be able to identify good people and evil people.
Remember!!!,,, all of us, in one point or another we make the choice to go another way in the world, but when you do that, make sure that you are on the Allies Power side, and not on the Axis Power side,,, remember!!! in War there is always a good side and an evil side, it is up to you what side you want to be in.
Think about it carefully,,,, my frinds call me: John.
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Yeah, you’re right, I also love vampires. There are vampires out there who doesn’t feed on humans blood or do anything to hurt humans. Some also fall in love with humans and try all they can to keep him/her safe. Being good and conscious of the kind of person you are is the best way to God. I love vampires and I’m not against them even if truly they exist but I just wish the kind of vampires I dream of really do exist. Being good, caring, jovial, and doesn’t feed on humans, it doesn’t matter if they are handsome, pretty or not. Once they have a beautiful heart, they are the prettiest and beautiful of all.
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ATELA can u turn me to a vampire?
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She is not a real vampire Henry use your brain.
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Are sure, this would work, because I have my ideas of becoming a vampire, and having the strength and be able to walk on daylight.?
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Can you share some of your ideas on how to become a real vampires and can walk into daylight.pls.
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But what happens to vampires when they die? Do they go straight to hell?
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Vampires aren’t real. But i wish they were!!!
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Same here… I really wish they are real and could live freely without having to live in the shadows or avoiding sunlight.
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1 fact hybrids can only be killed by a white Oak stake in the heart and also the original vampires can too and 1 thing I know us my granddaughter is a hybrid she got turned when she was 10 years old and she drinks human blood all the time and she kills other vampires if you mess with her so don’t she already killed 50 vampires
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I wish I was a vampire. I would not need my glasses and I could have more fun.
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wowww!! I wish I could meet her!! i am really interested in knowing about an actual vampire… I’m sick of the stories and fantasies told by people on the internet
See AlsoKurt BarlowLink
i want to be emortal
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No one can be immortal. There is only one immortal and that is God. Don’t think of being an immortal rather think of joining in on what would make you happy and explore on good new things
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There is no such things as vampire in real ,it’s just ,’ahh, the stories and the movies ,and no one can be immortal there always has been a loophole which holds it.And even if there were vampires in real they wouldn’t be here on internet chatting with us. But u see we do like to imagine that if we were vampire it would be wonderful, but that’s not the truth becuz every vampire has to drink blood or kill innocent people. And.ohh yes yeah I also think that I would like to be a vampire. We do imagine things that r not possible in anyway. This is the happiness of being a human …….
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You never can tell AMAAN, vampires might be real. No one knows what happens or is going on on this earth except God. We all are just willing, wishing and trying to know. If truly vampires are real, you can’t say it’s all vampires that has to feed on blood and kill innocent people, coz there are always good and bad in this world. Where there are the types you talked about, surely there would be the good ones too.
If truly vampires exist, I hope the good ones would be more plenty and wouldn’t have to live hidden. I wish they could be proud of who and what they are and also know the ways of serving the only immortal God, and they would be happy always as well
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we all dont really no if vampires are real the only one that knows is god if they do then i dont really no but i wish the exist im upsest with vampires the are AWSOME i really hope they exist though.
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