Anyone else been seduced by Tarot of Vampyres (Ian Daniels) ?

[Grizabella]

In the beginning, people were not attracted to vampires. They were repulsed. But after being bitten, then they were, I think. But not till they were bitten and became undead themselves.

[lilangel09]

I did not like it therefore did not buy it. It was overwhelming Goth, which made me feel it was trying too hard.

I like Vampires, but I'm picky about Vampire theme decks. I'd like to see a Vampires deck portrayed in the 1st edition Bohemian Gothic Tarot's style.

[Girl Archer]

Originally Posted by Grizabella

In the beginning, people were not attracted to vampires. They were repulsed. But after being bitten, then they were, I think. But not till they were bitten and became undead themselves.

Weren't they taught to be repulsed by the creatures of the night? In an effort to keep young children from straying and becoming one of the Undead? Jonathan Harker, though in his journal does describe the beauty of Dracula's brides in particular, doesn't he? I have got to get back to my Dracula, it has been months since I re-read it.

[velvetina]

there is plenty of variants upon that mythology...from ghouls to enchantress...from femme fatale to nosferatu ....its all fascinating! I read 'Twilight' & was disappointed by it, but I appreciate that its just another version of an old story.

I am partial to certain writers of that genre...loved Anne Rice, then she seemed to get silly (or maybe I changed?), Tanith Lee & her Scarabae, Carmilla Karnstein & Lucy Westenra, Mr. Barlow, Miriam Blaylock - they all have a place in my heart!

as far as Tarot decks that lean towards the sepulchre, I don't have many but my favourite is the Bohemian Gothic. This is because of the aesthetic & because it includes so many elements of the Gothic. If I had to, I think I'd identify Ian Daniels' deck as more Goth than Gothic...but in no way is that a negative criticism! Simply an attempt to differentiate between the two.

Back in the day, I was all about the trailing black velvet skirts, complicated eyeliner and crimped & backcombed hair. (given the slightest encouragement, such as Whitby, and I'm back there!)....if I was younger, and all these decks had been available, the Ian Daniels deck would never have been out of my coffin- shaped bag!

[Bhavana]

Originally Posted by Girl Archer

But, touching on your supermodel vampires point, I just want to know one thing. Were they not supposed to be hauntingly beautiful? That the touch of the damned actually makes Lucy, irresistible, in a dangerous way to all three men who are just wildly drawn to her? So, basically a vampire is supposed to be extremely good looking and the bite on the neck, isn't that actually a sign of the author's way of rebellion against repressed Victorian sexual norms? The bite on the neck, signifying exchange of body fluids could allude to exchange of other bodily fluids? (viz intercourse?) and the cross that is the protection against the vampires? That must be clear too right? Using Faith to drive away the desires of the flesh? (here, I must mention I am aware I am stepping into controversial territory and also that I am no qualified expert on Dracula, vampires or anything else here....)
This has been mentioned in the introduction, in the unabridged version of the Bram Stoker Dracula novel, actually.

As for REAL vampire decks, have you checked out the ones by Robert Place or vampire Tarot by Natalie Hertz? I am not a huge fan of her work personally but maybe you will like it? Do these look like the vampires that terrified you when you were a kid? - Vampire Deck by Hertz
Or Vampire tarot of the Eternal Night - http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards...eternal-night/

Actually, I think it was Hollywood that made vampires into sex symbols. If you look into the old legends, and even Stoker's Dracula, you don't read much about good looks - I understand all that about the repressed Victorians and all - and there are certainly sexual undertones and impulses driving the characters, but the attraction was not based on the physical beauty of the vampires themselves. The only vampire story I can think of (or that I have read) where the vampire was very beautiful, and her beauty was made a point of, is Le Fanu's "Carmilla". And if you go back even farther with vampire legends, they become even more repulsive and disgusting.

Once Hollywood got hold of it, looks became the main thing in many vampire movies, for sure. And even I liked some of them - the young Frank Langella made a great Dracula - though my favorite, and I think the most frightening vampires ever on film, were in the first make of "Salem's Lot". Not the head vampire, he was kinda silly - I mean all the people vampires. That movie scared me for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1unHCE_Npw

The evolution of the vampire, how he got from the rotting blood sucking walking graveyard corpse to pretty boy Edward romantically longing for the prom queen, I'll never know.

I had forgotten about Place's deck, I have 2 of them, you'd think I'd remember! I like it, but I guess I think of that one as more about the Dracula novel, and not a generic vampire deck. As for Eternal Night, and the other one - I had Eternal night and traded it. The Hertz deck I have not seen in person yet.

[WolfyJames]

Dracula is not the first vampire to appear in english litterature. Vampyre by Polidori appeared earlier and the vampire in the story is based on the tall, dark, pale, dashing and handsome Lord Byron.

Originally Posted by Bhavana

and I think the most frightening vampires ever on film, were in the first make of "Salem's Lot". Not the head vampire, he was kinda silly - I mean all the people vampires. That movie scared me for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1unHCE_Npw

Personally I'd say the scariest vampire is Nosferatu, both original and remake.

[Bhavana]

Originally Posted by WolfyJames

Dracula is not the first vampire to appear in english litterature. Vampyre by Polidori appeared earlier and the vampire in the story is based on the tall, dark, pale, dashing and handsome Lord Byron.



Personally I'd say the scariest vampire is Nosferatu, both original and remake.

oh yeah, he was one ugly vampire....was the remake the one with Willem Defoe and John Malkovich? That was more like a comedy!

Lots of vampire stories before Dracula - pretty sure my above mentioned Carmilla was written earlier - One of my favorites is "Mrs. Amworth" by E.F.Benson - but that may have been written in the late 1800's, early 1900's.

[WolfyJames]

Originally Posted by Bhavana

oh yeah, he was one ugly vampire....was the remake the one with Willem Defoe and John Malkovich? That was more like a comedy!

No. Here it is: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079641/

[Bhavana]

Originally Posted by WolfyJames

No. Here it is: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079641/

ohhh...yeah, think I remember this - will have to look for it. Far cry from the Tarot of the Vampyres vampires.

[Girl Archer]

Originally Posted by WolfyJames

No. Here it is: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079641/

MY GOD! That is terrifying! Repulsive... kinda like the Hertz Vampires, I think judging from the little I have seen of that deck. I am sure hertz is a great artist but her decks and I...we just don't get along. And now, after all these discussions, the glamour of this vampyres deck is kinda wearing and I am wondering if i should get a deck just because it has a few pretty cards.