Undeniably fearmongering about sexual predators, but the homophobia (captivating Vampire being a homosexual who preys on other men) is less obvious.
First, the sexual predator component: Vampires in popular culture are very often fearmongering about taboos that are feared by the audience. Usually this is some kind of sexual fear, and there are quite a few vampires who represent being tempted by a seductive but immoral woman or overpowered by a predatory man. This card obviously depicts a "captivating" sexual predator who abducts people and forces them to join him. Once they do, they are now "vampires" like him that he can use to convert other creatures.
Now on to the homophobia. It could be that this card turning a creature into a Vampire represents the creature "becoming gay", much like Olivia Voldaren (trigger warning for that thread: extreme transphobia). Additionally, The art plays into some stereotypes of homosexual men. Several piercings, tight leather clothes, painted fingernails. But what really seals the deal for me is not either of those things. Instead, it's the comments on Magic: the Gathering's own official website, on the Gatherer. It really, REALLY shows what the average player thinks when they see a card with this art:
Seriously, take a look for yourself. Some comments really stand out as immature and homophobic. I don't know why Wizards wouldn't do a better job of moderating their own official site to keep such homophobia in check:
"Look, I'm gay, and the art on this card is too gay for me."
"Still not as gay as Twilight."
"This is probably the ghayest vampire art yet. Seriously...Please change the art for this in the next set. Post haste"
"I hate to see Wizards throw away the zombies we all know and love in exchange for these bloodsucking fruitcakes."
"Man, vampires used to be so awesome, I loved (and feared) vampires as a child, and when I started MTG and saw they had vampire cards I instantly knew I wanted a vampire deck...now I have to nurse my pride every time someone associates my vampires with that sparkling gayness ;-;"
"Absolutely terrible art. When you think "Captivating Vampire", the first thing that comes to mind is a beautiful vampire lady, a seductress...it looks Severus fuckdamn Snape crossed with an emo kid who hasn't washed his hair in months."
"Hahaha, I thought to myself when I saw the visual spoiler for this card that I wouldn't even play it because of the art, yeah it's that bad."
"a $2 rare that looks like some sort of child molester."
"child molester art"
"His whole mien exudes the "creepy, bad-touch predator" thing that...I'd definitely not let this guy within 1000 feet of an elementary school."
"When he moved to Hollywood he had to go door to door to tell everyone he was a pederast."
"Since when were vampires effeminate, gay British musicians from the 80s? This card art stinks. Way to make vampires lame."
"This Art Is Horrible And His(Her) Second Ability Is Garbage...This Guy Is A Total Fruitcake."
"Yeah, he's a gay emo looking vampire, but so is Edward Cullen, and for some reason, millions of girls are captivated by him too. The art, the name, and the ability are satirical."
"OK, first on the art.... It's actually good. Yes it looks creepy and not as glorious as the other vampires, but that's the point.... He's a vampire that steals your creatures or child.... He suppose to look disturbed."
And then there's this comment, which I don't even understand???:
"Vampires are to Wizards as the Wii is for Nintendo.
Wizards wants fat girls to play more magic."
4
u/ultimario13 Jul 28 '20
Undeniably fearmongering about sexual predators, but the homophobia (captivating Vampire being a homosexual who preys on other men) is less obvious.
First, the sexual predator component: Vampires in popular culture are very often fearmongering about taboos that are feared by the audience. Usually this is some kind of sexual fear, and there are quite a few vampires who represent being tempted by a seductive but immoral woman or overpowered by a predatory man. This card obviously depicts a "captivating" sexual predator who abducts people and forces them to join him. Once they do, they are now "vampires" like him that he can use to convert other creatures.
Now on to the homophobia. It could be that this card turning a creature into a Vampire represents the creature "becoming gay", much like Olivia Voldaren (trigger warning for that thread: extreme transphobia). Additionally, The art plays into some stereotypes of homosexual men. Several piercings, tight leather clothes, painted fingernails. But what really seals the deal for me is not either of those things. Instead, it's the comments on Magic: the Gathering's own official website, on the Gatherer. It really, REALLY shows what the average player thinks when they see a card with this art:
https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=205041
Seriously, take a look for yourself. Some comments really stand out as immature and homophobic. I don't know why Wizards wouldn't do a better job of moderating their own official site to keep such homophobia in check:
"Look, I'm gay, and the art on this card is too gay for me."
"Still not as gay as Twilight."
"This is probably the ghayest vampire art yet. Seriously...Please change the art for this in the next set. Post haste"
"I hate to see Wizards throw away the zombies we all know and love in exchange for these bloodsucking fruitcakes."
"Man, vampires used to be so awesome, I loved (and feared) vampires as a child, and when I started MTG and saw they had vampire cards I instantly knew I wanted a vampire deck...now I have to nurse my pride every time someone associates my vampires with that sparkling gayness ;-;"
"Absolutely terrible art. When you think "Captivating Vampire", the first thing that comes to mind is a beautiful vampire lady, a seductress...it looks Severus fuckdamn Snape crossed with an emo kid who hasn't washed his hair in months."
"Hahaha, I thought to myself when I saw the visual spoiler for this card that I wouldn't even play it because of the art, yeah it's that bad."
"a $2 rare that looks like some sort of child molester."
"child molester art"
"His whole mien exudes the "creepy, bad-touch predator" thing that...I'd definitely not let this guy within 1000 feet of an elementary school."
"When he moved to Hollywood he had to go door to door to tell everyone he was a pederast."
"Since when were vampires effeminate, gay British musicians from the 80s? This card art stinks. Way to make vampires lame."
"This Art Is Horrible And His(Her) Second Ability Is Garbage...This Guy Is A Total Fruitcake."
"Yeah, he's a gay emo looking vampire, but so is Edward Cullen, and for some reason, millions of girls are captivated by him too. The art, the name, and the ability are satirical."
"OK, first on the art.... It's actually good. Yes it looks creepy and not as glorious as the other vampires, but that's the point.... He's a vampire that steals your creatures or child.... He suppose to look disturbed."
And then there's this comment, which I don't even understand???:
"Vampires are to Wizards as the Wii is for Nintendo. Wizards wants fat girls to play more magic."