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I was hanging out with a bunch of new friends after a vampire LARP within the past 5 years, and the subject of Anne Rice’s books came up.
And this 23 year old kid at the table asked, “Who’s Anne Rice?”
The rest of us gasped.
And this 23 year old kid at the table asked, “Who’s Anne Rice?”
The rest of us gasped.
Who’s Anne Rice??? We had just all finished playing a vampire LARP, isn’t Rice the universal gateway drug for vampire LARPing???
I mean, I’m almost 40. In my generation, that was the case. But Rice isn’t as culturally relevant as she used to be. That’s uncomfortable admitting-
I mean, I’m almost 40. In my generation, that was the case. But Rice isn’t as culturally relevant as she used to be. That’s uncomfortable admitting-
-but that’s the fact. Turns out, a lot of kids these days get into vampires because of Vampire Diaries and The Originals.
It’s not a young kid’s responsibility to know every important milestone in vampire pop culture before saying, “I like this thing & want to be part of it”
It’s not a young kid’s responsibility to know every important milestone in vampire pop culture before saying, “I like this thing & want to be part of it”
So after us old folks got over our shock and our damn egos, we spent a large portion of the rest of the meal talking about our experiences with Rice’s books and impact on our lives, as well as other stories that roped us in.
We shared book, movie, and TV recommendations. I was kind of excited for that kid- I think the IWTV and QOTD movies hold up pretty well, for all their shortcomings as adaptations, they’re still fun movies.
I was in my 20’s before I got to see Lost Boys and Near Dark, and I still grew up to be so much of a vampire fan I became a professional vampire tour guide in New Orleans, and podcaster.
I was so excited when my older, cooler friends shared stuff they liked with me.
I was so excited when my older, cooler friends shared stuff they liked with me.
And now I’ve often got the opportunity to do that for others coming up behind me. I’m excited to share the things I love, with people who love the material I work in enough to claim they love it too, without knowing everything.
Calling 20-something’s posers because they aren’t able to instantly recognize media that was popular before they were born is unfair, and an unrealistic expectation.
As older goths, we have an amazing opportunity to share fantastic material with people who’ve never heard it!
As older goths, we have an amazing opportunity to share fantastic material with people who’ve never heard it!
We shouldn’t waste or sully that opportunity by scoffing at ignorance. Everyone starts somewhere.
Sometimes it starts with dressing like your favorite spooky influencer and being brave enough to claim goth. To own being different.
That’s so valid.
Sometimes it starts with dressing like your favorite spooky influencer and being brave enough to claim goth. To own being different.
That’s so valid.
PS: I realize I’m old now because I repeatedly referred to a grown-ass 23 year old man as a “kid.” Please know I meant it endearingly, full of love and compassion for the kid I realize I still was at 23. But when I was 23, I would have been devastated to be called “kid.” 
