Community & Conflict in Interview with the Vampire

[@Beatlelover21]

Forever and always will adore Lestat living like a hobo in a shed but he fully has an iPad. It feels like a very Lestat level of dramatics

[@ithinkiknowme6450]

Also i have noticed that Him and Louis used to sleep in separate coffins but Louis and Armand slept together in a bed...I don't know what to make of it..

[@jaylahallen4326]

@@ithinkiknowme6450I think it has to do with the fact that Armand is solely interested in the things that Louis is interested in. Louis is still attracted to being human and doing human things so Armand is willing to do things outside of his vampire nature as long as Louis wants to. So they sleep in a bed. Lestat on the other hand is much more interested in being a vampire and will not compromise with Louis on that. Lestat, in season 1, plays a much more involved role in trying to get Louis accustomed to a vampire lifestyle. So they sleep in a coffin. I’m not quite sure if vampires need a coffin to live, as I haven’t read the books, but I at think that in order to be at their best vampire self, they need some form of a coffin so the penthouse acts as a poor substitution to the real thing but allows Louis to live a human adjacent lifestyle. Armand is older so not even the sun can affect him so it would also make sense that he doesn’t need a coffin as much as Louis and Lestat do so it might have been easier for him to make that compromise. Long story short, it just further paints the picture of the differences between Louis in a relationship with Armand vs Lestat.

[@altalt479]

FR like of course he's in a shit hole crying while his iPad is playing classical music in the background, he's so highschool angst. Him saying "siri stop" I killed me

[@altalt479]

​@@jaylahallen4326 YESSS I love the way you worded this. I also feel like it tells a lot about Louis too. He yearns for his humanity and Armand can offer him just that, but then what happens? Louis is bored, uninterested. Lestat represents that vampiric side that will not be dwindled by anyone but Louis is also undeniably drawn to him consistently. It's like they represent his inner turmoil about the humanity he so desperately wants to preserve and the reality of the vampire

[@gabriellandino]

This was soooo satisfying to watch thank you for sharing your thoughts! The quotes you pulled added to it all.

[@PieceMind-rq8yx]

As Jacob Anderson said "let's be monsters! Let's be problematic!"

[@SpaztasticSheep]

yess

[@AnnaP-vw4yw]

Let us, but yes.

[@gabriellehenry526]

"but i can say, with absolute certainty, that it was raining" oh you ate that

[@chai7218]

incredible closing line

[@AnnaP-vw4yw]

Beautifully ended

[@desiree896]

i do miss the importance race had in in season one. especially when it came with Louis coming into vampirism, his rage as a black man from the 1920s helping fuel it. although I do enjoy watching Louis live his James Baldwin experience. I just feel like it should’ve been touched on a bit more at the trial. Claudia calling in a stoning lynching fits right as well. also her calling out the double standard how Lestat is able to apologize for his sky, murder attempt yet she’s not allowed!!!!

[@desiree896]

such a good video essay very engaging!!!!! and I do appreciate you mentioning the Apology doesn’t justify abuse!!! like seriously thank you

[@g0thgfwastaken]

idk if it was on twitter or another youtube comment, but i read something where someone said that the trial itself was just another effect of society trying to condemn a black man as the vicious perpetrator of violence. the manipulator and the one who ‘lured’ in the poor innocent yt vampire lestat. it was a public lynching.

[@drawingsticks5333]

I feel like we will see more of Louis' rage in season 3 after the ending of season 2, I see the point about abuse apologia but to me showing that Louis' also had the capability of being cruel is less about "They were both toxic to each other" and more how about Louis in his grief and whatnot has repressed himself for too long.

[@sisyphusmyths]

Wonderful essay. My only quibble is that I don't think that the revisions to Louis' previous perspectives that we get in the trial are meant to equalize them or to minimize Lestat's abuse of Louis or dismiss the power differential. In the physical fight in particular, the crucial part is that Louis describing in detail how he is about to kill Lestat isn't at all what Lestat responds to with violence! *In fact, Lestat completely ignores that whole wild-eyed speech.* Lestat acts as if Louis never even spoke at all and instead says "You're leaving me?" and **that's** when he breaks Louis and drops him from the sky. It doesn't matter that Louis attempted to escalate things instead of de-escalating, because hurting him was always Lestat's choice, and the outcome was never in Louis' control. It was always going to be Lestat who decided when the violence would end. And we know that the show recognizes this power difference at the heart of the abuse because it's right after that moment in the trial that Lestat looks absolutely sick to his stomach and says of himself, "a wolf congratulated for not killing her pups."

[@Yiningwu5622]

I absolutely loved that moment so much, and it bothers me when people try to act like it was an equal fight. Like you said, Lestat was totally out of it and the only thing he was thinking of was "Louis is going to leave me". I think the self reflection/apology was amazing and a great direction for the character.

[@worldeater10]

6:40 but that was exactly the choice lestat was denied. he begged for death and his maker would not let him die. the choice is between being a vampire and death, not being a vampire and life

[@yoknom]

That makes as little sense, because a vampire can still choose to die by stepping into the sun. Lestat created a way to handle his own trauma. He thinks he has been wronged and wants to do better. It's not about the choice, it's about what it means for Lestat.

[@worldeater10]

@@yoknom I don't think I understand your reply but when you become a vampire, you're damned. dying as a human and dying as a vampire are very different things

[@yoknom]

@@worldeater10 Yes, for Lestat those are different things, because he believes that. It's his trauma that influences that. Probably every religious being would see it similar to Lestat, but what about atheists? Would they see those deaths as different? I am that, and I don't. I still understand where Lestat is coming from, but looking at it from the outside, I don't think it's as easy as a choice between "vampire and death" or "vampire and life". Sure it was death for Lestat, and he is using that as his reasoning, but for me, it comes more down to that Lestat wants them to choose him. And that is what I meant with the meaning for Lestat. Sorry if it was/is unclear, I can't always explain my thoughts very well x.x.

[@artofapo]

the line about melting ice of my trauma and not flooding the land with my grief is insane. drawing that parallel especially when after Louis melts the ice and his story is out there, the mortals don't care or believe the story is real but its his own community (of vampires) that turn against him and are trying to kill him for speaking about it. stunning

[@TheAmityElf]

I like the idea of Armand planning to eat Daniel after the interview as a narrative parallel to Armand planning for Louis to die at the trial, both of which are things I consider to be at least in question from an in-universe character perspective. Basically, we don't know whether he meant for Louis to die, we don't know whether he meant for Daniel to die, but everything was in place for both to happen, and whatever the case, it's compelling that he operates in such clear patterns. (Lestat dissolving his influence, Louis burning his theater, Daniel dissolving his marriage...)

[@tangent94]

Gotta have contingency plans.

[@Arrrrrrrrrrbbbbbbbbbb]

I am SO HAPPY Interview with the Vampire is getting some quality video essays; it's such an incredible series

[@desiree896]

oo i think armand’s feelings about claudia is VERY telling during s2 ep07, louis reveals what truly happened during claudia turning. I know a lot of people took the look Armand gives to Louis as him being upset with how coercive he was, but I read it as him being pissed about not knowing the full truth of her turning.

[@desiree896]

so off-topic from the video, but it’s from I don’t think Armand is really remorseful over what happened to Claudia because even from the very beginning he seen her death as something inevitable that was going to happen because she was a child vampire.

[@NinaGothMambaNegra]

"The difficulties of inmortality consist of living past the end of one's own era, that eventually the world becomes so changed from how it was when you were human that life ceases to have any meaning and sooner or later one succumbs to dispair. " This right here is how you grow as a person. This is why every Anne Rice's vampire was chained to their era and all of her older ancient originals vampires are devoid of an urge to live rather than a deathwish. Awesome video, thank you for including book references.

[@R3natavids]

opening with "I Saw the TV Glow" comparison... let's GOOOO

[@R3natavids]

(back after watching) great video!! really clear take on the metaphors the show is deploying & how they work. and thank you for considering the show's limits and potential drawbacks as well... I've been stewing for a bit with my thoughts on the latest season. for me where the writing starts to get shaky is regarding Lestat's complicity in the trial. I feel like I didn't see enough acknowledgement by the show that the trial is not just litigating (in a skewed and distorted way) past violence, but is ITSELF an obscene act of violence... therefore, Lestat being in the starring role is something he and Louis both need to reckon with if they're going to move forward in any believable way (regardless of how much Lestat did or didn't *really* want to be there). Louis has one line calling this out, something to the effect of "You chose to come to a trial that you knew would end in the death of your daughter" which is exactly what I wanted them to dig into... but it's simply not followed up on, which left me frustrated! For that matter, it's hard to even fully engage with the latest season finale, because the question of whether Lestat chose to be at the trial or was forced to was left confusingly vague, seemingly deliberately so, with intentional inconsistencies ('easter eggs,' charitably) placed in the trial scenes; but in a way where it felt like the writers were hedging a bit and delaying until season 3 to decide the actual extent of his involvement. And this just doesn't do the resolution to season 2 any favors; especially the scene of Louis & Lestat's reconciliation. Their exchange feels incomplete when we're not even fully sure what happened! I haven't read the books so can't speak to choices of adaptation, but personally I would have preferred if Lestat HAD clearly chosen to be there; to preserve a sense of continuity with how we left him in season one, as a vanquished villain. Say he agreed to star in the trial, caught up in vindictive rage... and then we'd see him changing his mind and regretting his involvement in real time as soon as he's actually face to face with Louis and Claudia. As opposed to the idea that he was... there reluctantly? maybe? but also plotting the whole time to save them?... He's an impulsive character, and I want to see him reckoning with the consequences of his actions as it plays out in the drama, rather than implied in off-screen moments. I really just wanted the show itself to own up to what he was doing there! Adding 'reveals' in the final episode of season 2 that he defended Claudia to Armand (this was particularly frustrating, given that he apologies to Louis but not to her at the actual trial) or that he was secretly working to save Louis, to me actually undercuts the betrayal and dilutes the horror of what was done to Louis and Claudia (and Madeleine...RIP caught in the crossfire). Anyways... it's going to be quite a task to land the tonal shift from season 2 to 3, and I hope the realignment to the Lestat perspective can be achieved without undoing or undermining the really excellent foundation of these complex characters and relationships that were laid out by the first two seasons. It would be disheartening to go into the new phase with the sense that now we're getting to the "real" show. I hope they know what they have!

[@shara-v6074]

i'd wondered if some part of armand may have subconsciously wanted louis to know the truth too, and you articulated the case for that theory so well! there's so many little moments where it seems like armand is onto daniel but doesn't do anything about it, it definitely feels like a bit of self sabotage. has to be exhausting lying for 70 years, it would make sense if a small part of him wanted it to end even as he was still scrambling to keep the pieces together. anyway, great analysis!

[@shashatainment]

this was such an enjoyable watch! thank u so much for this essay :) p.s. i think people also overlook claudia's diaries as an example of yet another another unreliable narrator, i think it's a great detail that honors anne rice's writing

[@angelaholmes8888]

You are right some fans are noticing this

[@EbipadeiAzebi]

i always thought of Claudia as a reliable narrator especially because she was writing it when it happened. i mean other than the fact that she was at odds with Lestat up to the point where she started hating him, i cant see why she would be so unreliable. also, how do we know that Lestat will be reliable for all we know he might spin the tale in his favour or misremember like Louis did

[@shashatainment]

@@EbipadeiAzebi claudia’s diary says she doesn’t ever dream, when in reality she does. never said lestat is a reliable narrator, so idk where you’re getting that from

[@EbipadeiAzebi]

@@shashatainment i never said u said that, i just meant that the anticipation of lestat's pov is very high (especially among people that haven't read the books, like me) to compare his side and louis side, but we don't knw how acurrate or truthful he will be

[@sarahbearbabygirl]

i’m a frequenter of iwtv twitter tumblr etc, and these are some of the best, most original, most well articulated thoughts i’ve heard on the show as well as the vampire chronicles. you’re such a great writer and cited a lot of sources that im definitely going to look into independently because they’re so intriguing. so thanks!

[@MarthadelPilarMoreno]

This is a very interesting essay, thank you so much for posting it and adding more ideas into my internal conversation.

[@shasommer]

11:45 this is the first time I’ve heard this. I swear I learn new things every day about the symbolism and interpretation about this show and it’s so exciting.

[@smolson8471]

This is the type of essay that makes you so glad you finished a show/book just cause you get to engage in super insightful perspectives and videos.

[@chickennoodlesoop6005]

The way this essay just lured me in, it's so goood 😫

[@devotchkakrevy]

I was so excited for the Carmen Maria Machado references. I am definitely checking out the other essay collections mentioned.

[@ViolentEuthymia]

This was an engaging watch, thanks for taking the time to create it. I won't say that I agree with every point, but I do love how other people can read media. Part of what makes written and visual medias so engaging is how we all will filter it through our own lens and life experiences. Sometimes we even create narratives that the creators didn't mean to overtly, but we can recognize the signs through experience in one way or another. I enjoyed every second of this and look forward to more of your creations.

[@EmeraldRoseDragon]

Louis didn't tell him to end it with Antoinette, Claudia did

[@rifa1673]

beautiful, wonderful, had me captivated the whole video

[@grache-]

people will call anything a video essay these days but THIS is a REAL video ESSAY 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 22:22 I agree the show wants you to think inviting Daniel to dinner suggests he's about to be killed but in universe I think it's far more likely to be a little death Related, I bust out laughing at the idea of Armand's endgame being killing daniel 🤭 teeing and heeing it's funny on multiple levels

[@coveruplies]

Wth is a little death vs death?

[@grache-]

@@coveruplies "la petite mort" is an old euphemism for orgasm. I'm saying they were going to fuck that old man

[@sisyphusmyths]

@@coveruplies "the little death" (la petite mort) is a French euphemism for orgasm.

[@Robinski000]

What a *FASCINATING* view of Armand that I hadn't taken into consideration, but feels so obvious now looking back at his motivations in latching onto those who hold an incredible amount of burning passion. Another interesting thought is that of Daniels turning- which I believe Armand had planned at least as far back as the 1970's. We hear him hint at this- and we also have to remember that Armand has never made another vampire in all his tumultuous and emotional vampiric life- so in the last episode when Louis suggests Daniel was turned out of reactionary spite, I think he is missing something. I see it as the way Armand wants to 'end' his relationship with Louis. After all, Louis is doing another interview, which Armand understands as another cry for Lestat, so why wouldn't he want to attach himself to someone who captivates Louis, perhaps is even more interesting in some ways. This Armand quote from episode 5 speaks to this motive: "If you want the insanity back- If you wanted escape from this prison of empathy I've locked you away in, all you had to do was ask, Louis." Your essay has given me so much to chew on, love it!

[@Zira-k7k]

this was SO GOOD oh my god i've been picking this show and its themes and dynamics apart for months and still you really brought up perspectives and points that really change everything. beautiful work.

[@Schalk-Coetzee]

This was lovely. Thanks for posting it. Such a beautifully messy series and so unbelievably complex. I loved the point where we have to admit that nothing recalled might be true - and so we must step back a stage, and instead try and read what we are told not as events, but as tells of a writer - and see if we can determine some kind of unintended truth of things. I am very cautious about the coming season because I feel that the meta-textuality of the interview gave it some strong thematic bones. I worry that the richness of Louis' telling may overshadow the tonal changes to come. But the writers and the directors and the actors have earned my trust so I will eagerly let them cook.

[@SpaztasticSheep]

This is just beautiful. Thank you for making it, I will definitely be checking out the essays you mention.

[@briarrose8154]

THIS DESERVES SO MANY MORE VIEWS

[@ridethedragon836]

Wow, your voice us so soothing, and your break down of Armand ❤

[@Lt.Bogar-Breee]

Hey! This was a great video thank youso much for making it.

[@jordanmorrison4117]

“But I can say with absolute certainty, that it was raining” UGH DAMN THATS A GOOD WAY TO WRAP IT ALL UP

[@laurieariel890]

I am so extremely picky when it comes to video essays for things I genuinely love analyzing, and this video was blew right past that barrier very quickly!! Fantastic work! 👏

[@imani6357]

this video just changed my life

[@Mudd111111]

I was transfixed from start to end. You have earned yourself a subscriber, my friend. Excited to see what you will make in the future!!

[@idontknowhowtospellambassaddor]

okay first of all !! beautiful essay. i love how you wove everything together and you hit all the points that make iwtv such a compelling story to me. SECOND OF ALL. THAT ENDING LINE? holy shit i am eating out of your hand

[@samanthacooke4240]

this video is incredible and so well put-together! i'm also researching iwtv in relation to george haggerty and laura westengard's books, so i'll definitely be adding the other books you mention to my tbr! the concept of queer villains and especially vampirism as queerness are so fascinating, and i love how you tied those into your other points on community and especially hierarchy within the queer community. i would recommend you check out the edinburgh companion to queer gothic fiction as well, if you haven't read it already; it just came out last year so it has lots of great points on fandom culture and modern queer representation in the gothic/horror genre :)

[@hannahbray7065]

This show is my actual Roman Empire, this essay showed up on my feed at the perfect time 🙂‍↕️🦇

[@freezenut]

just wanted to say the writing for this video is beautiful

[@a.j.9410]

absolutely my favorite iwtv video essay by far (not that I've seen many) - I really love the way you dissect the story!

[@Gremlinito]

Oh this is GOOD good. Brilliant analysis!

[@shan0997]

If Louis had told Lestat to end it with Antoinette he def would've done so. But it was Claudia who made the request.

[@rhaenatargaryen8061]

Love this so much actually because you highlight so many crucial things that feel missed by the majority of people regarding this show. Also unrelated but your voice is so soothing i could listen for hours

[@hayraceleste]

beautiful, beautiful essay! and the ending! it was indeed raining, cause that scene was not a recollection, it was in real time. real life lestat and louis in real time. gosh im SO excited for next season!!!!

[@darlingdannid]

This essay is masterful, truly masterful. Well done.

[@FurTheWorkers]

That last line was just beautiful

[@meri5173]

Thank you for this essay!

[@cryptidxcreature]

oooh that opening comparison was GOOD

[@abbyblack]

This video essay was so so so good.

[@5_nightfury]

That it was raining. So well rounded. 👏❤ @22:22 Yes! They so were. So glad it's not just me that reads that as pretty much fact despite the fact that it was barely made obvious. My theory, after watching all of season 2 even, is that Louis wants to uncover the truth and reach an of understanding of his past he hasn't allowed himself to think about for so long in order to better understand who he is, whereas Armand only agreed for Louis to do the interview on the condition that afterwards, they could finally kill 'their boy' (Daniel.) Because Armand has always been jealous of Daniel. They let him live as a testament to their relationship, therefore finally letting Armand kill him (because Louis wouldn't since he's an animalarian) would symbolize their relationship as being successful, which is all that Armand wants. Louis would agree with this plan because he's like, "ok, I do this interview, get a better understanding of my past but nothing of significance changes and we kill him for my dear Armand, and if something fundamental about his current life does change, then at least he has finally found out and can understand why he feels kind of untethered in his life with Armand and he then wouldn't let Armand kill him for this reason. @24:40 Ooo. @27:48 😂

[@spameranne]

this was so good, thank you!!

[@azulcosta3451]

Thanks for this! i love this show and have complicated feelings about how they portrail of violence and abuse, the dinamics and vampirism makes it harder to understand o read clearly the intencions of the creators, i love how you integrated queerness. Have a nice day!

[@moose1277]

god I wish I was eloquent enough to express how good this video essay is but instead I'm just going to say. I feel like I'm chewing glass (complimentary)

[@TheAmityElf]

I like to imagine the pineapple thing wasn't a lie. He could have still eaten pineapple to flavor his blood, even if it didn't taste good to *him*. Or, more likely, it could be something he *has* done before, but not a regular thing. (Good video essay, btw; that's just my side-comment.)

[@user-yl2so8db5t]

I remember there was (is?) a trend where women eat certain fruits to taste better down there and I assumed that this was alluding to that, similar to how blood drinking/turning has sort of been made into an allegory for intercourse in the vampire world

[@angelaholmes8888]

Great video essay totally agree with you about Daniel it's going to be interesting seeing him as a vampire in season 3 and his interview with lestat and learn about his before meeting Louis

[@TheLindsayr12]

Such an insightful video!

[@mariagomes7184]

AMAZING VIDEO! Hope you post a bit more about iwtv and/or gothic media!

[@erin3marie]

i love iwtw 2022 and i Love this take on it!! i love this prose and this use of other queer essays and movies, amazing job!! it WAS raining!!!!

[@rkwilson9]

this should have way more views

[@irem-r3q1d]

this was incredible

[@sethjacksonanimation8407]

Not into video essays but this was a gorgeous watch

[@sethjacksonanimation8407]

Oh and you have a disco elysium video, perfectttt!

[@bazpugmire635]

This was DELICIOUS and the first video of yours I’ve ever seen. I love this. I’m so excited and want to join Patreon.

[@linoysandler129]

That was amazing!!!

[@hrtz4ginaa]

The thumbnail and title took me out at first and I thought I wasn't going to think this through a lot but this essay has been stuck in my head for the past 2 hours

[@nomisunrider6472]

For what’s it’s worth I didn’t see the trial as abuse apologia but Lestat doing classic DARVO.

[@ooogaboooga-d3m]

honestly yeah I could see it as DARVO

[@angelicastern2385]

Bloody brilliant!

[@lovelove-55s]

great video!!

[@chargi717]

Great video essay

[@omgweirdozz]

Incredible video!

[@lamia6868]

Honestly it's the way the show producers twisted the original book to fit the modern times.. All rhe contrasts Of What Anne was conveying in the first book was adapted and expanded that really makes me salivate. So to put it simply from the books to modern tv time...Louis point of view was warped. Whether it was from something miniscule that he got similar to his brother, to his life before being turned. Louis was the toxic one. Lestat wasn't supposed to tell Anyone of what he knew from Marius. So Lestat was tight lipped. And Lestat is a very fly by the seat of his own whims guy. He is labeled as the brat prince So the patients Lestat showed waiting for Loius to come around and embrace who and what he is. I find remarkable. Most everyone wold have left or been way more toxic then what Lestat did. And the Producers hinting at the reason Lestat was having this Trial was so all Three would be judged and They would all die together is exactly what Anne wanted to convey. So it wasn't abuser forgiveness...It was coming together and holding themselves accountable for their actions. And the Last minute of those two together on screen Saying in character dialog that they have chosen to keep a secret from everyone, as to respect for Roles,or Anne,or Anne's daughter who past or whatever.....was beautiful and that scene and what it stood for and everything should be felt around the world.

[@wayvillusion]

IT. 👏 WAS.👏RAINING.👏

[@pinstripeowl]

Interesting essay!

[@backbenchintellectual]

I'm absolutely in love with this and this video. It's a great shame that so few people are talking about it.

[@nasir6r996]

I prefer asexual, agender vampires. Specifically, where sexuality is used exclusively for hunting and where sexuality and gender cease to mean anything as their humanity ebbs away.

[@haileydixon7239]

Amazing!

[@aleco444]

honestly after all of this, I could never get over to actually watching this show because of the racial aspect of it. This white gay man abusing a black gay man, no matter how well they execute it or if (I am looking too deep into it) the fact that they had that dynamic annoyed me. It technically make sense considering the time that they are in. But, I don't like the image of the gay black man, being on his knees for a white guy. The implications of it often reflect real life. There is a real issue of race in the gay community for so many reasons. Anyway, that's my two cents, love this analysis, and thought the script and everything was great, subbed😊❤

[@ooogaboooga-d3m]

ur not looking too deep!! especially not with how the fandom villainizes all the Black characters

[@juliopachecho]

Loved this essay, a wonderful complementary review after just finishing the second season.

[@dbandia]

If you're not Zoe Bee you've got her cadence down to a Tee.

[@m-tapes3359]

such an interesting reading!! also im so curious how you'd factor in potential of the whole devil's minion situation wrt armand's motivations and daniel's queerness.

[@eh1165]

This show has things that i like - queer represntation, fantasy elements, its set in the past and has dark undertones. But for some reason i never got into it. I tired watching season 2 as it aired but i was bored every episode. I do wonder why that is, i wanted to like it.

[@OGCUSH]

great video

[@teeklteekl]

itwtv amc+ video essay? hello lgbt community

[@aeternalslime9670]

im only 1/3 of the way into season 2, so i haven't seen the end of s2 that you're talking about. but i already saw in season 1 the way the writers really didnt see lestat's peoblem at all. i'm watching it with my sister, who hasn't read the books or seen the movie, so every once in a while i'll explain to her like "so the way this happened in the book is a little different, and here's why that matters to me." it's usually that they've softened lestat somewhat-- and that's a shame. he's a really fun and interesting antagonist, but they drank his koolaid too much. the fact that life is cheap to him, that he's petty, that he wanted louis just for his money, that he screams at his father like his father once screamed at him, this is all what makes him a genuinely daunting figure worth hating at least a little. they toned so much of that down it's a shame

[@csimon2713]

Sorry, but desperate for examples of these “strands of contemporary queer media”/ “niche internet art”/“books from small presses” where everyone is default (toxically and deliciously) queer! Did not recognize the clips and was hoping someone else had commented asking.

[@csimon2713]

… or is one of those Carmilla?

[@vashsunglasses]

The "niche internet art" is almost certainly fanfiction.

[@toms5996]

I for one found that Interview with the vampire(2022) is a tale of an abusive relationship. But not just one but of two parties. As I lived in one, I could see the awful nuances, the signs and the outright violence that can happen in a dysfunctional relationship, a relationship with no proper communication. But your comment "Lestat has stolen them from the lives they should have lived in idyllic nuclear families." Was this just added prose, did you have a stroke or did you spend your adult years in 1950's? I'm sorry but you have to explain yourself. Being conservative is fine but these words betray you.

[@rickytyler2415]

hey! re: the comment about “idyllic nuclear families” - this creator was not saying that they themself believe that the heterosexual nuclear family is the ideal family. they included that line to describe the potential inner conflict that these characters may have: the tension between who they are (vampires, queer) and who they are “supposed” to be based on the social values of their era (human, heterosexual). if this video essay had been written as a traditional essay, i think they probably would have surrounded the word “idyllic” with air quotes to help readers understand more easily!

[@daringrose7818]

Wtf is being queer have to have so many allegories for suicide and rebirth? Even though people suffer from suicidal thoughts out of fear of being rejected by their one when figuring out their sexuality in the queer community and I never associated with those ideologies together. Personally, I feel that a person learning about sexuality and gender identity more with coming age since people go through different stages of life and will constantly reflect as well as experience new things. Some of the current takes on gender and sexuality are really f-up. And I think people need to stop taking these notions to heart.

[@memoryisamonster]

Idk about suicide and rebirth...but vampirism is v much an allegory to queerness..being an outsider...a monster...born out of trauma...weird but flamboyant Even Anne Rice very much said that her vampires transcend gender and sexuality

[@violetjade64]

danlou real

[@violetjade64]

sorry i got tunnel vision for a second there. REALLY good video essay, the best ive seen for iwtv on youtube so far!

[@xjshaoihasagkhadfg]

Read the books (yes, I know you took quotes from it but... it feels like a google search for convenient, flashy quotes (and not only from those books), and I apologize if it is not the case., but it is how it comes off). And if you have read the books and do your research, please, let, it show (it would make your case more impactful and grounded), and if you do not think they are relevant, you're misplacing intention, context, and yet a lot problematic conflict by default, or worse by design. Either hold yourself accountable to the limits of your analysis (content-wise) or alternatively do not frame it as a comprehensive view. Because it honestly feels like you took some piece of media and shoehorn a lot of your beliefs and points, without even trying to understand it. Which again it may be lost in translation, but it is definitely not here. Your analysis is at best superficial and shallow and at worst misguided. If you are going to ignore context and analyze it as an individual piece (completely legitimate) make that argument, do not weaponize the source material, and establish and good framing. Just saying.

[@xjshaoihasagkhadfg]

That said I do agree with a lot of your points, they are just very poorly made

[@timofeit4530]

i was waiting for this exact essay even though i didn’t even follow you before it was suggested to me ❤️ thank you, it was amazing, it made me feel so many things 🥲