The TradVamp: Mikhail Sauromatos on traditionalist and modernist currents within the Vampyre subculture

As it stands, the terms of Traditionalist and Modernist, as well as Spiritualist and Materialist to a lesser extent, have been adopted by a multitude of individuals and are well on their way to becoming part of the ever-evolving jargon of the Vampyre subculture. I have been asked to offer my personal perspective on Traditional Vampyrism, being the originator of the term, and a self-declared Traditionalist Vampyre. The original TradVamp, if you will.

So what does being traditionalist-leaning (or modernist-leaning) mean in today’s Vampyre subculture, and more importantly: How may both positions coexist within the community? How do they both support the future of the subculture?

We originally defined the Traditionalist and Modernist positions as follows: “Traditional-leaning Vampyres generally have a tendency to seek closeness to the Vampire Mythos and the Vampire Archetype. They believe this closeness to be an asset for communities of vampire-identified people, fostering a connection to the actual or idealised origins of the subculture of vampire-identified people. They are often proud to name themselves Vampyres, and they fully embrace the heritage of Vampyre Culture. They will favour self-expression, self-empowerment, and self-discovery using the Vampire Mythos or the Vampire Archetype. They may oppose striving for more acceptance of vampire-identified people within larger society or recognition as a valid identity group, preferring the traditional role of Vampyres as outsiders.”

“Modern-leaning Vampyres generally have a tendency to seek distance from closer association with the Vampire Mythos or the Vampire Archetype. They believe this association does not serve communities of vampire-identified people. They are often more critical of referring to themselves as Vampyres and they generally oppose or only reluctantly accept certain elements of Vampyre Culture. They favour the demystification of the phenomenon of vampire-identified people. They may strive for more acceptance of vampire-identified people within larger society or recognition as a legitimate identity group.” In theory, the Traditionalist and Modernist positions are polar opposites.

Going by this, one might expect that individuals who strongly lean in either direction might be less inclined to share a community space with the other  side. One might expect friction and conflict.

Yet in practice, Vampyres prove to be fairly civil. Ideally, we have learned to accept differences in others, as we have learned to accept our own being different. And while we might disagree with one another, we generally want what’s best for the community. 

In practice, I believe it is prudent and healthy for a community to house differing voices, even dissenting ones. To cover each other’s blind spots. To temper and balance each other’s humours.

Now, how come I am known as a Traditionalist Vampyre?

In brief, because I believed that being a strong traditionalist voice to balance modernist sentiments was necessary at the time. In the 2010s, when I took on a more active role in my region’s Vampyre subculture, it was a time marked by great changes. (Much like now, I might add.) Many established forum-based communities were closing down in the course of social media platforms like Facebook or various messengers becoming more prevalent as a means of connection. Many community leaders retreated from being visible community figures, either due to age-related shifting priorities, or due to them growing distant and disillusioned with the community.

Enter yours truly, a young Vampyre and avid scholar of Vampyre history and traditions. When I entered the stage, traditional forms of association like Vampyre Houses or Covens were considered almost mythical. You only saw remnants of what appeared to be a more vibrant era of the community. (Again, not all too dissimilar compared to the contemporary state of the Vampyre subculture.) It’s not that I was opposed to any particular community at the time. I simply saw that there was a void in the evolving landscape of the community. I wanted more. I wanted to do my part to preserve the richness and mystique of Vampyre Culture. I wanted to rekindle interest in that which I felt to be worthy of preserving in the traditional forms of Vampyre self-organisation. So, together with some like-minded individuals, I founded a new House, built from the ground up, with the explicit goal of inspiring others to create their own traditional-style groups in time. Eventually, Black Rose Society grew out of this, becoming so much more than any of us could have anticipated at the time.

In my view, being a traditionalist is not about attempting to re-capture the past, a RETVRN to the glory days, when vampires were still vampires, etc. etc.

Being a traditionalist is about cultivating a knowledge of where we come from, learning from the past, and taking what we deem valuable about it into the future. For me, and for many others, it is precisely the mystique of the Vampyre subculture that we want to see preserved for the next generation of Vampyres. The aura of the hidden, the secret, the forbidden, as well as the values of family and loyalty that are central to that kind of covenant. In this spirit, it is a grave mistake to think of opposing alignments as two ideological camps at each other’s throats, one fighting the other to maintain or gain control over the vampire community. While the vampire community is hardly the most harmonious place, both Modernists’ and Traditionalists’ viewpoints have merit and can work together within a healthy community. Blind uncritical regurgitation of what has been established in the past is just as misguided as dismissing whole parts of the community’s creative work because some aspects seem problematic from today’s standpoint. There are certainly some things the community should think of changing. Just as there are some things that are worthy of being preserved. There are certainly some bad threads in the community’s fabric that ought to be exposed and denounced. Just as there are worthy threads that deserve closer study and celebration.

Community members of different generations and different alignments coming together and doing the real work of curating and creating the kind of community that they can be proud of, a community that they wish they would have experienced, a community that they want the coming generations to enjoy —  This is my personal hope for the great ongoing project that is the vampire community.