Vampire lifestyle

The vampire lifestyle, also known as the vampire subculture or vampire community (sometimes spelled "vampyre"), is an alternative lifestyle and subculture inspired by the mythology and popular culture surrounding vampires. Participants often identify with or as vampires, drawing inspiration from various media, including gothic literature, films, and role-playing games. The subculture encompasses a range of practices, from incorporating vampire aesthetics into daily life to engaging in rituals involving blood consumption or energy work. The vampire subculture largely stemmed from the goth subculture, but also incorporates some elements of the sadomasochism and relevant aesthetic known as Vampirecore, which romanticizes vampires in total. Many forums and websites for the communication and relevant discussions for the members of the subculture exist, along with other media such as glossy magazines devoted to the topic. Participants within the subculture range from those who dress and act as vampires but understand themselves to be human, to those who assert a need to consume either blood or human 'energy' and 'emotions', or both. Though the vampire subculture has considerable overlap with gothic subculture, the vampire community also has overlap with both therian and otherkin communities, and are considered by some to be a part of the latter, despite the difference in cultural and historical development.