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The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Lelygax on September 15, 2012, 08:19:48 AM

Title: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lelygax on September 15, 2012, 08:19:48 AM
 Im thinking about mirrors lately (not related with mirror of fate, since anyone that read the paranormal topic knows why I think about that) and so anyone knows that? Maybe its because mirrors show our soul and in some cultures photos steal souls (I thinks its come from China or Japan, I could be wrong tough) so following this logic mirrors reflect our soul too?  :rollseyes:
 Doest take that seriously, Im only curious about that and maybe someone that knows that can share that here, we maybe can debate or something else, atleast to me it seems a good topic of conversation. If a mirror really reflects our soul or maybe our "other side", Im thinking it would be a good concept for some project.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: DragonSlayr81 on September 15, 2012, 10:11:09 AM
I think that's one of the reasons, most definitely. I heard another reason somewhere about Silver(being seemingly pure and holy metal) doesn't cast the reflection of demons/evil spirits, which carried over to vampire lore. Though, the first one about reflecting one's soul is pretty universal. You see it being used in horror movies a lot with ghosts. Person looks in the mirror and sees a ghostly figure standing behind them, only to turn around and see nobody there. It's the same logic.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on September 15, 2012, 10:56:03 AM
Mirrors are made of silver and glass. They reflect what is seen around them or what we see in them. But silver is a pure metal and it represents the father god. But that being the case then I cannot except that a mirror can not steal a soul as a soul is apart of god. And since silver represents god then the local deduction is that soul stealing due to a mirror is nothing but superstition; a thing of fear created out of our finite minds due to lack of knowledge. In terms of seeing ghosts in mirrors, I believe it. A ghost is a soul that is only half here and half on the otherside. Since a mirror is composed of silver then being able to see a ghost is all the more easier due to the nature of the metal in use. It's the same principle in spirit photography. Black and white photos used silver in their mixture and in some of these photographs we can see ghosts standing by their loved ones for one last family portrait. In terms of seeing your own soul I'd have to disagree to some extent. In a mirror I only see me. The physical me. I have seen my soul in astral travel once and I look nothing like I do here. My soul is that of a woman while here my physical body is that of a man. It's quite the contrast let me tel you!
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lashen on September 15, 2012, 01:48:07 PM
There's a few reasons for this, but I'm fairly-certain the notoriety came about in Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Jonathan Harker enters the Count's castle as a guest and finds it lacking in mirrors. Harker brought his own mirror to shave with, but accidentally cuts himself in the process when the Count interrupts him. The Count becomes enticed by the freshly-drawn blood and lunges himself at Harker's throat, but is repelled by the rosary around his neck. He then lectures Harker about how unwise it is to cut himself in "this country" and throws the mirror out the window, but not before Harker takes notice that the Count bears no reflection.

The reasons for this vary from hearsay to hearsay.
As a rule, Dracula is a monster, and monsters are as elusive as they are dangerous. Some stories even claim that Dracula cannot be seen by those he keeps his back to. Mirrors have always been a subject of superstition, though. (To this day, children still dare eachother into playing "Bloody Mary.") The same could be said of cameras—I imagine that a wide-variety of cultures felt superstitious upon introduction.

Perhaps the best evidence of this can be found in Japan during the 1800s, regarding Ueno Hikoma: revered photographer and son of Ueno Toshinojo (first to import a daguerreotype). Many Japanese attributed illness/death to the device, but Ueno eventually led a successful career and turned iconic following his death in the early 1900s. Some of his photographs can be found in the Freer Gallery of Art.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: darkwzrd4 on September 15, 2012, 05:01:44 PM
I attribute the vampires not casting a reflection in mirrors and not showing up on film to the fact that both mirrors and cameras use light.  Vampires being beings of darkness and harmed by light likely can't be seen because they are in essence hiding from the light.

Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lelygax on September 15, 2012, 05:17:34 PM
You guys explained very well this things, its make me more confident that this reasoning is in someway almost right, I didnt knew about this things about silver tough. I only knew somethings about photos and about mirrors, but not "why" or "how". This is becoming interesting.

 So it maybe is because the "soul" that they dont have, because of silver or because of the light (or both?).
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Darth Cariss on September 15, 2012, 08:06:06 PM
A bit unrelated to the question of "why", but I've always wondered how the ability works, exactly. It always seems to make their clothes invisible too, so is it some kind of anti-mirror bubble? Does it only apply to inanimate objects? What happens if a vampire holds a cat and stands infront of a mirror? I can't help but wonder the rules of this ability.

But regarding the original "why" question, I can't say I've ever given it much thought. Why can a vampire turn into a bat? Why do you need to drive a stake through the heart? It's a supernatural being and it has strange rules like almost all of them always do.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lelygax on September 15, 2012, 08:14:55 PM
About the transformation in a bat I think its because of some bats really drink blood and prefer the night, now about the clothes, maybe they simply didnt appear because these clothes are part of his ilusion too? Sometimes when they turn into a bat the clothes doesnt transform with them, but sometimes they do (someone please correct if Im wrong about that). But these are some really interesting question, even saying what I said I dont are satisfied with this as a answer... Also I didnt know why they transform in a wolf or mist, but I know that Carmilla transformation is different, she turns into a big cat.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on September 15, 2012, 08:39:37 PM
In ancient Mesopotamian traditions, mirrors would show a disguised demon's true face, and cause them to lose their powers if they actually looked at their own reflection. So it could also be an evolution of that belief.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Kale on September 15, 2012, 09:11:36 PM
I've only ever heard of the Soul explanation.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: MDI on September 16, 2012, 12:13:58 AM
Vampires do appear in mirrors, their true forms are simply invisible. In reality they simply appear to have a physical form due to the effects of marijuana and illegal immigrants.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on September 16, 2012, 01:31:39 AM
Vampires do appear in mirrors, their true forms are simply invisible. In reality they simply appear to have a physical form due to the effects of marijuana and illegal immigrants.

Voted down, but that is so hitting Twitter RIGHT NOW.

Seriously, wtf was that response?
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lelygax on September 16, 2012, 01:41:07 AM
Voted down, but that is so hitting Twitter RIGHT NOW.

Seriously, wtf was that response?
Lets see what he says about why he did this...
Thats due to the effects of marijuana and illegal immigrants.

I seriously didnt have the strenght to make a post after that until someone posted after this, we obviously doesnt are talking about that so we can after go to streets hunt vampires at midnight xD

But I LOL'd
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Dracula9 on September 16, 2012, 03:49:35 PM
I don't really buy into the soul argument just on the basis that that explanation is very heavily religious and implies that all vampires are evil; but evil is relative and coexists with good, so the notion of all evil being universally so is out the window for me. The only reasonable explanation for the mirror thing is that they exist on a plane that is different from our own and that mirrors cannot reflect that. I've never heard this explained beyond that note, so it's a bit undefended-but I believe it more than "vampires have no souls and are evil and stuff."
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: TheouAegis on September 16, 2012, 04:02:53 PM
I dunno, I kinda like the whole "Vampires have no souls" routine. I mean, then where did their souls go? Souls don't just disappear. Did their souls go to Heaven and that's why vampires are so bad, because their bodies are jealous of the souls? Did their souls go to Hell? If so, then there's no reason to badmouth a vampire, since its original owner is already suffering. So yeah, if you're going to say a vampire has no soul, you've got a lot of explaining to do.

Marijuana doesn't make you invisible. Makes you even more visible, since everyone around you except the other people smoking marijuana will notice how high you are.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Tuxedo Mark on September 16, 2012, 06:23:22 PM
I dunno, I kinda like the whole "Vampires have no souls" routine. I mean, then where did their souls go?

On the other hand, "Dracula" (which uses the no-reflection rule) also has Van Helsing and the others going to kill Lucy, so her soul could be at peace.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: darkwzrd4 on September 16, 2012, 08:31:18 PM
I dunno, I kinda like the whole "Vampires have no souls" routine. I mean, then where did their souls go? Souls don't just disappear. Did their souls go to Heaven and that's why vampires are so bad, because their bodies are jealous of the souls? Did their souls go to Hell? If so, then there's no reason to badmouth a vampire, since its original owner is already suffering. So yeah, if you're going to say a vampire has no soul, you've got a lot of explaining to do.

Marijuana doesn't make you invisible. Makes you even more visible, since everyone around you except the other people smoking marijuana will notice how high you are.
I think that they do have souls.  They're souls are simply corrupt and cursed.  I've heard in several versions of vampire lore that vampires are cursed beings and that is why someone is turned after they are bitten.  The bit not only gives nourishment to the vampire but also passes the curse on to the victim like a contagious disease.There are actually several times in the Castlevania series where it is referred to as a curse.

As for why they don't appear in mirrors and photos, I stand by my passive defense theory.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on September 16, 2012, 10:50:04 PM
I have to agree with darkwzrd4. A vampire is essentially a body with a soul, but the body is no longer human in nature. It is cursed; condemned. And the soul is trapped forever until someone comes along and slays him/her thus releasing the trapped soul. Are all Vampires evil? No, I don't think so. They may seem that way due to their blood lust, but by nature Vampires must have blood to survive just as we need food and water. And believe me, when someone gets really, really hungry, be it human or vampire, they get really nasty. As for the theory of vampires existing on a slightly different plain of existence so as to be invisible in a mirror? I've never heard of it until tonight and I am intrigued by it to say the least. Honestly this thought has never occurred to me and it could do very well in explaining a lot.


Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: TheouAegis on September 16, 2012, 11:49:20 PM
I don't like it. Prove that fourth-dimensional or fifth-dimensional hyperbeing passing through Earth would not have a reflection, then I'll buy it.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Tuxedo Mark on September 17, 2012, 07:31:55 AM
Besides, why would a vampire's clothing not cast a reflection either?
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on September 17, 2012, 09:30:00 AM
Quote
I don't like it. Prove that fourth-dimensional or fifth-dimensional hyperbeing passing through Earth would not have a reflection, then I'll buy it.

You may or may not believe me for what i am about to tell you, however I will NOT lie about my brother's unique spiritual gift. He has this ability to go invisible to the human eye. This has happened several times and my family was there. Essentially he 'disappears' from human visual perception so that no-one can see him. The best explanation I can give is that he steps out of our plain and enters another one. He's still here but only invisible to sight. And what's even more spooky is that you can still hear him talk. This is like having your own personal cloaking device without the need for the technology. If my brother (a human) can do this just imagine what a vampire can get away with.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: TheouAegis on September 17, 2012, 04:31:07 PM
And when I drink a fifth of tequila and take off all my clothes, I'm invisible too. The first time I did it, my friends told me so. So I tested it at a bar one night and sure enough, after many shots of tequila and taking off my clothes, nobody looked at me because I was invisible!

But the hangover made it not so fun anymore.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on September 17, 2012, 06:19:36 PM
Quote
And when I drink a fifth of tequila and take off all my clothes, I'm invisible too. The first time I did it, my friends told me so. So I tested it at a bar one night and sure enough, after many shots of tequila and taking off my clothes, nobody looked at me because I was invisible!

But the hangover made it not so fun anymore.

I won't have anyone here call me a lair and I'm sure Jorge won't tolerate it either. I'll let this pass as a skeptic's gag however when it comes to my family I don't BS around.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: uzo on September 17, 2012, 08:37:22 PM
X's family portrait;

(https://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsurvivalandprosperity.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F06%2FTin-Foil-Hats.jpg&hash=d05f555805ddfd539c86eca676838ee1)
http://survivalandprosperity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Tin-Foil-Hats.jpg (http://survivalandprosperity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Tin-Foil-Hats.jpg)
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: TheouAegis on September 17, 2012, 09:03:17 PM
That's a bit on the harsh side, I think.

I was considering something more along the lines of this at first:
(https://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmovieguy247.com%2FiMovies%2Fimages%2FMovies%2Fhorror%2Ftwilight-zone-review.jpg&hash=c9c30d4926bb5a1eff907edb4c3a4673)

Wanna see him pull a rabbit out of a hat? It's a really neat trick....

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on September 17, 2012, 11:12:49 PM
Quote
Wanna see him pull a rabbit out of a hat? It's a really neat trick....

That rabbit design reminds me of the one from Alice: Madness returns.

Quote
X's family portrait;

I thought you were in law enforcement uzo. Ya know, one of the good guys?
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: uzo on September 19, 2012, 11:51:17 AM
I am part of the good guys. We keep crazies away for the safety of others.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: crisis on September 20, 2012, 10:47:08 AM
In Reply To #20,

I'm confused. In my paranormal phenomena (http://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/index.php/topic,5310.0.html) thread, you stated that you've never witnessed or experienced anything remotely paranormal, yet in this thread you're saying your brother has the ability to turn invisible to the naked eye, so.. you're kinda contradicting yourself. Have you seen him do it, or are you relying on a relative's hearsay? Can you provide video of this extraordinary feat? If he has this ability and can do so at will, why not show the world?
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lelygax on September 20, 2012, 05:37:52 PM
Maybe cameras can record him since he said that its invisible to "human's eyes". But a explanation could be better since you noticed that.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on September 20, 2012, 07:28:03 PM
Quote
I'm confused. In my paranormal phenomena thread, you stated that you've never witnessed or experienced anything remotely paranormal, yet in this thread you're saying your brother has the ability to turn invisible to the naked eye, so.. you're kinda contradicting yourself.

I'll clarify this so I don't sound contradicting and I should've been clearer at the start. What I meant about not experiencing things paranormal would be things like seeing god, angels, divine intervention, a miracle; things that would help solidify my faith that I have found to be dwindling recently. I hear stories about people witnessing or experiencing the miraculous things and I can't help but feel like an abandoned child. What have I done to deserve solitude? I don't know and god won't tell me.

Quote
Have you seen him do it, or are you relying on a relative's hearsay?

I'll explain the two accounts so pay attention. account 1 happened back when me and my brother were in elementary school. During the summer we went out to the back woods to play guns (who hasn't?). Anyway i went first and hid behind some fallen trees. He found me and shot me. Then it was his turn. I couldn't find him. The foliage of black spruce wasn't even remotely thick and there were no bushes for cover either. I literally could not see him even though I was facing him directly, and I could hear him talking to me telling me to try an find him. I just got so frustrated that I left and I would not know what exactly happened until much later when I learned of this phenomenon.

The second time he did it was when we were all in Hawaii. One a dinner night cruise he was leaning on the guardrail of the ship in plain view of everyone including my family. However we couldn't see him. Nor could anyone else for that matter. He claimed he was there but we could not see him. In terms of my brother telling me and the rest of my family tall tails like this? No. That is of your own opinion and does not in anyway, shape or form, speak the truth. It's simply scepticism. my brother like me has a very strict policy about lying to others. I personally kinda live my life with a code of honor as does he although not as strict as say the Samurai.

Quote
Can you provide video of this extraordinary feat? If he has this ability and can do so at will, why not show the world?

This I cannot do and I know he would not do it either. In fact just by telling you guys this I violated him personally and not only does this make me feel bad for him, but it makes me angry. Angry at myself for being so stupid by taking all this lightly without thinking about how it would make him feel first. It's the same thing with Jesus when he preformed his miracles to the populous. He was annoyed by the people always asking to see him do such feats as waking on water, turning water into wine and healing the sick and diseased. Nobody wants to be made a circus freak for other people's amusement and I had no right to do this to him. And such foolish actions do bring about the unease and negative side in other people, as uzo just demonstrated by being a horses' ass by attacking me. Even though he says he's with law enforcement and thus should have acted accordingly to his oaths under the badge. Which he didn't do. So again, no. I can't do this and especially not without his expressed permission. But I can tell you the phenomenon is real and he isn't the only one either. I did listen to a radio broadcast some months ago that talked about this very thing and was surprised to find out that anyone can do it. Anyone. Yes, that includes all of us here at the dungeon. The only reason why we can't is because we don't know how. We lack the knowledge to do so. Yet there are people (like my brother) who seem to have a natural knack for using it. the Human body may be limited in a lot of varying ways, but the soul is not limited in anyway at all. People have the power to heal, vanish, move objects with their minds and teleport. Sounds like magic? This is probably where the fantasy stories of magic originated from.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Keldor on September 27, 2012, 04:50:22 PM
Vampires actually do have a reflection in mirrors. Vampires themselves created the story of casting no reflection in order to prove to suspecting humans that they are not a vampire. At least thats what they say in True Blood.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: crisis on September 27, 2012, 05:46:19 PM
lol i've never watched True Blood [or Vampire Diaries], but all my coworkers & colleagues watch it

I wonder how a live-action CV series would work? "The Belmont Legacy," coming this Fall to the CW Network D:
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: TheouAegis on September 28, 2012, 09:10:59 AM
Either out of lack of funding for decent special effects it's a witchhunt ploy.

"No! Don't kill me! I'm not a vampire, see? I have a reflection!"
"Vampires not casting reflections was a ruse created by vampires themselves to cover their true identity. Stake'im, boys!"
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: TheCruelAngel on September 28, 2012, 09:20:57 AM
I wouldn't say True Blood is lacking in funding and decent special effects...

True Blood - Vampire being staked (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz1cTjW8naI#)

And that's just season 1.  :o
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lelygax on September 28, 2012, 12:06:55 PM
Nice, they only did a error in the vomit scene, no one vomits like that woman.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Phoenix7786 on September 28, 2012, 12:26:31 PM
Nice, they only did a error in the vomit scene, no one vomits like that woman.

Oh I beg to differ :D

Lady Vomits Dead Lifting 424 lbs - Weightlifter Fail (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50uWtVBwYrE#)
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lelygax on September 28, 2012, 12:31:29 PM
Atleast she didnt inclined like if she have been punched like in the other video, its almost like if she had been shot in the head and instead of blood... well you know. This video is more "natural" (obviously, its the real thing).
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on September 28, 2012, 06:02:42 PM
Yuuck! Just reading the title of the vid there's no way I'm watching it  :P :P :P I guess her body limit was exceeded and could not take the strain. This is definitely something to be very careful of in any sport.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Lelygax on September 28, 2012, 06:44:57 PM
If you have already seen the True Blood video, you can see this another video easily.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: TheouAegis on September 28, 2012, 07:03:42 PM
Wasn't impressed by True Blood's FX in that clip.

The camera angles and the cut points clearly suggest a great deal of covering up unwanted visuals. Don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing their directors/editors. The cuts were very well placed, but I've seen better even from Takashi Miike.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Flame on September 28, 2012, 11:37:01 PM
Vampires actually do have a reflection in mirrors. Vampires themselves created the story of casting no reflection in order to prove to suspecting humans that they are not a vampire. At least thats what they say in True Blood.
Hah... Thats pretty clever.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Dominus on September 29, 2012, 07:26:27 AM
Alucard didnt have a reflection, iirc

In ancient Mesopotamian traditions, mirrors would show a disguised demon's true face, and cause them to lose their powers if they actually looked at their own reflection. So it could also be an evolution of that belief.

Cool, reminds me of DoS Aguni
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: SerenityinFire on November 16, 2012, 06:00:20 PM
I just thought that Vampires didn't show up in photos because they were camera shy. :P
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Phoenix7786 on November 17, 2012, 12:19:09 PM
Welcome to the 'Dungeon, Serenity!
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Mooning Freddy on November 17, 2012, 12:36:08 PM
Nice thread guys! Go on, go on.

Personally, I always thought there's something disturbing about photography and cinema, in the way it can catch a person and preserve his or her look and voice for many years, freezing time, never getting older, never changing, so people can see and hear a person even when he or she is dead. So unlike in our world where nothing is permanent. It's both beautiful and terrifying.

As for vampires not having a reflection, I thought it has to do with them being nosferatu, like a ghost, and ghosts (tend to) have no reflection.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: darkwzrd4 on November 17, 2012, 12:58:51 PM
I've always wondered why Alucard didn't have a reflection on DoS.  I mean he's half-human and thus has a soul.  So, even if vampires don't cast a reflection because of a lack of a soul, Alucard should still cast one.  The only reasons I can think of are either Konami screwed up or they forgot he was half-human.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on November 17, 2012, 03:33:49 PM
Quote
Personally, I always thought there's something disturbing about photography and cinema, in the way it can catch a person and preserve his or her look and voice for many years, freezing time, never getting older, never changing, so people can see and hear a person even when he or she is dead. So unlike in our world where nothing is permanent. It's both beautiful and terrifying.

This reminds me of the story called 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'.

Quote
I've always wondered why Alucard didn't have a reflection on DoS.  I mean he's half-human and thus has a soul.  So, even if vampires don't cast a reflection because of a lack of a soul, Alucard should still cast one.  The only reasons I can think of are either Konami screwed up or they forgot he was half-human.

I also explained early on in this thread about this exact argument. I personally think Konami didn't do their homework. Either that or they wanted to have Alucard's physical form not show up in any mirrors as part of the games graphical effects. just something neat to catch the eye. But personally since Alucard is half human I think he should have a reflection.

Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: crisis on November 17, 2012, 04:02:34 PM
Or maybe the programmers thought, "hey, maybe the players would think it's cool if Alucard didn't have a reflection." Just like all the other little things they add just for fun.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: thernz on November 17, 2012, 09:38:14 PM
You're also talking about mythological stuff that's usually pretty inconsistent and open to different and often contrasting interpretation.

Plus according to CVIII, Dracula sold Alucard's soul too, but I'm not sure if it was just the English version.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on November 18, 2012, 11:33:47 AM
Quote
Plus according to CVIII, Dracula sold Alucard's soul too, but I'm not sure if it was just the English version.

I have doubts about this. There's no way someone can arrange to sell your soul without your expressed permission. That and your soul is not yours to give as it is you. By selling your soul, you sell yourself off which simply cannot be done. While it makes for an entertaining story it has no basis in reality except through (again) storytelling. I think it was an English translation thing but I much prefer the Dhampyre argument. It just works better.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Flame on November 18, 2012, 02:51:01 PM
Alucard is half Human. Therefore he should have half a reflection.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on November 19, 2012, 12:52:24 AM
Quote
Alucard is half Human. Therefore he should have half a reflection.

This would be kinda cool actually! We'd see Alucard's 'transparent' reflection in a mirror. Just like a ghost.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: Flame on November 19, 2012, 08:20:59 PM
No no, I mean like, literally, half a reflection. Like, you see only half of him.
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: X on November 20, 2012, 10:47:59 AM
So when he turns his missing half-side towards the mirror we can see all his inner-workings? eww  :P
Title: Re: Why vampires didnt appear in photos and didnt have reflection in a mirror?
Post by: darkwzrd4 on November 20, 2012, 12:06:16 PM
No, if Alucard looks in a mirror, his reflection should be partially transparent.  On the other hand, if he walks in front of a mirror as Genya Arikado, his reflection should be of him in his true form.  If only his true hair color which is either blond or silver.  Hell, if there is ever another sorrow game, there should be a scene with Arikado and Soma talking in front of a mirror at which point Soma notices that Arikado's reflection looks different.  At which point, Arikado/Alucard transforms into his true form and explains everything in a nut-shell.

**FYI, when I say his true form, I'm talking about how he appears in SotN but in the cloths he is wearing at the moment.  Seeing that Arikado is always wearing a suit and tie, his reflection would be of SotN but in a suit instead of what he wore in SotN.**