Wicked Cultured: Difference between revisions

 

{{examples}}

== Anime and Manga ==

* In between various [[Kick the Dog|dog-kicking acts]] (and occasionally [[Moral Event Horizon|burning them]]) and sending his [[Ax Crazy]] minions after the heroes, Dio Brando of ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure|Jojo's Bizarre Adventure]]'' enjoys literature, music, and classic art.

* Proist, the eventual [[Big Bad]] of the 2005 ''[[Gaiking]]'' series. She has a thing for Antonin Dvorak's New World Symphony—spoken of its 2nd movement: “While the culture of the Earth is barbaric, this song by that composer Dvorak is magnificent.” When things get serious, she acknowledges that this movement is no longer adequately suited to the moment, and starts up the more dramatic 4th movement. Her personal [[Eldritch Abomination]] is even named after the composer himself. Also, she arranges meetings with rebellious subordinates during teatime, and coolly responds to having a reckless (and unexpected) guest draw a sword on her by asking him how many sugars he wants in his tea.

* Invoked by Yahiro Saiga of ''[[Special A]]''. He's not actually [[Jerkass Facade|that]] [[Zero-Approval Gambit|bad]], but with his love of opera, fine clothing and dining he certainly looks like an example.

 

== Comic Books ==

* ''[[Sin City]]'': Manute speaks in a very polite and eloquent manner. He seems to have little regard for hookers and "the dregs of Sin City". When Dwight implies Manute's only serving the [[Big Bad]] because she slept with him (her usual MO), Manute finds the suggestion vulgar and insulting. Mere sex is no reason to follow anyone.

* Magneto in ''[[Ultimate X-Men]]''. Despite his disdain for humanity, he has his minions steal all of the greatest works of art that they can before he begins a scheme intended to wipe out the entire human race, reasoning that humanity's only worthwhile creations (to paraphrase his terminology) deserve better than to be destroyed with their makers.

 

== Film ==

* Moriarty in ''[[Sherlock Holmes (film)|Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows]]'' is portrayed as a fan of opera, listening to a phonograph of Schubert [[Soundtrack Dissonance|whilst torturing Holmes with a meat hook]]. Similarly, His [[The Dragon|Dragon]], Moran, regrets not having the chance to see [[Don Giovanni]] in Paris.

** Don't forget that he's also a well-known university professor with many friends in the British government. He also enjoys playing chess with a worthy adversary. Being in decent physical shape as well as a past boxing champion, while it doesn't make him cultured, does make him a well-rounded person.

 

== Literature ==

* Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil from ''[[Dangerous Liaisons|Les Liaisons Dangereuses]]''. She's obviously the most cultured, clever and deepest character of the book (Valmont also counts, but he's her villain sidekick). Her choice to pursue a career in evilness was heavily influenced by the philosophers she read. She would probably protect intellectuals and free speech if she wasn't too occupied ruining other persons' lives.

** Her modern, American, and underage counterpart in ''[[Cruel Intentions]]'' also fits this trope, but it's largely an act: she's a slut, and has a surprisingly filthy mouth.

* Headmaster Maximilian Nero of [[H.I.V.E. Series|H.I.V.E.]] fits this, believing that evil should always be intelligent in its design and stylish in its execution.

* ''[[Left Behind]]'' seemed to be aiming for this with Nicholae Carpathia.

* Yawgmoth from ''The Thran'' is a scientist and a physician, has a wide knowledge and learns very quickly. He's going to become the most dreaded [[Big Bad]] in [[Magic: The Gathering]] history.

* Parodied in ''[[Neverwhere]]'', in which [[Those Two Bad Guys|Mr. Croup]] collects priceless Chinese porcelain {{spoiler|to eat}}.

** Cersei Lannister is able to match wits with Ned Stark during a subtext-laden conversation about Ned's education as oppposed to his brother's, and understands enough about the military realities of the North to lecture her son Joffrey on the impossibility of occupying the North directly. She's also plotting to kill the King.

** Averted with Joffery, however. He's just [[Ax Crazy]] and clearly has no interest in culture.

 

== Professional Wrestling ==

* Done in a subtle way with [[John Morrison]] when he was a heel: ostensibly a Hollywood "cool dude" with [[Cool Shades|shades]] and [[Badass Long Hair|long hair]], but occasionally known to speak of his "palace of wisdom" (an image from the poetry of William Blake).

* [[Cody Rhodes]] has been using this as his gimmick since 2010. It's really more of a "metrosexual" gimmick (perfect teeth and fingernails, etc.), but he's also known for his rather snobbish New England accent (despite being from Texas!) and occasional [[Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness]].

 

== Video Games ==

* Leon Powalski from ''[[Star Fox]]'' is a mix of both this and [[Ax Crazy]].

* Conrad Marburg, [[The Dragon]] in ''[[Alpha Protocol]]''. One mission requires the protagonist to infiltrate his villa, which is decorated from floor to ceiling in neoclassic art and has classical music playing loudly in a number of the rooms.

 

== Tabletop Games ==

* In ''[[Vampire: The Requiem]]'', most Invictus vampires are presented this way, as are the Ordo Dracul and Clan Mekhet; of course, just how evil they are depends on the individual and one's point of view. In the [[Vampire: The Masquerade|previous edition]], Clans Ventrue and Toreador were even ''more'' cultured, and the classier Lasombra and Tzmisice really reveled in the ''Wicked'' Cultured part.

 

== Web Comics ==

* Mordecai Heller from ''Lackadaisy'' can be considered this.

* John Henry Hunter of ''[[Next Town Over]]'' is quite suave, wearing a [[Man in White|fancy white suit]], playing the violin, and generally serenading people with his smoothness. The [[Deliberately Monochrome]] flashbacks also indicate that he performed publicly before turning outlaw.

 

== Web Original ==

* Both Dr. Diabolik and his daughter Jadis, in the [[Whateley Universe]]. Jadis Diabolik is only a high school sophomore, and already feared throughout [[Super-Hero School|Whateley Academy]]. She quotes Shakespeare and Yeats, and knows who is the finest butcher in all of New York City. However, do not make her mad at you.

* In [[Tales of MU]], Embries and The Man both qualify. The former has a gloriously-decorated office and snazzy attire, a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|silver tongue]], and a tea set of which he is very fond. He is also an ancient dragon with a [[I Am a Humanitarian|taste for human flesh]]. The Man is a demon who [[Powered by a Forsaken Child|devours the hearts of virgins]] monthly to sustain himself and impregnated and abandoned the main character's mother twice. He wears a snazzy pinstriped suit and waxes philosophic (sometimes in High Draconic) when speaking with his daughter, however, and like Embries is a master of seduction.

 

== Western Animation ==

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Evil Tropes]]

[[Category:An Index of Ladies and Gentlemen]]

[[Category:Villains]]