Modernization of Satanic Media
When we compare early Christian media to later variations, there is a gradual shift in the approach to portraying Satan (and his demons). Instead of solely writing about God/Jesus/holy characters as the protagonist, more modern media is choosing to depict Satan’s point of view and even cast him as the hero. Additionally, the general appearance and description of him has positively changed; instead of a cruel, gruesome image like he was traditionally represented as, he is now more often shown as human-like, cunning, and even seductive.
“Paradise Lost,” an epic poem by John Milton, was one of the first works to present Satan as the protagonist. It uses a unique perspective of Satan’s journey from an angel of Heaven to the ruler of Hell, wherein he is the main character. He retains his demonic characteristics, such as hatred and brutality, but is written as a more understandable, even relatable character rather than a vicious demon that has no redeeming qualities.
As the spread of Christianity progressed, religious literature became less persuasive and more emancipated. There was no longer such a stigma around demonic concepts. For example, if the show “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” (wherein Satan is pictured as a sultry, often shirtless man) was released a century ago, it would likely be met with much more disdain and disapproval. The sacredness of religious concepts are becoming more free, and we can see the start of this liberation with Paradise Lost.
These are some recent portrayals of the fallen angel; they are all humanoid in both their looks and mind, and could be described as conventionally attractive. As someone who has watched all three of these shows, I can attest to their alluring rendering and easy connection to the audience. Many fellow watchers also found them appealing. There are currently over 7000 works about the Lucifer show on Archive of Our Own (a fanfiction site), many of which are romantic or provocative — and that’s just for one production. From the screenshot above, the Lucifer show recently posted a suggestive Instagram photo including a caption that implies relations with the devil. The progression from Satan as a grotesque creature to an attractive demon was very slow, but very interesting to study.
Neither of these traditional appearances of Satan would be considered conventionally attractive. He is alien-like, monstrous, and more beastly than human.
In conclusion, Paradise Lost is a very special poem, especially due to its distinctive representation of the Devil. No works of literature had written Satan the way that Milton did: a humane, coherent being.
