History Main / WickedCultured

* In ''Anime/CuteHighEarthDefenseClubLove'', the AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil embrace this trope. They like elegant surroundings - right there ''in the school'' - and fancy teas. Kinshirou goes in for lots of long words, while Akoya goes in for being [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon beauty and grace incarnate]]. Arima, the only one of the three confirmed as being from a [[ShelteredAristocrat noble family]], gets to play butler.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': One of the qualities that makes Euron Greyjoy stand out from his fellow Ironborn (where TestosteronePoisoning makes {{Book Smart}}s heavily frowned upon) and the majority of the other villains in the series. Euron has traveled the entire known world, visited places and seen and experienced things almost no other living (or dead) man has, giving him a wealth of personal knowledge on countless subjects and many different schools of magic. In addition, he is extremely well-read and mixes his natural charisma with a very elegant and highly sophisticated speaking style and vocabulary. He also happens to be likely the most monstrous character in the entire series, being a kinslaying pedophile responsible for the deaths of three of his brothers and the rape of at least two others, and preparing a massive blood magic sacrifice due to his apocalyptic ambitions to become a god.

** N'Jadaka/Killmonger in ''Film/BlackPanther2018'', despite a major part of his character being his general ''disrespect'' for Wakanda (or most anyone else), reveals a detailed knowledge of old African artifacts as what might be a side effect of his search for loose Vibranium. Of course, [[WickedPretentious he lacks as much cultural respect for those as he does anything else]], only concerned with how they might benefit him and stealing one that ''wasn't'' from Wakanda simply because "it looked cool."

* Moriarty in ''Film/SherlockHolmesAGameOfShadows'', in addition to being a mathematician, chess player, and former boxer, is portrayed as a fan of opera, listening to a phonograph of Schubert [[SoundtrackDissonance whilst torturing Holmes with a meat hook]][[note]]The song in question was ''Die Forelle'' (The Trout), which Moriarty used for an elaborate analogy of the rivalry between him and Holmes (i.e. he thinks of himself as the fisherman and Holmes the trout). Thus the meat hook.[[/note]]. His [[TheDragon Dragon]], Moran, also qualifies, as he expresses disappointment when one of Moriarty's schemes gets in the way of his plans to see a performance of ''Theatre/DonGiovanni''.

* Dracula from ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017''. He's the BigBad and is also well-educated in many fields that would classify him as a RenaissanceMan.

* Phantom Limb from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' is a definite example, once called out for having sold out his villainous principles for high culture accoutrements such as dealing in stolen art instead of 'the old stuff'. (In the same episode, he laments how many of his clients want to own the Mona Lisa for no other reason than it's a famous painting, and not because they appreciate it as art.)

* In between various [[KickTheDog dog-kicking acts]] (and occasionally [[MoralEventHorizon dog-burning acts too]]) and sending his AxCrazy minions after the heroes, Dio Brando of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' enjoys literature, music, and classic art.

** The Master tends to alternate between this and being a [[LargeHam crazed loon]] depending on the state of his health. The Roger Delgado incarnation was easily the most like this: dressing in nice suits, smoking cigars, [[WorthyOpponent regarding the Doctor as his intellectual equal and playing with him like a chess opponent]], reading ''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds'', [[LetsFightLikeGentlemen fencing with the Doctor rather than fighting in a less sophisticated way]], [[EvilIsSexy and even using his suave and charm to woo the affections of an ambitious woman in the Mycenaean era]]. Then he lost most of this in his Peter Pratt incarnation due to his decaying body and desperate situation, and he hasn't been quite the same since. However, the Anthony Ainley, John Simm, and Michelle Gomez incarnations have still shown signs of being sophisticated and cultured whenever they're not being totally over-the-top. Even Eric Roberts' Master showed signs of sophistication when he [[ChewingtheScenery DREZZZED FOR THE OCCASION]].

* Dracula from ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017''. He's the Big Bad and is also well-educated in many fields that would classify him as a RenaissanceMan.

* In the ''Literature/GentlemanBastard'' series, Capa Barsavi of Camorr was once a professor of literature and rhetoric. One of his former students, Jaffrim Rodanov, is a pirate captain who loves to discuss classical theatre when he can find someone who shares his interest. Requin, owner of the Sinspire, has a near-obsessive interest in Talathri Baroque art (to the point where he can tell genuine specimens from replicas at a glance). Maxilan Stragos delights in works of artifice and alchemy, and has a whole floor of his palace dedicated to them. Depending on where you draw the "wicked"-line, Locke, Jean and Sabetha can just as easily make the cut too.

->''"I'm the bon vivant of violence, a licensed psychiatrist\\

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': Lestat de Lioncourt is a ruthless vampire who's very passionate about fine clothing and the opera, he's also a musician and a composer, plus he's multilingual (he speaks French, English, and Italian).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'': Shere Khan hates humans (simply referred to as 'man') and tries to kill Mowgli, but rarely acts feral about it. In fact he acts pretty civil with Mowgli, and only really gets angry when [[BigDamnHeroes Baloo shows up]]. Being voiced by the aristocratic tones of Creattor/GeorgeSanders helps.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'': Scar is the brother of a king, so of course he'll act like one. [[spoiler: Though killing your brother and trying to kill your nephew makes you less of a royal]].

* ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' has a cultured Nazi officer who likes discussing philosophy and history. Also played with where the hero himself, Captain John Rumford, is concerned: among other things, he uses his cultured manners to [[LicensedSexist be condescending to women]] in sophisticated ways, quoting sexist philosophers and poets throughout the ages.

* Dr. Hannibal Lecter, as he appears in ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'', is as fitting an example as his [[Literature/RedDragon literary]] and [[Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs film]] counterparts, if not more so because the series is set before his discovery and incarceration by the FBI. He enjoys the finest wines and coffees, going so far as to create a custom beer reserve that's brewed in Cabernet Merlot barrels to impart a wine flavour (and incidentally brains), enjoys the local opera, at one point being moved to genuine tears by one he found particularly impactful, has gorgeous artworks on display in his home and office and wears very expensive and stylish suits. It all stems from Hannibal's AGodAmI and his innate need to demonstrate his superiority over others.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Sideshow Bob and his brother Cecil Terwilliger from "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E16BrotherFromAnotherSeries Brother from Another Series]]". Not surprising, as the [[IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine voice actors]][[note]]Creator/KelseyGrammer and David Hyde Pierce respectively[[/note]] portrayed the cultured (but not wicked) Crane brothers on ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.

'''Joe the Narrator:''' His real name is Royce Mumphy. Police in five states know him as Caveguy. Yes, Caveguy. Hostile, powerful. But also, highly intelligent.\\

* In ''Film/TheAbominableDrPhibes'', the VillainProtagonist is an award-winning concert organist, holds two degrees from prestigious European universities (including one in theology), and enjoys composing poetry and ballroom dancing to music supplied by the clockwork band he has built. He's utterly mad and spends the movie brutally murdering a whole bunch of innocent people.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'', Bowser has a hobby of playing the piano and is seen playing it during his VillainLoveSong "Peaches", and afterwards when he and Kamek are talking.

* Tarn of ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' is described thusly: [[BreadEggsMilkSquick "music lover, classical scholar, and mass murderer."]] One of his favorite methods of execution is reading poetry while altering his voice's frequency to make the victim's spark explode.