In this course, study the vampire: a complex symbol for forces that defy or challenge modernity.
Since the emergence of vampire stories in the late sixteenth century, the vampire has served as a complex symbol for forces that defy or challenge modernity. This course will examine the figure of the vampire as it appears in folklore, philosophy, fiction, poetry, film, and television. Throughout the course we will consider the works in their historical and cultural context, considering what changing ideas of the vampire can tell us about early modern and contemporary views of death, morality, national identify, sexuality, and gender.
