Studies in English: Vampires in Literature and Culture-online, 2nd 8-wk session

Vampires: we can’t live with them, but can we live without them…?  If popular culture is any indication, the answer seems to be a resounding “no”!  In this course, we will investigate what makes the vampire such a compelling figure.  From its folkloric origins to modern day interpretations, we will engage with a variety of texts—including John Polidori’s 1818 story “The Vampyre”, Richard Matheson’s novel I Am Legend, and even Ryan Coogler’s recent film Sinners—and consider how writers and storytellers have deployed this haunting figure to critique their own times.