College Vampire Course: Myth or Fact

Fantasy creatures with unusual powers and vices have heavily pervaded popular culture throughout the world. Wizards, zombies, werewolves and especially vampires are abundant in novels, movies, TV shows and games. It is no wonder why colleges would start offering courses about these popular mystical beings and it’s a good move because students are drawn to entertainment and trends.

Texas Christian University in Fort Worth will offer a film-TV-digital media course in the spring semester called Bloodsuckers, a new topics in film class that will study vampire films from the 1920s to the present.

According to the TCU Daily Skiff, assistant FTDM professor Tricia Jenkins, who is teaching the class, said students will analyze how vampire movies have changed over history. Read full article here.

“The history of the vampire film really predates this whole ‘Twilight’ craze by 90 years,” said Jenkins.

Students majoring or minoring in FTDM can take the course for media analysis credit.

Addison Moss, a fashion merchandising major and an FTDM minor, said she planned on taking the new vampire class.

“I think students will gain an understanding of why vampires have become such a popular symbol in today’s society,” Moss said. “The class seemed interesting because we are not studying vampires; we are studying how the role of vampires has evolved and how that relates to everyday culture.”

Although the class will not be studying vampires, they will watch movies and TV shows such as “Twilight,” “Dracula,” “True Blood” and “Underworld.” Jenkins said critical essays, class discussions and readings will also be major components.

Colleges that pay attention to what’s going on outside the classroom and what the modern trends are not only be creative, they’re being smart. This vampire class provides a way to get students in the classroom and have them look at popular culture with an academic mind.

In the article, Jenkins said she wanted students to look at vampire media with a “historical, cultural and industrial perspective.”

Studying vampires in particular is crucial because they are so prominent in today’s culture. Vampires are seen as cool and desirable in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Twilight.” Even “Sesame Street” makes the Count cute and lovable.

Aurora University had a vampire class in the summer called “Got Blood Vampires in Literature, Film and Pop Culture” taught by assistant professor of English Donovon Gwinner, according to The Aurora Beacon News. Read full article here.

Gwinner also wanted students to learn from various media why people are vampire-obsessed. He had them read and analyze works including Ann Rice’s “The Vampire Chronicles” and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”

“When I told my dean I was going to propose a May-term course on vampires, she was little taken aback,” Gwinner said. “…But when I explained to her that it would be a critical look at what vampires meant in different context, films and novels, I wrote up m proposal, she accepted it as any other academic proposal would have been.”

Gwinner’s explanation for the current vampire obsession was human behaviors. He said vampires “function well for us as consumers during times of uncertainty, anxiety and fear.” Reading novels and watching movies fulfills a fantasy that people cannot have in the real world. With the poor economy, terrorism and disease frequently on people’s minds, that desire for an unreal distraction is easy to see.

What will be interesting to see is how this widespread fanaticism will change over the years. The Harry Potter craze is remains evident even though the book series has ended. Zombies are a recent trend in video games, movies and literature. Aliens and space travel have been a constant topic throughout history made popular by “Star Trek,” “Star Wars” and “E.T.”

As these fads continue, having classes that educate students to look at today’s culture with a discerning eye will be valuable. They will be critical of each trend and question why they are popular. Even though werewolves and vampires do not actually exist, students will be better equipped to determine why those mystical creatures exist in our culture.