Scope of Work
The primary focus of this blog is to track my work in the world of vampirology -that is- the study of vampires and how they are used throughout history. I am a historian by trade, and thus I use the historic method for most of my work.
Although I look at everything from folklore to literature, my primary focus is on film and how vampires changed in cultural diffusion and interpretations on the screen. I feel it necessary to do so, as the world of vampire films, though surprisingly more detailed than I initially believed, has much more to offer in terms of analysis. As film is an ever-expanding part of academia, I hope that blogs like these have an affect on the field as a serious discipline of study.
Why Vampires?
I think that vampires are a quintessential part of how we as people investigate ourselves and our society. It has become a useful metaphor in stories as well as in real life to get at the roots of our pain or suffering, and can be a way to connect to others in ways that were not previously available.
As fluid as vampires are, I believe they have more dimension than a lot of people perceive them. Though I won’t tote them around as the most important mythical creature, I don’t think we should make the mistake of completely discounting them as important parts of our modern storytelling either.
Education
I received a Bachelors in History from the prestigious Jesuit Regis University. I attended for four years, and truly began my explorations into vampire film and vampirology here. And my final thesis paper was on vampire film, jettisoning me into the vampirology world.
Post-Education
Vampire studies did not end after I wrote my under-graduate paper, far from it. Instead, I then had the skills to finally add to the conversation rather than merely spectating. That perspective led me to joining the Vampire Studies Association, based in Australia. It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to proliferate and propagate vampirology, which means so much to me.