Class

Book Club — Blood, Lust & Transgression: Literary Vampires Then and Now

As a literary, mythical, and pop culture monster, the vampire endures. This book discussion class will dive into the immortal creature’s presence in gothic and horror literature using four texts, contextualizing the vampire within its original era and reading with contemporary interpretations in mind.

Beginning with the sapphic "Carmilla" and the ur-vampire novel "Dracula," we’ll discuss the shared themes in these two Victorian novels that also heavily influenced later conceptions of the vampire, and that are often reclaimed today by queer and feminist writers. Then, we’ll jump to Anne Rice’s influential mid-twentieth-century novel "Interview with the Vampire," where the monster has the chance to tell his own story. Finally, we'll end with a viewing and discussion of the 2025 film "Sinners," a work of historical horror that centers the Black gothic genre and sets the vampire mythology in the U.S. South.

We will discuss why the vampire persists, how societal fears and attitudes have shaped conceptions of this unique monster in horror fiction, and what the vampire can tell us about collective social fears and anxieties. In addition to robust discussion, each class will include a short writing exercise inspired by the books.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.