The Art History of Women & Vampire Literature

Explore the role of women in vampire literature, and the history of the vampiress. Followed by Q&A.

Though the most famous vampire, Dracula, is a man, Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel depends on two women – Mina and Lucy – falling victim to, and ultimately destroying, the vampire of its title. Their storylines open a wider exploration of women in vampire narratives: the fears of unnatural femininity that female vampires have long embodied, from inverted maternal instincts to monstrous sexuality, and the suggestion that women can exist as something beyond victims of male monsters.

Drawing on vampire-like creatures from around the world, this talk traces how female vampires evolve and morph to reflect the fears and concerns of their time. From the sapphic Carmilla of Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 novella to Octavia Butler’s Fledgling (2005) and Ana Lily Amirpour’s A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), we’ll uncover shared bloodlines, themes and tropes.

**Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!**

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Speaker Bio:

Dr Kaja Franck is a Senior Lecturer in English Literature and Programme Lead for the MA: Literature & Culture at the University of Hertfordshire. Her research centres on monsters and monstrous animals, and she has shared her work at conferences across the world.