Tag Archives: Twilight

The Anatomy of the Vampire Myth

Recently, we opened up the digital doors of Signum University. Our Folkloric Transformations class this semester is treating the theme of Vampires and Big Bad Wolves. The transformation of vampire folklore and superstition into folktales, novels, films and television, and … Continue reading

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Signum University Folkloric Transformations Open Class on “The Anatomy of the Vampire Myth,” with Drs. Maggie Parke and Brenton Dickieson (Tues, Oct 13, 6pm Eastern)

Once again, we are opening up the digital doors of Signum University. Our Folkloric Transformations class this semester is treating the theme of Vampires and Big Bad Wolves. The transformation of vampire folklore and superstition into folktales, novels, films and … Continue reading

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Octavia Butler’s “Fledgling”: A Review

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler My rating: 4 of 5 stars This generation has seen the reinterpretation of vampire fiction in significant ways as these punk figures went pop. Not since Anne Rice’s 1976 Interview with the Vampire, however, have … Continue reading

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Brenton’s Top 5 Forbidden Love Films, from “C.S. Lewis and Mythologies of Sex and Love” (Signum University)

As I announced a month ago, I am once again teaching the great Signum University class, “C.S. Lewis and Mythologies of Sex and Love.” I love this course, which uses C.S. Lewis’ book and lecture series, The Four Loves, to structure … Continue reading

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Wormwood Reborn? A Screwtapian Look at The Gates by John Connolly (A Little Hallowe’en Demonic Lit)

One of the great perks as a university teacher is that I am constantly in conversation with students about good books. While this occasionally gets me into conversations about Twilight (which I did read, but only with great commitment to my … Continue reading

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I Need Help With “I,” Or Thoughts on Literary Segregation and the 1st Person Narrative

This post is part of an ongoing series Called Writing Wednesdays. I would love your comments below! It’s hard to know where some prejudices develop. My bias against bad drivers—something we Prince Edward Islanders specialize in—came to me slowly. I’m … Continue reading

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What are Readers Actually Reading? Fantasy in America

Bestseller lists can tell us a lot about the books people buy, but they might not tell us as much about what books people actually read. Genre fiction, from Fantasy to Mysteries to Romance, is typically off the radar of … Continue reading

Posted in Fictional Worlds, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Wormwood Reborn? A Screwtapian Look at The Gates by John Connolly (Hell Series Part 1)

One of the great perks as a university teacher is that I am constantly in conversation with students about good books. While this occasionally gets me into conversations about Twilight (which I read with great effort) and Hunger Games (which … Continue reading

Posted in Reflections, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments