MEDIA RELEASES

Dominican University will present a program titled “Fangs A Lot: The Vampire in Myth, Movies, and Popular Culture” on Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Martin Recital Hall, 7900 W. Division Street. The panel, featuring Dominican faculty, will examine the current mania in literature, film and television for vampires and other supernatural beings. 

The panel will cover such pop culture phenomena as Anne Rice’s vampire novels of the 1970s and ‘80s, the current Twilight series in books and movies, the True Blood and Vampire Diaries television shows, and the upcoming Tim Burton feature film treatment of the 1960s television show Dark Shadows.

Janice Del Negro, assistant professor in Dominican’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science and an award-winning children’s author, will explore the history of paranormal romance in young adult literature and the conflicting roles of the feminine protagonists in popular series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight. Carlissa Hughes, associate clinical professor of psychology, will examine the psychological roots of this genre’s popularity, especially amongst adolescent girls. Father Richard Woods, professor of theology and the author of several books on fantasy and science fiction, will discuss the theological significance of vampirism and share his expertise in films focusing on the paranormal.

The panelists will entertain questions following the discussion. In addition, a bibliography of books and films focusing on the paranormal will be made available.

For more information on this free program, contact Jessica Mackinnon, director of public information, at (708) 524-6289 or jmack@dom.edu.

Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, the Brennan School of Business, the School of Education, the Graduate School of Social Work, and the School of Leadership and Continuing Studies. The university also offers a doctoral degree in library and information science. In the 2010 issue of America’s Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report ranked Dominican University in the top 20 of Midwest master’s level universities and one of 15 Midwest “Great Schools at a Great Price.”