Courses

While most people tend to think of myths as ancient, they have often been (re)interpreted over many generations to reflect different social and cultural contexts. This is especially true of myths that we attribute to cultures of Eastern Europe. Take the vampire, for example: a mythical figure that lurks throughout European peripheries from abandoned castles and decrepit cemeteries to former battlegrounds and today's war zones. At the same time, the vampire is one of Hollywood's most beloved villains - just think of Count Dracula and its various spinoffs. This course looks at representations of vampires, werewolves, witches, and other shapeshifters that have their origin in East European mythology but are now part of popular culture globally. Along the way, we will learn about the strange, spooky, and often humorous sides of East European history.