Prof Puts Stake in the Heart of Today's Vampires
by Michael Miller
THE POST
The speaker was articulate, charming and knew her subject well. As if channeling Professor Van Helsing, himself, she chronicled the history of vampires - not real ones, but those found in the pages of American literature.
OU visiting scholar Anne Koenen, a professor of American studies at the University of Leipzig in Germany, hosted a lecture Thursday on the undead, charismatic and sinister bloodsuckers of our nightmares and fantasies.
Koenen herself exhibits some suspiciously vampire-like features. Her German accent lends itself to a certain Transylvanian mystique. Her raven-black hair and striking gaze add to the effect.
The title of her speech - "Kiss Me With Those Red Lips" - might have deceived some in the audience into thinking they would get a Jerry Springer-type presentation on real vampires.
But, after all, a lecturer giving an afternoon talk about genuine vampires instantly would lose credibility.
"The literary vampire has always been an outsider who violates social norms like sexuality," Koenen says. "Vampires like to suck around, so to speak."
She does not believe in vampires, but says she would like to. They are the most ubiquitous of all the horror monsters, appearing in books, magazines, television and movies.
Recent vamp tales are toothless compared to the classics, she says.
"I saw Fox's Kindred: The Embraced last week and was shocked to see middle-class vampires driving a Mercedes and working out," she said. "Imagine having to work out for all of eternity!"
She dislikes the vampires of Anne Rice's world for being remorseful and longing to return to the world of the living.
"It's too conservative," she says, shaking her head. "Louis is continually lamenting, 'What am I?'"
Vampires are intriguing because they violate sexual, religious, and social norms. They are the quintessential outsiders, preying on those who conform to the rest of the herd.
Ironically, vampire literature provides a mirror of society, she says. They are subversive, allowing authors to discuss subjects that otherwise would be forbidden.
Koenen, who loves Bela Lugosi, recommends Angela Clark, Jewelle Gomez and John Poliodori - author of the first neck-biter story.
"Vampires are unusual and violate all these taboos," she says. Above all, they have power: the power to seduce, endure and thrive in the face of death.
"I'd like to be a vampire from Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers," Koenen said, smiling a toothy grin.
Polanski's vampires were equal opportunity bloodsuckers. His women vampires were every bit as malevolent and seductive as the males.
Koenen had to fly back to Germany over the weekend to resume teaching. Strangely, she didn't mention plane reservations. Coincidence?