Mercer Times

English professor Harriet Hustis, known for her expertise in gothic literature, has ventured into the world of podcasting. Hustis, who has extensively studied and published works on classic horror figures such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Jekyll and Hyde, participated in the National Humanities Center’s Virtual Podcasting Institute in June to explore new media.

The result of this endeavor is a podcast episode focusing on vampires' enduring appeal. The episode features discussions with three other college professors about how vampire stories have evolved over time. It covers iconic characters from Count Dracula to modern figures like Edward Cullen.

Hustis explains that gothic literature traditionally deals with suspense and the macabre, featuring monsters and other sinister figures. "At its core," she says, "the genre of the gothic is about the confrontation between innocence and whatever a particular culture identifies as 'evil' or 'dangerous.'"

She notes that vampires intrigue audiences because they represent both fear and desire. "While horror is typically about what terrifies us," Hustis observes, "what makes vampires and the gothic interesting is that we’re simultaneously frightened and curious."

Vampires are often associated with aristocracy and wealth. According to Hustis, they operate within worlds of privilege: "Even a figure like Twilight’s Edward Cullen is basically an aristocrat of teen culture." She adds that patriarchal cultures tend to appropriate these differences because they appear powerful.

Discussing her experience with podcasting, Hustis admits it was daunting to put her ideas out publicly. However, she found support among fellow podcasters: "We quickly created a space where we were able to bounce ideas off each other." Despite technological challenges, she appreciated the collaborative process.