Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to Bookworm

Bookworm

Victoria Nelson: Gothicka

Victoria Nelson writes about the rise of the supernatural into mainstream popular culture. Vampires and werewolves, no longer monsters, have become heroes.

    Download MP3
    • Share
    By Michael Silverblatt • Jul 12, 2012 • 28m Listen

    Gothicka: Vampire Heroes, Human Gods, and the New Supernatural (Harvard University Press)

    Victoria Nelson writes about the rise of the supernatural into mainstream popular culture. Vampires and werewolves, no longer monsters, have become heroes. We discuss the allure of the horror genre for a generation that feels technology has failed them. Are zombies infected with a post-technological autism that occurs when the grid crashes? Does the popularity of these creatures express a longing for spirituality?

    Banner image: Bil Zelman

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Michael Silverblatt

      host, 'Bookworm'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Alan Howard

      Bookworm Collaborator

      CultureBooksArts
    Back to Bookworm