Dracula and Philosophy: Dying to Know (Popular Culture and Philosophy, 90)

In Dracula and Philosophy 24 nocturnal philosophers stake out and vivisect Dracula from many angles. John C. Altmann decides whether Dracula can really be blamed for his crimes, since it’s his nature as a vampire to behave a certain way. Robert Arp argues that Dracula’s addiction to live human blood dooms him to perpetual frustration and misery. John V. Karavitis sees Dracula as a Randian individual pitted against the Marxist collective. Greg Littmann maintains that if we disapprove of Dracula’s behavior, we ought to be vegetarians. James Edwin Mahon uses the example of Dracula to resolve nagging problems about the desirability of immortality. Adam Barkman and Michael Versteeg ponder what it would really feel like to be Dracula, and thereby shed some light on the nature of consciousness. Robert Vuckovich looks at the sexual morality of Dracula and other characters in the Dracula saga. Ariane de Waal explains that “Dragula” is scary because every time this being appears, it causes “gender trouble.” And Cari Callis demonstrates that the Count is really the Jungian Shadow archetype — with added Shapeshifter elements — in the journey of Mina Harker, heroine/victim of Stoker's novel, from silly girl to empowered woman. John C. Altmann Decides Whether Dracula Can Really Be Blamed For His Crimes, Since It's His Nature As A Vampire To Behave A Certain Way. Robert Arp Argues That Dracula's Addiction To Live Human Blood Dooms Him To Perpetual Frustration And Misery. John V. Karavitis Sees Dracula As A Randian Individual Pitted Against The Marxist Collective. Greg Littmann Maintains That If We Disapprove Of Dracula's Behavior, We Ought To Be Vegetarians. James Edwin Mahon Uses The Example Of Dracula To Resolve Nagging Problems About The Desirability Of Immortality. Adam Barkman And Michael Versteeg Ponder What It Would Really Feel Like To Be Dracula, And Thereby Shed Some Light On The Nature Of Consciousness. Robert Vuckovich Looks At The Sexual Morality Of Dracula And Other Characters In The Dracula Saga. Ariane De Waal Explains That Dragula Is Scary Because Every Time This Being Appears, It Causes Gender Trouble. And Cari Callis Demonstrates That The Count Is Really The Jungian Shadow Archetype--with Added Shapeshifter Elements--in The Journey Of Mina Harker, Heroine/victim Of Stoker's Novel, From Silly Girl To Empowered Woman. Death Becomes Him - Finally -- I. The Downside Of Undeath -- The Curse Of Living Forever / James Edwin Mahon -- Why Fighting Dracula Is Absurd / Nicole R. Pramik -- They Shall Become One Flesh / James Willis, Iii And Viktoria Strunk -- Dracula's Rules / Douglas Jordan -- Dracula's Dilemma / Robert Arp -- Ii. A Vampire's Values -- What's Wrong With Being A Vampire? / Greg Littmann -- Expert Testimony In The Trial Of Count Dracula / John Altmann -- Why Count Dracula Can Never Be Evil / Cole Bowman -- Baring Fangs, Bearing Responsibility / John Altmann -- The Denial Of Dracula / Nicolas Michaud -- Iii. What's It Like To Be Dracula? -- Being Count Dracula / Shawn Mckinney -- What Manner Of Man, Monster, Or Person? / Trip Mccrossin -- Who's The Ideal Dracula? / Ivan Wolfe -- There And Bat Again / Richard Greene -- More Things In Heaven And Earth / Michael Versteeg And Adam Barkman -- Iv. Why We're Afraid -- 'dracula' In The Age Of Mechanical Reproduction / John V. Karavitis -- Letting Dracula Out Of The Closet / Ariane De Waal -- The Empire's Vampiric Shadow / Tim Jones -- Vampirism And Its Discontents / Janelle Pötzsch -- Dracula: The Shadow Archetype / Cari Callis -- V. From The Dracula Files -- Memoirs Of The Prince Of The Undead / John V. Karavitis -- Correspondences Between The Count And The Stranger / Mary Green And Ronald S. Green -- Dracula's Quest For Enlightenment / Christopher Ketcham -- Hoover And Mccarthy Meet Dracula / Timothy Sexton. Edited By Nicolas Michaud And Janelle Pötzsch. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 279-282) And Index. Twenty-four nocturnal philosophers stake out and vivisect Dracula from many angles, unearthing evidence from numerous movies and shows—macabre, terrifying, tragic, and comic. Altmann decides whether Dracula can really be blamed for his crimes, since it's his nature as a vampire to behave a certain way. Arp argues that Dracula's addiction to live human blood dooms him to perpetual misery. Karavitis sees Dracula as a Randian individual pitted against the Marxist collective. Ketcham contrives a meeting between Dracula and the Jewish theologian Maimonides. Littmann maintains that if we disapprove of Dracula's behavior, we ought to be vegetarians. Mahon uses the example of Dracula to resolve nagging problems about the desirability of immortality. McCrossin and Wolfe, disinter some of the re-interpretations of this now-mythical character, and asks whether we can identify an essential Dracula. Pramik shows how the Dracula tale embodies Kierkegaard's three stages of life. Barkman and Versteeg ponder what it would really feel like to be Dracula. The Greens publish some previous unknown letters between Dracula and Camus's Meursault. Vuckovich looks at the sexual morality of characters in the Dracula saga. De Waal explains that'Dragula'is scary because every time this being appears, it causes'gender trouble.' Contents Death Becomes Him-Finally I The Downside of Undeath 1. The Curse of Living Forever 2. Why Fighting Dracula Is Absurd 3. They Shall Become One Flesh 4. Dracula's Rules 5. Dracula's Dilemma II A Vampire's Values 6. What's Wrong with Being a Vampire? 7. Expert Testimony in the Trial of Count Dracula 8. Why Count Dracula Can Never Be Evil 9. Baraing Fangs, Bearing Responsibility 10. The Denial of Dracula III What's It Like to Be Dracula? 11. Being Count Dracula 12. What Manner of Man, Monster, or Person? 13. Who's the Ideal Dracula? 14. There and Bat Again 15. More Things in Heaven and Earth IV Why We're Afraid 16. Dracula in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction 17. Letting Dracula Out of the Closet 18. The Empire's Vampiric Shadow 19. Vampirism and Its Discontents 20. Dracula: The Shadow Archetype V From the Dracula Files 21. Memoirs of the Prince of the Undead 22. Correspondences between the Count and the Stranger 23. Dracula's Quest for Enlightenment 24. Hoover and McCarthy Meet Dracula References The New Crew of Light Index