February 16, 2010

Philm and Philosophy Club’s focus is vampires

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The vampire seems an unlikely cultural hero, but these days they seem to be everywhere.

The Philm and Philosophy Club at Southern Illinois University Carbondale take on the current fascination with the undead with this semester’s film series theme “Vampires in Popular Culture.”

The series kicks off Thursday, Feb. 18, with a showing of F. W. Murneau’s classic 1922 silent film, “Nosferatu,” at 7 p.m. in Neckers Hall, Room 440. Michelle Torre, visiting assistant professor in the cinema and photography department, introduces the film and facilitates discussion afterwards.

During the semester, the group will show four of the most influential vampire films of the past century with an eye to exploring how views and attitudes have changed toward vampires. The discussion will, by definition, have a philosophical bent.

The group also plans a SKYPE question and answer session with Anne Rice, author of “Interview with the Vampire” and “The Vampire Lestat,” among other works. That interview will happen next month.