Images of the Modern Vampire: The Hip and the Atavistic

In this review of Images of the Modern Vampire: The Hip and the Atavistic, the reviewer finds a thoughtful, scholarly continuation of Barbara Brodman and James E. Doan's exploration of vampire imagery across cultures and media. Best suited to readers who want critical essays that trace the vampire from historic revenants to post-modern screen figures, the book's single biggest reason to buy is its comparative, multigeneric approach that links classical sources to contemporary films such as Blade and Shadow of a Doubt while maintaining academic rigor.

Key Features

• Comparative scope: Traces the vampire from early Norse draugr and medieval revenants to modern cinematic representations, helping readers see continuities and shifts.
• Multicultural reach: Continues the authors' prior work by including non-Western traditions and cross-cultural contrasts for broader historical context.
• Film and media focus: Examines post-modern vampire films, linking classics like Shadow of a Doubt to genre entries such as Blade to show evolving on-screen tropes.
• Academic essays: Offers scholarly essays rather than a single narrative, making it useful for classroom use and serious study.
• Continuity with earlier work: Builds on The Universal Vampire: Origins and Evolution of a Legend, providing readers with a clear sequel in theme and method.

Who It's For

Images of the Modern Vampire will appeal to students, scholars, and serious fans of horror who want a rigorous, comparative treatment of vampire traditions, especially where literature and film intersect. Readers who appreciated Brodman and Doan's earlier volume will find this a natural follow-up that expands on non-Western examples and contemporary cinematic analysis.

Those seeking a general-audience narrative history or a richly illustrated coffee-table book should look elsewhere; this collection prioritizes essays and academic discussion over popular anecdote and lavish visuals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide comparative lens connects historical revenant figures to modern vampire cinema, useful for cross-disciplinary study.
• Includes non-Western and regional perspectives that broaden the familiar Western-centric vampire narrative.
• Scholarly essay format makes it suitable for courses in literature, film studies, and cultural history.

Cons

• The essay collection format can feel dense for casual readers looking for a single, flowing narrative.

Specifications

Title	Images of the Modern Vampire: The Hip and the Atavistic
Authors / Editors	Barbara Brodman, James E. Doan
Subject focus	Vampire history, film, and cultural criticism
Scope	Western and non-Western vampire traditions; post-modern film analysis
Relation to earlier work	Continues themes from The Universal Vampire: Origins and Evolution of a Legend
Format	Scholarly essay collection

Our Verdict

Images of the Modern Vampire is a strong academic follow-up for readers who want a comparative, culturally aware study of vampire figures and their representation in film and literature. It is good value for students and scholars seeking critical essays that link historic revenants to contemporary screen portrayals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book continue themes from the authors' previous work?
Yes. It builds on The Universal Vampire by extending the comparative, multicultural, and multigeneric analysis into post-modern film and contemporary representations.

Is this a general-audience introduction to vampires?
No. The volume is a collection of scholarly essays intended for readers with an interest in literary and film criticism rather than a casual overview.

Which media are discussed in the essays?
The essays examine literature, film, and television, with explicit attention to films ranging from Shadow of a Doubt to Blade alongside broader cultural traditions.