A new course at the University of Chicago, "The Werewolf in Literature and Film," is examining the portrayal of werewolves in media as a reflection of human anxieties. Taught by doctoral candidate David Delbar from the Department of Comparative Literature, the course delves into how these mythical creatures challenge the boundaries between humans and animals.
"‘Werewolves often end up being a metaphor for how humans relate to their own concept in the world,’" said Delbar. He explained that werewolves raise questions about what it means to be human and whether a clear distinction can be made between humans and animals.
The course focuses on literature and film from the late 20th century onward, exploring how different cultures have shaped werewolf narratives. These stories address themes such as sexual desire, gender norms, social exclusion, identity, and violence.
"There are astonishing differences and astonishing similarities throughout time of humans going about, doing their human thing," noted Delbar. This approach allows students to engage with literature across various eras.
Werewolf stories serve as a lens through which societal issues are explored. "‘What a lot of werewolf authors have done is said: Hey, we have this pack dynamic and these mythical creatures. Why don't we use that as a storytelling vehicle…?’" Delbar stated.
Students analyze works like Stephen Graham Jones' "Mongrels," which explores Native American identity through werewolf lore, and Aino Kallas' "Wolf’s Bride," reflecting Estonian national identity post-independence.
Films like "The Wolf Man" (1941) influenced modern perceptions of werewolves. The class examines movies such as "The Howling" (1981) and "Ginger Snaps" (2000), analyzing them through lenses like gender and sexuality.
"We talked about how those anxieties around masculinity ended up turning into this sexual predator werewolf movie," Delbar explained regarding "The Howling."
In addition to traditional coursework, students write bi-weekly experience reports engaging in activities related to werewolf themes to challenge conventional perspectives.
Delbar believes horror stories provide a safe space to confront fears. "‘We've been telling werewolf stories for thousands of years... it's this part of human history... that is usually not studied, but I think it is valid and it's a lot of fun,’" he concluded.