A FULL moon on Friday night will provide the perfect backdrop for the official launch of a new book, Werewolves and Other Shapeshifters in Popular Culture.
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The book, which examines the changing faces of vampires and other monsters in popular culture, was written by Kimberley McMahon-Coleman and Roslyn Weaver.
Both authors have long associations with the regional campuses of University of Wollongong, including the Shoalhaven.
The book draws on popular books, films and television shows including Twilight, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries and Harry Potter to examine how shape-shifting characters are used as a metaphor for difference in terms of gender, sexuality, adolescence, disability, race, class and spirituality.
The genre’s popularity means many people will find the book interesting reading.
The way werewolves are now depicted in modern culture is one of the subjects.
“Today you have werewolves that write songs and poetry and go surfing,” Dr McMahon-Coleman said.
“Werewolves can be good and complex characters.”
Werewolves as fictional characters have been portrayed in books and movies for years and Dr McMahon-Coleman, using the Harry Potter series an as example, said there were still traditional evil werewolves.
“We have still have werewolves that bite children,” she said
So what is the secret to a werewolf’s fictional longevity?
Dr Weaver said people found they could relate to werewolves.
She said some people, like werewolves, viewed themselves as misfits and not part of society.
Dr Weaver said many people for similar reasons also found shapeshifters appealing.
Being able to adapt and having more than one identity, according to Dr Weaver, were reasons people could relate to shapeshifters.
The authors met as doctoral students at the University of Wollongong and shared an interest in werewolves, vampires and other things that go bump in the night.
They have presented papers at academic conferences in New Zealand, Canada, the US and Australia.
The aptly named Shoal-Bites Cafe at the West Nowra Campus was chosen for the 6pm book launch.
While the public is invited, for catering purposes, they are asked to call 4448 0888 to register.
Dr McMahon-Coleman said with the full moon a hairy guest was likely to attend the function.
The launch should be a howling success.
