Dracula: Antisemitism and British Gothic Literature

Join us for a fascinating one-hour online conversation between Aaron Henne, Artistic Director of theatre dybbuk, and scholar and author Dr. Carol Margaret Davison. They will explore some of the history and insights which are brought to life in Davison’s book, Anti-Semitism and British Gothic Literature. In that work, Davison interprets the changing significance of the trans-national Wandering Jew in classic Gothic fiction, and the character’s migration into Victorian realism.  She reveals how the spectres of Jewish difference and Jewish assimilation haunt British literature. The discussion will especially focus on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, exploring the ways in which the societal concerns present at the time of its publication intersect with the prejudices and beliefs that are embedded in the text. This event precedes the world premiere of theatre dybbuk’s Dracula (Annotated), which uses a unique blend of scholarly investigation and heightened theatricality to weave together the plot and characters of Dracula with references to Victorian England and Jewish history. Brought to you by the Orange County Community Scholars Program and sponsored by TBS Adult Learning. Questions? Contact Adult Learning.  Register: t-b-s.me/dracula

Dr. Carol Margaret Davison is an internationally recognized scholar specializing in Gothic and Victorian literature, women’s writing, and cultural teratology. A former Canada-U.S. Fulbright scholar and Series Editor for Anthem Studies in Gothic Literature, she has published award-winning books including The Gothic & Death and Anti-Semitism and British Gothic Literature, and serves as Director of The Sickly Taper, the world’s largest Gothic bibliography site. Dr. Davison has edited multiple influential collections and special journal issues, and her work continues to shape the field of Gothic literary studies.

Aaron Henne is the founding artistic director of theatre dybbuk, an organization that uses Jewish history to explore complex contemporary issues through the arts. He is also a nationally recognized educator and facilitator, having led storytelling and character workshops at institutions like Lucasfilm, Pixar, and DreamWorks, and taught for programs at Hebrew Union College, Georgetown, and Wexner. A recipient of multiple playwriting awards, Aaron is a Wexner Field Fellow and member of the ROI community, known for his dynamic contributions to Jewish education and creative engagement.