Spotlight Elena Sperner: Real Vampyrism, Identity, Diversity Awareness, and the Role of Religion

Interview Highlights: 
As Elena discusses, 'real vampyres' are those who feel a physical need to consume energy, whether it be blood or 'psychic' energy. As her research takes an inclusive, sexuological perspective, Elena suggests that this might be a sexual orientation for some. Her research into fetish identity explores the possible connections between this identity and vampyrism, as her data indicates that fetish identity is not a mental pathology, not a choice, and is not necessarily paired with sexual activity. She further notes that some religious and/or spiritual practices can sometimes assist in forming a framework for a person's identity - providing in some cases a safe place to explore this identity. While this is a very complex topic with no easy answers, Elena stresses that 'sexual diversity awareness' can help educate others, create realistic representations regarding the diversity of identity, and help to foster a sense of inclusiveness.

RESOURCES 

Elena Sperner on Academia.edu: Elena Sperner | Linköping University - Academia.edu
MA Thesis: (PDF) Fetish Identity: A Collaborative Auto-phenomenographic Approach to Reframe Sexual Fetishism | Elena Sperner - Academia.edu

Instagram: Elena (@shatteringglassceiling) • Instagram-foto's en -video's

Dr. John Edgar Browning on Academia.edu: John Edgar Browning | Savannah College of Art and Design - Academia.edu
Selected articles: "The real vampires of New Orleans and Buffalo: a research note towards comparative ethnography" | John Edgar Browning - Academia.edu
(PDF) "Looking Inside the Coffin: An Overview of Contemporary Human Vampirism and Its Relevance for Forensics Professionals" | John Edgar Browning and DJ Williams - Academia.edu
"What they do in the shadows: my encounters with the real vampires of New Orleans" | John Edgar Browning - Academia.edu

Merticus X is an active researcher and participant in the real vampire community since 1997. Academia. edu page: Merticus X - Academia.edu
Selected articles: (PDF) Demystifying Real Vampirism For The Rest Of Us | Merticus X - Academia.edu
(PDF) Definition Of Real Vampirism | Merticus X - Academia.edu

Dr. Joseph Laycock: Vampires Today: The Truth about Modern Vampirism (English Edition) eBook : Laycock, Joseph P.: Amazon.nl: Kindle Store
Real Vampires as an Identity Group: Analyzing Causes and Effects of an Introspective Survey by the Vampire Community on JSTOR

Theme music: Stephanie Shea