The presence of monsters echoes throughout history; historians and anthropologists alike have diagnosed the mythical beasts as a vector of our most bridling fears. They are manufactured in our subconscious and assembled solely for the purpose of defeat, and yet, no matter their atrocity, monsters are secretly championed all the way to their demise. These villains are among us with increasing abundance, so if in fact enlisted for our own catharsis, the indication of their prevalence paints a less than reassuring picture of the current cultural times.

At mention of the social climate that invites an insurgence of supernatural media stars, Joe Manganiello sits discernibly taller in his seat. As a resident werewolf on the popular vampire series, True Blood, his credentials for our discussion to follow are promising, and within just moments of conversing, every bit deserving of the hype. Immediately, he confides how pleasant it is to discuss something other than his ab routine. “It’s really nice when you get to sit down and talk about what goes into the show and books about culture,” he says, “or why [True Blood] is popular and how it fits into the grand scheme of things.”

Read the rest of this entry »