Politics, Monsters and Change, Oh My ...

By guest bloggers Timothy L. Powell, M.A. and Elizabeth M. Zamarripa, M.A.

Timothy L. Powell is the Administrator for the Political Science Department of

St. Mary's University and is also a former Adjunct Professor for the
department. Powell's fields of interest include American/European politics,
organizational leadership and intelligence studies, and he can correctly use
the word 'boffin' in a sentence.

Elizabeth M. Zamarripa is currently serving as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at St. Mary's
University. Zamarripa's focus areas include Middle Eastern Politics, nuclear proliferation issues and media's
influence on politics, and she prefers cheese and crackers over macaroni and cheese.

Both Powell and Zamarripa received their master's from the International Relations Graduate Program at St.
Mary's University.

If you really think about it, democracy can be a scary thing. It is usually
considered to be the greatest form of government in the world; but in essence,
an individual is counting on millions of others who may hold vastly different
ideas to elect others into positions of leadership. This great responsibility
shouldered by the average individual to select others to make decisions which
impact not only themselves and those around them but potentially the entire
world in unknown ways ... can be a bit frightening.

Vampires and zombies are equally scary with their ability to generate fear.

In November 2008, an online article entitled "With Obama election comes the
return of the vampire" (SignOnSanDiego.com) examined a correlation between
certain monster movie genres and change of predominate political parties. The
argument was made that when a Republican president is in power there is a
significant increase of zombie movie production. Whereas when there is a
Democrat in office, there is an increase in vampire movies.

Why is this?

Is it that vampires represent something that most self respecting democrats

fear: namely (mostly) white, elite, wealthy (and according to recent vampire
movies, sparkly) individuals from powerful, old families attempting to prolong
their power and their very existence through the exploitation of weaker and
less powerful individuals in society?

Do zombies represent the unruly, uneducated, mob-like masses that most

Republicans seem to fear?

Is all of this a targeted, conscious reaction by the politically savvy world of

Hollywood to the state of governmental affairs and political leanings, or is it
all just a grand coincidence? While this is an interesting correlation, the article
forgot to ask one question...
What about werewolves?

Is it possible that these furry, terrifying creatures signify change ... literally? There seems to be an indication
where popular werewolf movies occurred during periods of presidential transition. For example:

Beast Must Die - AKA Black Werewolf (1974): Nixon to Ford

Scream of the Werewolf (1974): Nixon to Ford

Night of the Werewolf (1981): Carter to Reagan

The Howling (1981): Carter to Reagan

American Werewolf in London (1981): Carter to Reagan

My Mom's a Werewolf (1989): Reagan to Bush, Sr.

"Werewolf Flanders" - The Simpsons (1989): Reagan to Bush, Sr.

Full Eclipse (1993): Bush, Sr. to Clinton

American Werewolf in Paris (1997) & Rage of the Werewolf (1999): Not a transition period, per say, however,
this time period marks the publicity of the Lewinsky sex scandal.

The Wolfman (2010), The Howling: Reborn, Howl (TV Series - 2010), American Werewolf in London/Paris
(scheduled to be released in 2011) & Full Moon Fever (scheduled to be released in 2012): Obama (ran on the
platform of "Change").

Instead of representing a political party, perhaps the werewolf represents the presidency itself: the lone
individual making a mark upon society, attempting to resist outside influences, all the while thrust into a
position of isolation by others both within and from outside their own party due to fear, miscommunication and
misunderstanding.

Is it true that Obama represents the lone, changing wolf man? Recent squabbles within the Democratic Party
may indicate such reasoning.

However, it is interesting to note that werewolves traditionally do not prefer the change from average human
being to wolf man. The change itself is brought upon them usually by outside influences. Presidents are
considered "great leaders" by having the ability to separate themselves from the pack and by avoiding the silver
bullet of negative approval ratings, ensuring continued political survival. Only time will tell if President Obama
can avoid such horror.

Or will there be a glut of new werewolf and zombie movies in 2012?