The History & Mythology of Werewolves

Dr Laura Kounine traces the symbiotic history of wolf and man — from ancient folklore to modern heartthrobs. Why does the howling wolf haunt our dreams and imagination? These creatures have been with humans since the beginning of time — spiritual allies one moment, mortal enemies the next. In this talk we step into the shadows to see how the myth of the werewolf has shifted across time and place, from Asia to Europe to the Americas. Beyond myth, we'll explore the horrifying reality of the 16th- and 17th-century werewolf trials, where men and women confessed to impossible transformations and paid the ultimate price — and how a bloodthirsty monster became the volatile, vulnerable teenage heartthrob of modern TV, film and erotica. Discover what the werewolf reveals about our relationship with the natural world, the complexities of masculinity, and the thin, blurring line between man and beast.