On Wednesday, Oct. 27 from Noon to 1 p.m., Fred Meli, a cultural historian, anthropologist and URI adjunct professor will discuss “The Fascination with New England Vampires and Their Graves: A Geographical Socio/cultural Phenomena” in Room 202 at the Providence Campus on 80 Washington Street. The talk is free and open to the public.
During his lecture, Meli will explore the continuing fascination with vampirism in New England, and in Rhode Island specifically. He will explain the real stories behind the enchantment with vampires and their graves, discussing some of the associated people, places and mythic legends.
Meli says about his talk: ” It is my hope to at least present a plausible explanation to these phenomena and some interesting findings on this ever-present fascination with these graves.”
Meli studies the cultural reasons for the alleged vampirism in New England. His research has taken him to Romania (Transylvania) as well as to gravesites throughout New England.
The lecture is sponsored by The Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education Office of Student Services.