Death in Supernatural

Amanda Taylor is a lecturer at California State University, San Bernardino. In addition to Supernatural, her research interests include zombies, Firefly, Futurama, poet John Keats, science fiction, the cultural studies of science, and posthuman theory. Susan Nylander spent fifteen years working full time, and another twenty part time, in broadcast radio as an air talent and music director. She is now a full-time professor of English composition and literature at Barstow Community College in California.

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments

Foreword

Julian Richings (aka Death)

“Oh, Hello, Death!” An Introduction (Susan Nylander and Amanda Taylor)

American Traditions and Attitudes

Death, American Style: Americana and a Cultural History

of Death (Susan Nylander)

Got Salt? Human Remains and Haunting in Supernatural

(Rebecca Stone Gordon)

A Familiar Soundscape: Existentialism, Winchester

Exceptionalism and the Evolution of Death in Supernatural

(Sarah Elaine Neill)

Folklore and Mythology Blood, Death and “Demonic ­Germ Warfare”: Family and the Legend of Roanoke in Supernatural (Rebecca M. Lush)

Wheelin’ and Dealin’: Crossroads Mythology, ­Deal-Making

and Death in Supernatural (Racheal Harris)

Resurrection

Death, Resurrection and the Monstrous Evolution of the

Winchesters (Jessica George)

“When I come back, I’m gonna be pissed”: Signaling Narrative

and Character Shifts Through Death in Supernatural (Erin M. Giannini)

When Women Die “The (Dead) Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo”: Supernatural and the Disposable Other (Anastasia Salter)

“I prefer ladies with more experience”: Virgins, Whores and ­Post-Feminine Death in Supernatural (Freddie Harris Ramsby)

Grief and Grieving

Dean’s Groundhog Day: Negotiating the Inevitability of Death

via Supernatural (Michail-Chrysovalantis Markodimitrakis)

“In My Time of Dying”: Lessons on Grief in Supernatural (Amanda Taylor)

“That’s It? A Kansas Song?” A Conclusion (?) (Amanda Taylor and Susan Nylander)

Afterword (Lynn S. Zubernis)

Appendix 1: Cast of Characters

Appendix 2: Episode List

About the Contributors

Index