Supernatural, Humanity, and the Soul ─ On the Highway to Hell and Back

Throughout its run the television show Supernatural has delved into social, philosophical, literary, and theological themes - as well as issues related to gender, family, capitalism and post-modernism - that not only contextualize and add depth to the show's ongoing plot, but also reflect our era's intellectual concerns. The contributors in this collection analyze the ways in which the series represents humanity, the human soul, and will. The show constantly plays with the line between human and monster, between justice and vigilantism, reflecting post-9/11 America's simultaneous acceptance of and unease with issues such as torture and pre-emptive violence. This book both contextualizes Supernatural within the current pop cultural fascination/renaissance of the fantastic and traces its roots in folklore and Biblical narrative, in particular the overarching apocalyptic narrative based in (but also challenging) Judeo-Christian scripture.

Susan A. George is Lecturer in the Merritt Writing Program at the University of California, Merced, USA.

Regina Hansen is Senior Lecturer in the College of General Studies at Boston University, USA.