Vampirism as a Phenomenon of “Cultural Science” A Warburguian Perspective

Abstract

The article explores, by means of Aby Warburg’s work as a starting point, the survival (Nachleben) of the phenomenon known as “vampirism” in European culture. In order to attain this goal, Warburg’s perspective is paired with that of Carlo Ginzburg regarding his theory of Logosformel. This perspective addresses legends about vampirism as the survival of ancient rituals involving both the sacrifice and the blood of human beings as it is shown in Graeco-Roman sources. This research also intends to show the continuity of the legends about vampires in Modern Times through the prism of literature. We emphasize that the Warburguian method explains a profound structure that shapes the páthos that constitutes the human condition. Finally, this article proves the impurity of historical time to be a key fruitful character of the Warburguian approach for research.

Keywords

• vampirismo
• warburg
• nachleben
• logosformel
• sacrificio