BLOOD AND OIL: HOW VAMPIRIC LITERATURE BOLSTERS BIG OIL’S POWER

Author

Sarah Marie DeMond, University of Montana, Missoula

Year of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

English (Literature)

Other Degree Name/Area of Focus

Ecocriticism

Department or School/College

Department of English

Committee Chair

Katie Kane

Commitee Members

Louise Economides, Christopher J. Preston

Keywords

petromodernity, energy humanities, colonial studies, media studies, pop culture analysis

Publisher

University of Montana

Subject Categories

English Language and Literature | Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Film and Media Studies

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between blood and oil, that is, the multitude of ways in which the petromodernity industries harvests and threatens vitality. The introduction of this thesis is concerned tracking how petromodernity is a byproduct, offspring, or extension of colonialism. In this way, petromodernity can be thought about as “petro-colonialism.” Ursula K. LeGuin’s “Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction” informs the argument that the way thay petro-colonialism came to be and also maintains itself is by utilizing the “killer story.” This thesis also employs autorheoretical techniques informed by Lauren Fournier to show how petro-colonialism or “oiliness” sticks to its subjects. This thesis examines the metaphor of the vampire as just one example of a killer story which utimately upholds petromodern and colonial sensibilities like white supremacy, gender inequality, and the valorization of innovation and expansion.

Recommended Citation

DeMond, Sarah Marie, "BLOOD AND OIL: HOW VAMPIRIC LITERATURE BOLSTERS BIG OIL’S POWER" (2023). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12143.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12143