Werewolves of San Antonio
OVERVIEW
They’re being recognized as a new subculture in John Marshall, Brandeis, and at least four other, high schools of San Antonio, Texas. They claim not to be Goths or Emos—and not to be a gang of any sort. They are rather a family—maybe a second family—of close friends who can share with, and rely on, one another. They seem to be presenting themselves, and are seen as, Teen Werewolves.
You will see them hanging out together, wearing black or dark, some with long hair covering part of the face, with wolf-eye contacts, perhaps dental fangs, and some wolf tails. Chains or leashes are also prominent.
A longstanding “werewolf culture” has been portrayed in the arts, in movies (such as “Wolfen,” “Ginger Snaps,” “the Howling,” “the Wolf Man,” “An American Werewolf in London,” and yes, “The Twilight” series). These certainly created background mood and ambience for such a movement.
Teen werewolf, Sarah Rodriguez, 23, better known as Wolfie Blackheart, is at the center of a local dispute (not typical of this group who tend to “blend in” and avoid trouble). She admits to having severed the head of a missing dog, boiled it, and then posted a troubling photo of the head on MySpace. (Blackheart also has a closed FaceBook site for admitted friends only.)
I severed the head, boiled the head…. People make the mistake of hacking the spine, which will fracture the skull…. You also have to put (the head) outside for the brains to leak out.
Blackheart insists she didn’t kill the dog. She says a friend found the dog (a beloved pet, Rigsby) and brought the body to her. “I would never kill a canine. I am a canine.”
Police obtained a warrant to search Blackheart’s home and found dark posters and a blood-like substance smeared on the wall—her mother says it is ketchup. Coyote, ram, wild boar skulls and a dog’s head were found on a shelf. There was also a collection of swords and knives. A picture of Wolfie Blackheart shows a face smeared red around the mouth.
Such a story is not a fair portrayal of teen werewolves, but it is the one which has drawn the most attention.
Werewolf Meetup Groups [http://werewolf.meetup.com/], suggests there is interest in such meetings in cities around the world, but also suggests overlap between the more popular vampiric culture [http://teenvampires.meetup.com] and even with Goths. In fact, Meetup cites 8 cities with more interest in Werewolf meetups than San Antonio, with New York and London in the lead. Those cities, however, may be more eclectic; the group in San Antonio may represent a more purist version of teenage werewolf subculture.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
1. Had you heard of the teen werewolves? Do you think this is mostly a small, local phenomenon around San Antonio, or something more widespread?
2. How might werewolves differ from teen vampires? Are they similar or distinct with some overlapping characteristics? Do you think these groups will grow in the next few years, or fade away?
3. From viewing the video and listening to these students, what do you consider to be “the draw” into such a group? Who might be most likely to join? For what basic needs of all teenagers (and people) does such a group provide answers or sanctuary.
4. How would you react to a family member, friend, or class mate who moves into such a group and life-style?
IMPLICATIONS
1. Many are reflecting on the growing sense of isolation of our age. Our digital world may lessen our face-to-face contacts and need for real, hanging-out time.
2. Teenager are working out identities often threatened by what they feel from society, a majority of their peers, and their adult contacts. It often seems like expression of a unique identity must be made in a dramatic way.
3. Personal identity, however, must find social support. In a world of isolation, we need to belong; we need a sense that there are those, like us, who will be there for us through all we are facing.
4. Those of us outside such a group must not feel threatened or we will not be able to make contact and carry on a healthy relationship with those who may needing support not only from within, but from outside their present group.
Dean Borgman cCYS