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In:Children’s Literature Across Media: Concepts and perspectives of transmedia narratives
Edited by Nina Christensen, Ute Dettmar and Sarah Mygind
[Children’s Literature, Culture, and Cognition 21] 2026
► pp. 48–66

Chapter 3
Carmilla

The narrative aesthetics of a web series

This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This chapter explores the narrative aesthetics of the Canadian web series Carmilla (2014–2016), a mystery — dramedy that is loosely based on the vampire novella Carmilla (1871–1872), and which unfolds via YouTube, Twitter (now X), and Tumblr. It analyses the function of these platforms in the storytelling architecture and shows how audiovisual, textual, and visual content contribute to creating the narrative voice, the perspective, and the characters. Looking at intermedial references, it demonstrates how they situate the web series within popular culture, evoke humour and contribute to characterising the protagonists. Drawing particularly on (transmedia) narratology and the theory of adaptation for its theoretical underpinning, the chapter also builds on research on the web series Carmilla and on the vampire figure.
Article outline
  • Across media platforms: Carmilla’s narrative architecture
  • Laura’s videos: Perspective and narrative strategies
  • Breaking the fourth wall and the fleshing out of characters
  • Situating Carmilla in the gothic tradition and contemporary popular culture
  • Carmilla and its source text
  • References to films and TV series
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (48)
References
Primary sources
Le Fanu, Sheridan. 2020. Carmilla. London: Pushkin Press (first published 1871–1872).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tumblr help
Tumblr Help. “ask” <[URL]> (17 June 2024).
Twitter Carmilla Karnstein
Karnstein, a. Carmilla has better things to do. Tumblr. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Karnstein, b. “Anonymous asked: Laura likes you. EMBRACE IT AND MAKE A MOVE.” Carmilla has better things to do. Tumblr, 13 Nov. 2014. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Tumblr Laura Hollis
Hollis, a. Laura Hollis. A Small-Town Chick That’s Officially Flown The Nest. Tumblr. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
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Hollis, c. “Anonymous asked: Is there anything off campus to do around Silas?” Laura Hollis. A Small-Town Chick That’s Officially Flown The Nest. Tumblr, 9 Nov. 2014. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Hollis, d. “Anonymous asked: any advice for someone in the questioning stages of discovering their sexuality?” Laura Hollis. A Small-Town Chick That’s Officially Flown The Nest. Tumblr, 11 Nov. 2014. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Hollis, e. “Anonymous asked: We know that Carmilla has tons of nicknames for you, but do you have any for her?” Laura Hollis. A Small-Town Chick That’s Officially Flown The Nest. Tumblr, 12 Nov. 2014. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Hollis, f. “Lois fucking Lane pumping iron while Clark makes himself pretty.” Laura Hollis. A Small-Town Chick That’s Officially Flown The Nest. Tumblr, 18 Sept. 2015. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Twitter Carmilla Karnstein
Carmilla Karnstein, a [@HeyCarmilla]. Photo of a cat wearing a bow tie. Twitter. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Carmilla Karnstein, b [@HeyCarmilla]. Art of black cat shooting rainbows out of its eyes. Twitter. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Carmilla Karnstein, c [@HeyCarmilla]. “Apparently I’m a Frosh Week Chaperone. Can’t say Silas doesn’t have a sense of humour.” Twitter, 19 July 2014, 5:00 a.m. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Carmilla Karnstein, d [@HeyCarmilla]. “Every time I do this the reading list is more pathetic. Philosophy should be bloodsport for great minds, not a pleasant distraction.” Twitter, 23 July 2014, 12:30 p.m. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Carmilla Karnstein, e [@HeyCarmilla]. “Did they do any research at all? The Albanians did a better job than this, and they believed vampires had no bones.” Twitter, 1 August 2014, 1:50 a.m. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Carmilla Karnstein, f [@HeyCarmilla]. “You have to appreciate her stubbornness, though.” Twitter, 23 September 2014, 3:05 a.m. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Twitter Danny Lawrence
Danny Lawrence [@smittendanny]. “@HeyCarmilla I’d like to think of it as determination.” Twitter, 23 September 2014, 3:19 a.m. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Twitter Laura Hollis
Laura Hollis, a [@Laura2theLetter]. Photo of Laura and Carmilla. Twitter. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Laura Hollis, b [@Laura2theLetter]. Close up of bookshelf. Twitter. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
Twitter Silas University
Silas University [@SilasUniversity]. “A Town Hall meeting has been called. Attendance is mandatory. Failure to report will be met with immediate disciplinary action.” Twitter, 20 August 2014, 9:21 p.m. <[URL]> (26 March 2024).
YouTube
KindaTV. “Carmilla — The Series | S1 E1 ‘Disorientation’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 19 August 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E2 ‘Missing’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 19 August 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla / S1 E3 ‘Roommate’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 19 August 2014. <[URL]> (5 April 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E5 ‘Patterns’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 19 August 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E6 ‘Why Bother?’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 19 August 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E7 ‘Town Hall’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 21 August 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E10 ‘The Real Betty’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 3 September 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E14 ‘Research Trip’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 16 September 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E16 ‘Best Laid Plans’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 23 September 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E17 ‘It’s A Trap’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 25 September 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E20 ‘Sock Puppets and European History’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 7 October 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E29 ‘PTSD & Brownies’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 6 November 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E31 ‘Of Hearts And Holy Hand Grenades’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 13 November 2014. <[URL]> (28 March 2024).
. “Carmilla | S1 E35 ‘Heroic Vampire Bull****’.” YouTube, uploaded by KindaTV, 27 November 2014. <[URL]> (1 April 2024).
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