Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Satanism in the TV series "Supernatural

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohammad Hosein Deliri Rad 1
Abolfazl Ebrahimi Ozineh 2
Kobra Nodehi 3
1 Department of Theology and Islamic Studies, Go.C., Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran. Email: h.deliri@iau.ac.ir
2 Department of Theology and Islamic Studies, AZ.C., Islamic Azad university, Azadshahr, Iran. (Corresponding author) Email: Ab.Ebrahimi39@iau.ac.ir
3 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Go.C., Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran. Email: Kobra.Nodehi@iau.ac.ir
10.22083/jccs.2025.522015.4037
Abstract
Introduction: This study explores how the long-running American television series Supernatural (2005-2020) incorporates and represents the themes and symbols of Satanism. Through its narrative structure, character development, and symbolic imagery, the series reconfigures traditional religious concepts such as good, evil, God, and Satan. Western media, particularly television series, have increasingly engaged in the secularization or even subversion of sacred narratives, often reshaping them into dramatized and accessible forms. The present research investigates the ways in which Supernatural contributes to this cultural discourse by portraying demonic figures, satanic rituals, and mythological elements in ways that subtly or explicitly promote a satanic worldview.
Methods: The research is qualitative in nature and adopts the method of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), focusing on selected episodes in which the presence of satanic symbols, themes, and characters is most evident. Sampling was purposive, targeting scenes that include direct or indirect references to satanic elements. The analysis was conducted at three levels:
• Textual level: visual and linguistic symbols (e.g., obelisks, pentagrams, heavy metal music),
• Semantic level: recurring motifs such as the death of God, glorification of demons, and the inversion of moral binaries,
• Discursive level: broader cultural and ideological narratives, including the normalization of Satanism and the critique of traditional religious authority.
Analytical tools included semiotic analysis, narrative structure review, and intertextual comparison with religious and mythological sources.
Results: Findings indicate that Supernatural systematically employs satanic symbols and mythological references to construct a narrative in which traditional binaries-such as good/evil and God/Satan-are blurred or reversed. Demonic figures are frequently humanized or portrayed sympathetically, while divine figures are often absent, passive, or discredited. Specific symbols like the obelisk (derived from Egyptian and Mesopotamian mythology), the pentagram (used in both protective and inverted satanic contexts), and heavy metal music (associated with rebellion, nihilism, and anti-religious sentiment) are recurrent throughout the series and serve as ideological cues. Additionally, many of the demons depicted in the series are rooted in historical, biblical, or folkloric traditions (e.g., Lilith, Azazel, Leviathan), but are reinterpreted to serve new narrative functions.
Discussion: The analysis reveals that Supernatural functions not merely as entertainment but as a cultural product embedded in contemporary Western discourse that challenges traditional religious worldviews. By integrating satanic elements into a popular format, the series facilitates a gradual redefinition of spiritual and moral values, aligning with broader patterns of secularization and postmodern ambiguity. The series exemplifies how media can become a vehicle for ideological transformation, subtly reshaping public perceptions of the sacred, the demonic, and the moral. In doing so, Supernatural reflects and reinforces a growing skepticism toward institutional religion and presents a narrative framework in which demonic forces are not only relatable but sometimes more rational or just than divine authority.
Keywords
Television series
Supernatural
Satanism
representation
Subjects
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