From the culturally rooted folk horror of Nosferatu (1922) to the socio-psychological terror of Psycho (1960) to the xenophobia of Hostel (2005), we recognize the horror genre as a profound and uncomfortably visceral discursive front for exploring our deepest personal and cultural fears. This course explores the rich and diverse world of horror cinema, including the narrative, literary, and artistic traditions from which it emerged. We examine horror films as a literary vehicle that allows (ideally) for the confrontation of complex issues of social trauma, violence, and terror.
Semester Offered