Horror Film (FILM-495)

This horror film course explores film criticism, social history and the history of contemporary film through the horror genre. Through the development of the horror film genre, including its many subgenres and iconic figures (from Count Dracula to the slasher film) we will learn visual and sound analysis of film, have a chance to work on our writing skills, and of course explore the ways that horror audiences have ritualized their fears about the social order through this genre. Along the way we will explore key concepts which illuminate the horror film, such as "the abject," "the uncanny," "the interpretation of dreams," "the gothic," and "paranoia." To love this course you must be willing to explore your enjoyment of fear and to stretch your mind to "connect the dots;" i.e., films + genres + histories + social realities + reading + thinking + analysis = FILM STUDIES.