Universität Wien
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120692 PS Proseminar Cultural and Media Studies (2021S)

Horror: From the First Gothic Novel to Post-Black Filmmaking

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
REMOTE

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 24 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes

Vorläufig online
Dienstag 10:15-11:45
Beginn: 09.03.2021


Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Why is horror a popular genre? What makes audiences watch/read works of horror? Why do we want to be frightened? What do works of horror try to say about various social, cultural, and political issues of their times? These are some of the questions that the course will consider. Tracing the characteristics of the horror genre from the eighteenth century to the present, we will analyze some of the most prominent works of horror. We will discuss films like Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Friday the 13th (1980), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and Get Out (2017). We will read fiction written by such masters of horror as Shirley Jackson and Stephen King. Emphasis will be made on analysis of existing scholarship on horror and selected works of horror, through which students will learn what problems various horror stories try to communicate, what stereotypes they generate, but also how these works mirror the complexities of culture and society.

Trigger Warning: Please be aware that many of the texts and films that we will be discussing contain frightening and graphic content.

Teaching Mode: The course will take place online.

Assessment and permitted materials

Requirements:

Attendance and active participation in course discussions (a maximum of two absences will be allowed); 1 oral presentation; 1 short presentation (1-2 minutes); an abstract; a term paper.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

• Active participation in class discussions: 20%
• Presentation: 15%
• Short Presentation: 5%
• Abstract: 10%
• Term Paper: 50%

To pass the course, students need to attain at least 60%

Examination topics

There will be no written exam at the end of the course.

Reading list

Students need to purchase the following novel and films:

• Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962)
• Roman Polanski, Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
• Meir Zarchi, I Spit on Your Grave/Day of the Woman (1978)
• Sean S. Cunningham, Friday the 13th (1980)
• Wes Craven, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• Neil Jordan, Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
• Jordan Peele, Get Out (2017)

All other texts will be made available via Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Studium: BA 612;
Code/Modul: BA09.1;
Lehrinhalt: 12-4040

Last modified: We 21.04.2021 11:26