What is Horror?

The word horror brings to mind a genre often rife with supernatural elements, as well as dramatic historical events and, perhaps, even some personal experiences of our past. This class interrogates works of fiction, memoirs, movies, manga, and philosophical texts to study what horror means and why it may fascinate us. In analyzing representations of horror within and beyond the horror genre, we will consider whether it belongs to our modern lives. Honing the participants' close-reading and critical analysis skills, this course will also provide an opportunity to reflect on what horror reveals about our society and ourselves.