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How Horror Works in Books and Film

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How Horror Works in Books and Film

By: Shannon Scott, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Shannon Scott
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About this listen

Why are we scared of ghosts, zombies, vampires, demons, and monsters, when we know they are not real? Why do dark attics give us the creeps? How do writers and directors know exactly what anxieties to tap into, so that we break out in goosebumps, cover our eyes, and cringe?

Shannon Scott invites you into the spooky, creepy, and sometimes surprising world of the horror genre to examine how popular scary movies and books manipulate our collective and individual fears—not only to frighten us, but also to address taboo subjects, and to reflect and comment on the state of our society. More important, she examines what lessons we can learn from these fears.

Throughout this series, she will introduce you to the many facets of fear—the traditional monsters you are familiar with, as well as examples of apocalyptic and social horror, psychological horror, and ecohorror. Using well-known characters and settings, Shannon will show you how each case can—and does—reveal a lot about our personal fears and our cultural anxieties.

The things that go bump in the night are not always in your head, but it’s your head that makes you afraid of them.

©2022 Audible Originals LLC (P)2022 Audible Originals LLC Horror
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A good insight into horror movie's and book's but there are some spoilers with some of the plot rundowns of some newer movie's and book's mentioned e.g A quiet place 2,The only good Indians and others.An interesting look and explanation on the the subject of horror from a professional who really knows her stuff, but unless your a complete genre nut and have seen and read everything leave it till you have.

Lot's of spoilers

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Loved this. Just the right mix of in-depth study but not too heavy or academic to be an enjoyable listen.

Lecturer is clearly passionate about the horror genre and how that exists within society.

A passion for horror shines through

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Heavy on horror nostalgia, light on theory. Lacks the depth of older great courses productions. Doesn't feel university level. Hardly feels academic at all, in fact. Well narrated however. Overall: for horror fans only.

Lacks depth

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If you are a horror fan and like to ponder on the stories you watch or read, or your own psychology in doing so - I'd recommend this as a thoughtful plunge into the issues, brief but with satisfying depth.

Concise and Comprehensive

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I read some horror, along with other genres. This course is interesting, setting out the information clearly. Good narration. I highly recommend this book for all who have, to any extent, an interest in horror books or movies.

Great insights

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