ENG 255 C THE ART OF HORROR

“The Art of Horror” will provide you with an introduction to the genre of horror, through the lens of aesthetic theory. We will look at literature and film in multiple global contexts and with a special focus on English- and German-language works. By looking across countries and time periods, we will search out commonalities and divergences in works of horror uniquely focused on aesthetics and art. For example, why do so many horror movies use black and white instead of color film? Why is the image of the house an especially potent symbol for horror? While our focus will be the fictional works themselves, we will also spend time on theoretical concepts and historical context. Throughout, we will return to the question: What about the art of horror is unique, and why does the genre continue to fascinate us? Possible authors/directors include Edgar Allan Poe, Alfred Hitchcock, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Guillermo del Toro, Michael Haneke, and Shirley Jackson.