Description
Opening up the warm body of American Horror – through literature, film, TV, music, video games, and a host of other mediums – this book gathers the leading scholars in the field to dissect the gruesome histories and shocking forms of American life. Through a series of accessible and informed essays, moving from the seventeenth century to the present day, The Cambridge Companion to American Horror explores one of the liveliest and most progressive areas of contemporary culture. From slavery to censorship, from occult forces to monstrous beings, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in America's most terrifying cultural expressions.
Table of Contents
Introduction: American Horror: Genre and History Mark Storey and Stephen Shapiro; Part I. Histories: 1. Slavery Maisha Wester; 2. Capitalism Mark Steven; 3. Religion and Spirituality Carl H. Sederholm; 4. Settlement and Imperialism Johan Höglund; 5. Censorship and State Regulation Kendall R. Phillips; 6. Schlock, Kitsch, and Camp Esther Leslie; Part II. Genres: 7. Body Horror Xavier Aldana Reyes; 8. Queer Horror Laura Westengard; 9. Folk Horror Bernice M. Murphy; 10. Occult Horror Darryl Jones; 11. SF and the Weird Betsy Huang; 12. Monsters and the Monstrous Dawn Keetley.
