Author:
Clasen, Mathias F. author.
ImprintNew York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2021]
Descriptionxiii, 191 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Note:Introduction: "What's the big deal about horror movies, and who watches them, anyway?" -- "I'm nervous about the jump scares" -- "I'm nervous about horror films and my mental health" -- "I'm nervous about horror films and my physical health" -- "I'm nervous that horror films are immoral" -- "I'm nervous that watching horror makes me look stupid" -- "I'm nervous about kids watching horror" -- "I'm nervous about what the popularity of horror says about society" -- "Okay, I'm about ready to watch a horror movie. What now?"
Bibliography Note:Includes bibliographical references (pages 171-185) and index.
Note:"Films about chainsaw killers, demonic possession, and ghostly intruders. Screaming audiences with sleepless nights or sweat-drenched nightmares in their immediate future. What's going on here? Presumably, almost everybody has experience with horror films. Almost everybody has sat through a terrifying motion picture and suffered the after-effects, such as hypervigilance and sleep disturbances. Some people would even characterize themselves as horror fans. But what about the others- the ones who are curious about horror films, but also very, very nervous about them? This book delves into the science of horror cinema in an attempt to address common concerns about the genre. Why is the jump scare so effective, and so dreaded? What are the effects of horror films on mental and physical health? Why do horror films so often cause nightmares? Aren't horror films immoral ... and stupid, too? Are horror films bad for children and adolescents? What does the current profusion of horror films say about our society? Should we be concerned? Or can horror films be a force for good? Do horror films have health benefits, can they be aesthetically and morally valuable, and might they even have therapeutic psychological and cultural effects? The book addresses these questions in short, readable chapters, peppered with vivid anecdotes and examples and supported by scientific findings. It notes that while horror films can have negative effects, they can also help people confront and manage fear"-- Provided by publisher.
