Description
From vampire apocalypses, shark attacks, witches, and ghosts, to murderous dolls bent on revenge, horror has been part of the American cinematic imagination for almost as long as pictures have moved on screens. But why do they captivate us so? What is the drive to be frightened, and why is it so perennially popular? Why Horror Seduces addresses these questions through evolutionary social sciences. Explaining the functional seduction of horror entertainment, this book draws on cutting-edge findings in the evolutionary social sciences, showing how the horror genre is a product of human nature. Integrating the study of horror with the sciences of human nature, the book claims that horror entertainment works by targeting humans' adaptive tendency to find pleasure in make-believe, allowing a high intensity experience within a safe context. Through analyses of well-known and popular modern American works of horror--Rosemary's Baby; The Shining; I Am Legend; Jaws; and several others--author Mathias Clasen illustrates how these works target evolved cognitive and emotional mechanisms; we are attracted to horrifying entertainment because we have an adaptive tendency to find pleasure in make-believe that allows us to experience negative emotions at high levels of intensity within a safe context. Organized into three parts identifying fictional works by evolutionary mode - the evolution of horror; evolutionary interpretations of horror; the future of horror - Why Horror Seduces succinctly explores the cognitive processes behind spectators' need to scream.
About the Author
Mathias Clasen is Assistant Professor of Literature and Media in the Department of English, Aarhus University.
Reviews
...revolutionary... * Dr. Andr'as Moln'ar, Americana E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary *
Why Horror Seduces is a ground-breaking book ... It is a must-have for academic institutional collections, crucial reading for those interested in the biocultural analysis of popular culture, and highly recommended for scholars, students, and fans of horror fiction with an interest in the evolutionary basis of the genre's appeal. * Sean Moreland, Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts *
Why Horror Seduces is a groundbreaking book... It provides a firm foundation for further study and is sure to stimulate related research and vigorous debate among horror scholars. It is a musthave for academic institutional collections, crucial reading for those interested in the biocultural analysis of popular culture, and highly recommended for scholars, students, and fans of horror fiction with an interest in the evolutionary basis of the genre's appeal * Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts *
An accessible and entertaining read for anyone interested in horror or those curious as to why anyone would be a rich and readable contribution to the field of horror studies. By combining evolutionary biology, psychology, and sociocultural elements the biocultural framework provides a comprehensive answer to Why Horror Seduces. I would recommend this book to horror fans and scholars alike who want to learn more about one of the most marginalized and most profitable genres in film and literature. * Horror Studies *
Why Horror Seduces is an exciting look into the engine room of the great horror machine, providing insight into what makes it run, what makes the pistons pump ... [Clasen] writes both intelligently and affably ... I was both entertained and intellectually stimulated. * Planet Pulp *
For decades, horror fans have smirked at pretentious interpretations of their favorite movies.... Why Horror Seduces is an attempt to understand the genre as 'powerful experience,' and a case for considering it in the light of evolutionary psychology... Clasen's book comes as something of a revelation. The fact that it is also a burning manifesto for the benefit of scaring yourself witless makes me want to stand up and applaud as I read it ... In the book's best moments I feel that the child inside, pulling his feet up under the cover to hide from the monster under the bed, is granted a form of vindication. * Translated from FLM *
His book offers a welcome and insightful contribution to the field, which would be of use both to students and scholars as well as horror fiction fans more broadly. * European Journal of Communication *
I can't cant imagine what it must be like to have a brain as crowded with ideas as his must be! This is an academic book, and sometimes those can be dry, but that is not the case here. Clasen is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about his topic and his approach. * MonsterLibrarian.com *
Over the course of thirteen brilliantly argued chapters, Mathias Clasen uses the sharp edge of evolutionary psychology to skin the horror genre alive and reveal the wet red tendons twitching under the surface. Why Horror Seduces is sure to provoke admiration, argument, debate, and delight among fans and creators. An essential read for anyone who cares about terrifying fiction. * Joe Hill, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller The Fireman: A Novel *
Who would have thought that horror could be so delightful? Mathias Clasen sheds light on the paradox of terrifying entertainment, illuminating human nature and the nature of art. * Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of How the Mind Works and The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined *
Mathias Clasen's wonderfully exploratory and explanatory Why Horror Seduces should be read and enjoyed by anyone with an interest in this most misunderstood of genres. * Peter Straub, author of Interior Darkness: Selected Stories and Ghost Story *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190666507
Author Mathias Clasen
Format Hardback
Page Count 200
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 492g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 163mm * 18mm
About the Author
Mathias Clasen is Assistant Professor of Literature and Media in the Department of English, Aarhus University.
Reviews
...revolutionary... * Dr. Andr'as Moln'ar, Americana E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary *
Why Horror Seduces is a ground-breaking book ... It is a must-have for academic institutional collections, crucial reading for those interested in the biocultural analysis of popular culture, and highly recommended for scholars, students, and fans of horror fiction with an interest in the evolutionary basis of the genre's appeal. * Sean Moreland, Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts *
Why Horror Seduces is a groundbreaking book... It provides a firm foundation for further study and is sure to stimulate related research and vigorous debate among horror scholars. It is a musthave for academic institutional collections, crucial reading for those interested in the biocultural analysis of popular culture, and highly recommended for scholars, students, and fans of horror fiction with an interest in the evolutionary basis of the genre's appeal * Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts *
An accessible and entertaining read for anyone interested in horror or those curious as to why anyone would be a rich and readable contribution to the field of horror studies. By combining evolutionary biology, psychology, and sociocultural elements the biocultural framework provides a comprehensive answer to Why Horror Seduces. I would recommend this book to horror fans and scholars alike who want to learn more about one of the most marginalized and most profitable genres in film and literature. * Horror Studies *
Why Horror Seduces is an exciting look into the engine room of the great horror machine, providing insight into what makes it run, what makes the pistons pump ... [Clasen] writes both intelligently and affably ... I was both entertained and intellectually stimulated. * Planet Pulp *
For decades, horror fans have smirked at pretentious interpretations of their favorite movies.... Why Horror Seduces is an attempt to understand the genre as 'powerful experience,' and a case for considering it in the light of evolutionary psychology... Clasen's book comes as something of a revelation. The fact that it is also a burning manifesto for the benefit of scaring yourself witless makes me want to stand up and applaud as I read it ... In the book's best moments I feel that the child inside, pulling his feet up under the cover to hide from the monster under the bed, is granted a form of vindication. * Translated from FLM *
His book offers a welcome and insightful contribution to the field, which would be of use both to students and scholars as well as horror fiction fans more broadly. * European Journal of Communication *
I can't cant imagine what it must be like to have a brain as crowded with ideas as his must be! This is an academic book, and sometimes those can be dry, but that is not the case here. Clasen is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about his topic and his approach. * MonsterLibrarian.com *
Over the course of thirteen brilliantly argued chapters, Mathias Clasen uses the sharp edge of evolutionary psychology to skin the horror genre alive and reveal the wet red tendons twitching under the surface. Why Horror Seduces is sure to provoke admiration, argument, debate, and delight among fans and creators. An essential read for anyone who cares about terrifying fiction. * Joe Hill, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller The Fireman: A Novel *
Who would have thought that horror could be so delightful? Mathias Clasen sheds light on the paradox of terrifying entertainment, illuminating human nature and the nature of art. * Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of How the Mind Works and The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined *
Mathias Clasen's wonderfully exploratory and explanatory Why Horror Seduces should be read and enjoyed by anyone with an interest in this most misunderstood of genres. * Peter Straub, author of Interior Darkness: Selected Stories and Ghost Story *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190666507
Author Mathias Clasen
Format Hardback
Page Count 200
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 492g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 163mm * 18mm
