Primal Roots of Horror Cinema: Evolutionary Psychology and Narratives of Fear

by Carrol L. Fry

Overview

Why is horror in film and literature so popular? Why do viewers and readers enjoy feeling fearful? Experts in the fields of sociobiology and evolutionary psychology posit that behaviors from our ancestors that favored survival and adaptation still influence our actions, decisions and thoughts today.

The author, with input from a new generation of Darwinists, explores six primal narratives that recur in the horror genre. They are territoriality, tribalism, fear of genetic assimilation, mating rituals, fear of the predator, and distrust or fear of the Other.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476674278
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	04/16/2019
Pages:	217
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.44(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Carrol L. Fry spent his university teaching career at Minnesota State University, Mankato and Northwest Missouri State University, where he was English Department chair and professor and now professor emeritus. He has published three books and numerous articles on film, American and English literature and science fiction and fantasy. He lives in Maryville, Missouri.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
One: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Two: The Territorial Narrative
Three: The Assimilation Narrative
Four: The Tribal Narrative
Five: The Mating Narrative in the Gothic Romance
Six: The Predator Narrative
Seven: The Other Narrative: Ghosts, Slashers, Witches and Robots as Other
Conclusion
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index