Religion and the Occult in Contemporary Horror Fiction - Einzelansicht

Whether in the guise of anti-Catholicism, evil cultists, powerful deities, or fatal quests for the numinous, religion has been a major concern of the Gothic, horror, and the Weird from the beginning. This preoccupation persists today, where both the yearning for transcendence and religious fundamentalism are once more on the rise. In this course, we will sample representations and uses of religion and spirituality in contemporary horror writings (mostly fiction, with a bit of poetry thrown in). Discussion topics include the occult, curses and prayers, and divine vengeance.Whether in the guise of anti-Catholicism, evil cultists, powerful deities, or fatal quests for the numinous, religion has been a major concern of the Gothic, horror, and the Weird from the beginning. This preoccupation persists today, where both the yearning for transcendence and religious fundamentalism are once more on the rise. In this course, we will sample representations and uses of religion and spirituality in contemporary horror writings (mostly fiction, with a bit of poetry thrown in). Discussion topics include the occult, curses and prayers, and divine vengeance.

Please purchase:
Castro, V. Goddess of Filth. Brooklyn: Creature Publishing. 2021.

Additional texts will be provided via Moodle. Students may be asked to purchase one more novel (TBA).

Over the course of the seminar, students will write a learning journal consisting of reading responses and reflections on class discussions (3 credits). To gain 6 credits, students will additionally submit a term paper.
Regular attendance and active participation are vital to creating a fruitful learning atmosphere. So, please sign up for this class only if you intend to actually come to our sessions.