English 383-001
Cinema and Genre: Horror Films, 1960 - 1985
Instr: Blasini, Gilberto
Office: CRT 487; 229-4540
e-mail: gblasini@uwm.edu
Office hours: TBA
Course Information: MW; 1:00-3:50pm; CRT 104
Course Description
The course surveys the gradual development of horror films from B-movie status to a popularly and critically praised genre during a period of 25 years (1960 - 1985).We will study a number of filmmakers who emerged as horror auteurs during these years-Wes Craven, George A. Romero, Brian de Palma, John Carpenter, Larry Cohen, Tobe Hooper, and David Cronenberg. In addition, we will explore some of this period's horror subgenres: demonic entities/possessions (Abby, The Exorcist, The Omen, Rosemary's Baby), haunted houses (Burnt Offerings, The Amityville Horror, Poltergeist), nature-runs-amok (Jaws, Piranha, Empire of the Ants).In order to understand the social relevance of these cultural artifacts, the course will pay close attention to these films' relationship to their historical and national context. Warning: although the purpose of the class is to understand this genre critically, if you cannot tolerate gore, violence, and profanity, this is not a course for you.
