The Cambridge Companion to American Horror

Taking Horror seriously, the book surveys America's bloody and haunted history through its most terrifying cultural expressions.

Stephen Shapiro (Edited by), Mark Storey (Edited by)

9781316513002, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 August 2022

300 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 1.9 cm, 0.48 kg

'The Cambridge Companion to American Horror effectively introduces readers to contemporary scholarly conversations within and champions of American Gothic and horror humanities. This collection will suit a variety of audiences, from the most committed to the novice horror fan. It will especially satisfy scholars looking for an accessible gloss of what will undoubtedly continue to be a growing and increasingly nuanced field. I hope that horror scholars will interpret Storey and Shapiro's gauntlet of transformation as a call for continued interdisciplinary scholarship on American as well as other horror traditions.' Alex M. Anderson, Science Fiction Film and Television

Opening up the warm body of American Horror – through literature, film, TV, music, video games, and a host of other mediums – this book gathers the leading scholars in the field to dissect the gruesome histories and shocking forms of American life. Through a series of accessible and informed essays, moving from the seventeenth century to the present day, The Cambridge Companion to American Horror explores one of the liveliest and most progressive areas of contemporary culture. From slavery to censorship, from occult forces to monstrous beings, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in America's most terrifying cultural expressions.

Introduction: American Horror: Genre and History Mark Storey and Stephen Shapiro
Part I. Histories: 1. Slavery Maisha Wester
2. Capitalism Mark Steven
3. Religion and Spirituality Carl H. Sederholm
4. Settlement and Imperialism Johan Höglund
5. Censorship and State Regulation Kendall R. Phillips
6. Schlock, Kitsch, and Camp Esther Leslie
Part II. Genres: 7. Body Horror Xavier Aldana Reyes
8. Queer Horror Laura Westengard
9. Folk Horror Bernice M. Murphy
10. Occult Horror Darryl Jones
11. SF and the Weird Betsy Huang
12. Monsters and the Monstrous Dawn Keetley.

Subject Areas: Horror & ghost stories [FK], Literary theory [DSA], Films, cinema [APF]