In his essay, “Religion and Cinema Horror” (in URPC – pp. 56-71), Douglas E. Cowan quotes Ron Burke (founding editor of the Journal of Religion and Film), who states, “You do not expect to find religion and spirituality in a horror film” (58). Indeed, this pairing seems odd to many, at first glance. Cowan argues for a deeper understanding, however, of the ways our social location, context, ideologies and/or (religious or non-religious) beliefs impact what we fear, how that fear is expressed, etc., via the notion of “sociophobics” (61).
Drawing on this concept of sociophobics, reflect on a horror film or show that you’ve seen (even if, perhaps, you didn’t enjoy it). What kinds of fears are represented in that film/show, why do you thin they are represented in the way they are, and how do you think your own social context impacts the way the film did or didn’t cause a sense of fright (broadly-defined) as you watched it?
Please respond to this prompt in 300-500 words. Enter your answer here and consider posting some of your response in the discussion board, so others can reflect on it. (Who knows, maybe you’ll find a new horror-movie-bestie!)
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