All Kinds of Scary: Diversity in Contemporary Horror

by Jonina Anderson-Lopez

Overview

Horror fiction—in literature, film and television—display a wealth of potential, and appeal to diverse audiences. The trope of "the black man always dies first" still, however, haunts the genre. This book focuses on the latest cycle of diversity in horror fiction, starting with the release of Get Out in 2017, which inspired a new speculative turn for the genre. Using various critical frameworks like feminism and colonialism, the book also assesses diversity gaps in horror fictions, with an emphasis on marketing and storytelling methodology.

Reviewing the canon and definitions of horror may point to influences for future implications of diversity, which has cyclically manifested in horror fictions throughout history. This book studies works from literature, film and television while acknowledging that each of the formats are distinct artforms that complement each other. The author compares diverse representation in novels like The Castle of Otranto, Frankenstein, Fledgling, Broken Monsters and Mexican Gothic. Horror films like Bride of Frankenstein, It Comes at Night, Us and Get Out are also examined. Lastly, the author emphasizes the diverse horror fictions in television, like The Exorcist, Fear the Walking Dead, The Twilight Zone and Castle Rock.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476688664
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	06/15/2023
Pages:	245
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jonina Anderson-Lopez teaches English, writing, and communication courses at the University of South Florida and Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
One—“It’s so commercial!”: Arguments Against Diversity
Two—“Why so blurry?”: Speculative Fiction and Slipstream
Three—From Frankenstein and Broken Monsters to Mexican Gothic: Diverse Horror Novels
Four—“I can’t look!”: Gender and Ableism in Visual Horror
Five—“The Invisible Man”: Race in Horror Films
Six—Racial Representation in Television
Seven—“Legion, for We are Many”: Streaming Platforms and Diverse Horror
Afterword: Reflections on the Future of U.S. Horror Fictions
Works Cited
Index