English 290 (select “H” section)
Fall Semester 2003
MWF 12:20-1:10

Course Description
Do scientific, political, cultural, and technological developments alleviate our deepest fears, or do they merely create new ones? How do we express and address these fears through literary and cinematic works? In this course, we will investigate ways in which the horror genre has developed from and in turn has shaped our culture. Through active class discussion, formal oral presentations, and written papers, students will learn to analyze and critique aspects of the horror genre and to relate horror works and themes to areas of personal and professional interest. Readings will include both fictional texts and scholarly commentary on the genre; selected video clips and feature-length films will also be viewed and discussed.

Readings
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Norton Critical Edition. Ed. J. Paul Hunter. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1996.
Skal, David J. The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror, Revised Edition. Faber and Faber, 2001.
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Ed. Katherine B. Linehan. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2002.
Stoker, Bram. Dracula. Norton Critical Edition. Eds. Nina Auerbach and David J. Skal. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1997.

Viewings
Near Dark (1987)
Alien (1979)
Halloween (1978)

Major Assignments
Formal group presentation on a selected author or director
Midterm paper on subgenre
Final paper on major-related topic

Syllabus: http://www.southalabama.edu/english/faculty/annmarie_guzy/EH290.html

If you have any questions or would like more information about this seminar, please contact Dr. Annmarie Guzy by e-mail at aguzy@jaguar1.usouthal.edu or by phone at 460-6745.