The horror genre is more popular than ever. What's the appeal of scary stories, horror movies,  spooky video games, and haunted attractions? Why do so many people find pleasure in a good scare? Emerging research suggests that horror and other forms of recreational fear - frightening and delightful activities - might be a form of play, a form that comes with a range of surprising psychological and possibly even physical benefits. When we play with fear, we may be building resilience and boosting our immune system. Even kids may benefit from a good scare every now and then. So if you're looking for science-based reasons for scaring the sh*t out of your loved ones, or just itching to understand why some folks enjoy slasher movies and Stephen King novels, this talk is for you.

Bio

Mathias Clasen, PhD, is associate professor of literature and media in the English Department and co-director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University. His research focuses on horror and other kinds of recreational fear, and he has worked on a biocultural framework for horror media, published on spooky subjects from vampires to the apocalypse, and conducted field research on recreational fear for a number of years. His most recent book is A Very Nervous Person's Guide to Horror Movies (OUP, 2021).

Participation

The event is open to all interested. Please register here.

Contact

Kamilla Rosenberg Franck, Administrative Officer
E-mail: kamilla@aias.au.dk 
Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, AIAS
Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B
DK-8000 Aarhus C
Denmark