Key research themes
1. How do cultural and regional identities shape the tradition and subgenres of horror TV and cinema?
This research theme investigates the connection between localized cultural narratives, folklore, and social histories with the development and differentiation of horror media traditions. Understanding how specific cultural contexts inform horror representations reveals horror's role in reflecting and shaping societal anxieties and identities, as well as expanding the diversity within the genre.
2. What role does televised horror anthology formats play in mediating horror for children, and how do these shows negotiate fear within child-appropriate boundaries?
This line of research explores how horror narratives are adapted specifically for children’s television audiences, focusing on the anthology format that recontextualizes classic horror themes in ways suitable for younger viewers. It examines aesthetic, narrative, and regulatory strategies used to balance eliciting fear while maintaining child-appropriate content, highlighting the significance of cultural and institutional frameworks in shaping children's horror TV.
3. How do contemporary horror TV and films challenge and rework traditional gender roles and representations within the genre?
This research theme investigates the ongoing transformation of gender portrayals in horror media, focusing on subversions of stereotypes, the depiction of sexual violence, and the negotiation of maternal and female monstrous identities. It examines how modern horror TV and films simultaneously deconstruct and sometimes reinforce gender norms, mediated by production and distribution frameworks as well as evolving viewer reception.