New Books in Film Sarah Cleary, "The Myth of Harm: Horror, Censorship and the Child" (Bloomsbury, 2022)
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Nov 12, 2024 Sarah Cleary, a media consultant and lecturer specializing in horror, discusses her book, "The Myth of Harm: Horror, Censorship, and the Child." She highlights the genre's societal impact and the moral panics surrounding it, showcasing how horror serves as both a scapegoat for social issues and a catalyst for critical conversation. Cleary reflects on horror's portrayal of childhood and its dual representation of women, while advocating for media literacy to combat misinformation. Through horror, individuals can confront fears and find clarity in life’s complexities.
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Horror and Harm
- Dr. Sarah Cleary, a media consultant and lecturer, focuses on horror and its impact.
- Her book, "The Myth of Harm," analyzes horror's controversies, myths, and falsehoods.
Evolving Media, Persistent Fears
- Horror creates discussions around societal anxieties, moving across mediums like comics, VHS, and video games.
- Each new medium sparks the same fear-based conversations, particularly regarding children's access to horror.
Horror in the 1930s
- The 1930s saw the pathologization of children, influenced by the Depression and eugenics.
- Horror boomed, offering cheap entertainment during a time of widespread hardship.
