Pill Pod 149 - Gothic Horror: Edgar Allen Poe & The Fall of The House of Usher
Dec 1, 2023
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Victor Hainagiu helps put gothic horror into historical context. They discuss the origins of gothic fiction, the TV show Midnight Mass and its connections to Edgar Allan Poe, the portrayal of incestuous relationships and scheming in adaptations, supernatural elements and themes of isolation in 'The Fall of The House of Usher', analysis of 'The Black Cat' and its parallels to 'The Tell-Tale Heart', comparing 'Hill House' to Poe's stories, connections between 'Annabel Lee' and 'Lolita', and Mark Hamill's surprise appearance.
Edgar Allan Poe's stories explore themes of guilt, paranoia, and delusions through symbolism.
Poe's works delve into the psychological and symbolic elements, examining the manifestation of unconscious guilt in conscious life.
The podcast episode discusses how horror as a genre is incorporating social issues and psychological elements to make it more relevant and resonate with modern audiences.
Deep dives
Interpreting the Symbolism in Poe's Stories
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the symbolism present in Edgar Allan Poe's stories. They examine how the stories explore the theme of guilt and the manifestation of paranoia and delusions. The hosts highlight specific examples, such as the black cat that torments its owner and the guilt-driven actions of the narrator in 'The Tell-Tale Heart.' They also discuss the themes of confinement, concealment, and the seeping of unconscious guilt into conscious life. Overall, the episode delves into the psychological and symbolic elements of Poe's works.
Making Horror Relevant and Exploring Social Commentary
The podcast episode also tackles the broader context of horror as a genre. The hosts discuss the current trend of making horror more relevant by incorporating social issues and psychological elements. They draw comparisons to shows like 'Succession' and films that infuse horror with contemporary themes. They analyze how 'Fall of the House of Usher' attempts to make Poe's stories resonate with modern audiences by addressing themes of justice, social class, and the anxiety surrounding unapproachable forces like wealthy individuals or faceless institutions. The episode explores the intersection of horror and social commentary in a contemporary context.
Inspired by the new Netflix series, we read some Poe short stories and compared them to their TV adaptation. Victor Hainagiu (aka Litvic aka @horatiovictor) came on to help us put gothic horror into historical context. Half our episodes are here, but if you want the other half check us out on https://patreon.com/plasticpills
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