Apr 03, 2012 horror books this article is more than 8 years old. Through analyses of wellknown and popular modern american works of horrorrosemarys baby. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson. At night, when the vampires attack his house, neville is especially troubled by the female vampires. Interview with mathias clasen on a biocultural approach to. I am legend book the novels main character is robert neville, apparently the sole survivor of a pandemic the symptoms of which resemble vampirism. I am legend is a story about robert neville, a man who is supposedly the only human still living in a postapocalyptic world. His book, which includes several chapters of case studies on actual horror films and novels, is an attempt to find an answer. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Best sellers mobiles amazon pay pantry new releases computers customer service books. Click here to visit mathias clasen s university homepage. I am legend, a postapocalyptic science fictionhorror novel, published in 1954 and set in 1976, remains one of his best known works. Its the topic of my new book, why horror seduces, and also of my tedx talk, lessons from a terrified horror researcher, which you can see at.
Mathias clasen, school of communication and culture, aarhus university, denmark. Explains horror across different types of media, from films to video games. I am legend author richard matheson was himself a real legend. Fishpond australia, why horror seduces by mathias clasenbuy. Why horror seduces by mathias clasen, paperback barnes. Most literary critics engaging with the novel have interpreted the vampires as social or psychological symbols. Richard mathesons 1954 i am legend is a milestone in modern gothic literature. Richard mathesons 1954 i am legend is a milestone in. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am legend 2007. Clasen, who writes in an engaging english style, wants an answer to that question. In why horror seduces, author matthias clasen looks to evolutionary social science to show how the horror genre is a product of human nature. The two earlier films are the last man on earth 1964 and the omega man 1971. I am legend influenced the zombie genre and popularized the concept of a worldwide zombie apocalypse.
I am legend novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. Im an associate professor in literature and media in the english department at aarhus university, a large research university in denmark. It is a book of great scholarly ambition and penetration, but clasen s light and fluent style makes it accessible even to the nonspecialist. The 2007 film was partially based on the 1971 film as well as the original source. This version of i am legend is the third movie adaptation of mathesons novel. He is associate professor in literature and media at aarhus university, his alma mater, from where he received his phd in 2012. Through analyses of wellknown and popular modern american works of horror rosemarys baby. Integrates cuttingedge research on human behavior with horror studies. My research focuses on horror entertainment from a biocultural perspective e. Why horror seduces, mathias clasen shop online for books.
This book explains the appeals and functions of horror entertainment by drawing on cuttingedge findings in the evolutionary social. I employ the concepts of evolved human nature, cultural ecology, and authorial identity as my main analytical tools for understanding the. Why horror seduces analyses the forms and functions of horror from an evolutionary perspective. I am immensely indebted to joe carroll for his eagleeyed editorial assistance and unstinting support. Theyve overlooked their literal resonance as diseasebearing, unnatural predators well designed to. The theoretical account is bolstered with original analyses of a range of wellknown and popular modern american works of horror literature and horror film to illustrate how these works target evolved cognitive and emotional mechanisms to fulfill their function of absorbing, engaging, and horrifying audiences. I employ the concepts of evolved human nature, cultural ecology, and authorial identity as my main.
I am legend is named vampire novel of the century books. In recent years ive divided my own efforts between theoretical and interpretive work, on the one hand, and empirical and quantitative work on the other. I am legend novel project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Im an associate professor of literature and media in the english department at aarhus university, denmark. Into the darkness stuff that ive liked, hated, been. Why horror seduces clasen, mathias 9780190666507 hpb. Mathias clasen born 1978 is a danish scholar of horror fiction and the authoreditor of three nonfiction books on the horror genre as well as two horror anthologies.
With i am legend, matheson thus reigns in the power of myth to deliver his anxieties. The novel i am legend 1954, written by american author richard matheson, was adapted for the movie by screenwriters akiva goldsman and mark protosevich. Why horror seduces by mathias clasen, 9780190666514, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Narrative is, by its very nature, more engaging than any theoretical text. This book explains the appeals and functions of horror entertainment by drawing on cuttingedge findings in the evolutionary social sciences, showing how the horror genre is a product of human nature. Some similarity is demonstrated between the claims of some commentators in box 1 who have suggested that horror fiction may act as a safety valve for our raging passions and fears and in box 3 brain on horror some brain imaging studies used for recording activity in the brain whilst watching horror movies would appear to demonstrate activity in areas of the brain associated with emotion.
Mathias f clasen why do humans feel the need to scream at horror films. Such a situation is precisely what the books introduction to the biocultural. From vampire apocalypses, shark attacks, witches, and ghosts, to murderous dolls bent on revenge, horror has been part of the american cinematic imagination for almost as long as pictures have moved on screens. Many consumers pay hardearned money to be scared witless by films, books, and computer games. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Richard matheson in his 1954 novel i am legend clasen.
A biocultural critique of richard mathesons i am legend. Why horror seduces by mathias clasen overview from vampire apocalypses, shark attacks, witches, and ghosts, to murderous dolls bent on revenge, horror has been part of the american cinematic imagination for almost as long as pictures have moved on screens. Over the course of thirteen brilliantly argued chapters, mathias clasen uses the sharp edge of evolutionary psychology to skin the horror genre alive and reveal the wet red tendons twitching under the surface. Buy a discounted paperback of why horror seduces online from australias leading online bookstore. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that was influential in the modern development of zombie and vampire literature and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. In recent years ive divided my own efforts between theoretical and interpretive work, on the one hand, and. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on. Oct 02, 2010 the vampire apocalypse is a fairly unlikely event, but it makes for great storytelling.
This cited by count includes citations to the following articles in scholar. I am legend by richard matheson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. What is the drive to be frightened, and why is it so perennially popular. I also would like to warmly thank daniel sznycer for giving feedback on a draft of this article. He argues, reasonably enough, that evolution could provide an answer. The book itself is composed of a handful of theoretical chapters and then goes into several case studies. Booktopia has why horror seduces by mathias clasen. One of the most sensitive treatments of the vampire tale is richard mathesons i am legend. Richard mathesons 1954 horror novel i am legend depicts the sole survivor of a vampire pandemic in his attempts to find companionship and meaning in a blasted apocalyptic world. But after finding my old copy on the shelf downstairs, i ve. In the books best moments i feel that the child inside, pulling his feet up under. Philosophy and literature, volume 34, number 2, october.
It was the women vampires who made it so difficult, he reflects, the women posing like lewd puppets in. It is a book of great scholarly ambition and penetration, but clasens light and fluent style makes it accessible even to the nonspecialist. Discussion of the use of focalisation in relation to the theme in i am legend by richard matheson. Mathias clasens why horror seduces begins with the conviction that we cannot. It was influential in the development of the zombievampire genre and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. Mathias clasen phd aarhus university au department. The vampires prowl relentlessly in the periphery, craving nevilles blood, but the reader is not treated to lengthy descriptions of the bloodsuckers. Lets start with a quick introduction on who you are, what you do, and how you came to be a horror researcher. Why horror seduces by mathias clasen booksamillion. I am certainly honoured and delighted that you have chosen i am legend as the vampire novel of the century, which is a rather dubious but. Blending horror with science fiction, the novel manages to infuse a.
Why horror seduces paperback mathias clasen oxford. Mathias clasen, department of english, aarhus university, dk8000 aarhus c, denmark. Clasen is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about his topic and his approach. He obtains books and other research materials from a library, and through painstaking research discovers the root of. Mathias clasen s wonderfully exploratory and explanatory why horror seduces should be read and enjoyed by anyone with an interest in this most misunderstood of genres. I analyze a bunch of canonical american horror films and novels to see how and why they work and what they mean, from mathesons vampire classic i am legend to the film that gave found footage horror mainstream appeal, the blair witch. A biocultural approach to horror stories mathias clasen aarhus university horror fiction is a thriving industry. All content in this area was uploaded by mathias clasen on jun 27, 2019. Why horror seduces addresses these questions through evolutionary social. A biocultural critique of richard mathesons i am legend mathias clasen philosophy and literature, volume 34, number 2, october 2010, pp. I am legend by matheson, first edition abebooks passion for books. Jun 25, 20 i am meant to be writing a blog about how i am legend, by the late, immensely great, richard matheson, is the king of vampire novels. Vampire apocalypse vampire apocalypse a biocultural. It is the first book to integrate the study of horror with the sciences of human nature and to offer a sustained analysis of the ways in which our evolutionary heritage constrains and directs.
The evolutionary approach to horror is still wet behind the ears, although folks like torben grodal have made pioneering efforts in the field. An infectious virus has taken over the globe and converted everyone to vampirism. Why horror seduces by mathias clasen into the darkness. I am legend is a 1954 horror fiction novel by american writer richard matheson. The vampire apocalypse is a fairly unlikely event, but it makes for great storytelling. The welltold horror story can affect even the most obstinate skeptic.
491 1293 847 666 375 309 1197 177 1635 398 635 1094 1278 1069 402 1559 1482 1400 1250 1315 1593 1338 859 951 343 778 957 153 902 601 697 293 1246 955 511 1263 393 859 941 1389 172 539 284 707 348 1178