Paul Leggett, Gothic Horror and Terence Fisher
Paul Leggett is one of the most interesting and unique Presbyterian pastors around. In fact, it has been said that Paul is probably the most knowledgeable Presbyterian pastor on horror films that one can find. I first met Paul at Cornerstone Festival in the Imaginarium, and have had the pleasure of hearing his insights on […]
Science Fiction and Alien Messiahs
One of the areas that has fascinated me in the study of the intersection between religion and science fiction is the impact of the Christian story upon the genre, particular the archetype of the alien Messiah. In our portrayal of extraterrestrials we tend to oscillate between two extremes, that of the evil alien intent on […]
Paul Teusner, Horror Films and the Construction of Religious Identity
Paul Teusner is another Australian “mate” of mine. I first encountered his work through an intriguing paper he wrote on horror and religious identity. Paul has experience in research and writing for Christian ministry work among youth, and is working through post-graduate research on religion in cyberspace. Paul’s paper that I encountered is titled “Resident […]
B. J. Oropeza: Comics, Archetypes, and Superheroes
In my recent readings in religion and popular culture I checked the endnote references for an article and noted the name of B. J. Oropeza. This was somewhat surprising in that I was familiar with his work in the areas of theology and apologetics, but was unfamiliar (and pleasantly surprised) with his interests and work […]
Disney’s Contributions to America’s Halloween Mythology
Last year I had an opportunity to do some research in preparation for a series of presentations at Cornerstone Festival in the Imaginarium venue looking at a historical and cross-cultural perspective on the development of Halloween. Some of the materials that I interacted with noted a variety of influences in current America’s celebration of this […]
Douglas Cowan and Sacred Terror: Part 2
Following is the second part of the interview with Douglas Cowan on the subject matter surrounding hisforthcoming book Sacred Terror. TF: In your book you discuss the “metataxis of horror.” Can you briefly define this and how you discuss it in your book? Doug Cowan: The “metataxis of horror” refers to the process by which […]
Douglas Cowan and Sacred Terror: Part 1
Douglas Cowan is a leading scholar working in the area of new religions. Formerly he taught at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, and he now teaches at Renison College/University of Waterloo. He is the author of a number of books, including Cults and New Religions: A Brief History (Blackwell, 2007); Cyberhenge: Modern Pagans […]
Rue Morgue magazine
While at Barnes & Noble today I came across a magazine that I found very helpful in that it not only explored the entertainment and popular culture aspects of horror, but also looked at the issue internationally as well. The magazine is called Rue Morgue: Horror in Culture and Entertainment. I have added it to […]
Planet of the Apes: An American Myth
One of the films that I found most enjoyable growing up was Planet of the Apes (1968). So many things stand out in this film, from the great musical score by Jerry Goldsmith, to the cutting-edge makeup of the time by John Chambers, to the great screenplay and twist ending by Michael Wilson and with […]
Archetypes, Myths, and Horror
The description on this blog states that it includes an exploration of archetypes and myths as they relate to fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Before I get too far on posting on this blog it would be a good idea to explain what I mean by this. While I have reflected on various elements related […]
