Projected Fears: The Thing From Another World as Gothic Horror
I am currently reading and enjoying Kendall R. Phillips’ book Projected Fears: Horror Films and American Culture (Praeger, 2005). The book is similar to David Skal’s The Monster Show in that it connects horror films to their context in American culture. Phillips’ book is a little different in that it selects certain films which the […]
Total Recall (2012): A Pleasant Cinematic Surprise
This last weekend saw the debut of Total Recall, the “remake” or revisioning of the 1990 film of the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone. Both films are loosely based upon the short story “We Can Remember it for you Wholesale?” by Philip K. Dick. But whereas the 1990 film involves a significant […]
Cover for The Undead and Theology
My co-editor, Kim Paffenroth and I have approved the cover art for The Undead and Theology through Wipf & Stock. We are finalizing the manuscript and will discuss marketing considerations soon. Release date information to come in the near future. Back cover blurbs: “Both theologians and fans should appreciate this collection that explores the spiritual […]
Shatner’s Insight on “Get a Life!”
William Shatner’s latest documentary was recently released, William Shatner’s Get a Life!. The title comes from the (in)famous Saturday Night Live episode in 1986 where Shatner poked fun at Star Trek fans and their devotion to the series and Trek universe. Yet with the passing of years the actors seems to not only have come […]
Steampunk Edited Collection
Steampunk Edited Collection: Call for Papers Rachel Bowser and Brian Croxall contact email: rachel.bowser@gmail.com We are seeking abstracts for inclusion in a proposal for an edited volume on the subject of steampunk. The anthology will present a varied look at steampunk culture and criticism, presenting a comprehensive look at the genre’s impact and development in […]
Call for Papers: Environmental Science Fiction Films
The 2013 Eaton/Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA) Conference Riverside, CA 4/10/13-4/14/13 From reflection on species extinction in Silent Running (1972) and overpopulation and resource management in Soylent Green (1973) to the passing away of the last tree god in Hellboy 2 (2008) and the colonial acquisition and ecological devastation of Avatar (2009), science fiction film […]
Batman and Psychology: Podcast Interview with Travis Langley
Within moments of the Aurora, Colorado shooting at the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, media speculation began as to alleged causes in popular culture that may have helped lead to this event. Some of the causes included aspects of fantastic popular culture, including The Dark Knight Rises, Batman, and dark fantasy films. But are […]
Call for Papers: Tim Burton: Works, Characters, Themes (collection)
CFP: Tim Burton: Works, Characters, Themes (collection) Johnson Cheu, editor (cheu@msu.edu) Deadline for abstracts: 1 October 2012 Mark Salisburry writes of Tim Burton: “Burton’s characters are often outsiders, misunderstood and misperceived, misfits encumbered by some degree of duality, operating on the fringes of their own particular society, tolerated, but pretty much left to their own […]
Call for Papers: Horror (as/is) Humor, Humor (as/is) Horror: sLaughter in Popular Cinema (collection)
CFP: Horror (as/is) Humor, Humor (as/is) Horror: sLaughter in Popular Cinema (collection) Johnson Cheu (cheu@msu.edu) and John Dowell (jdowell@msu.edu), eds. Deadline: 15 September 2012 In his review of Tavernier’s Coup de torchon, David Kehr wrote in When Movies Mattered: Reviews from a Transformative Decade, Death, violence, and moral corruption aren’t just slapstick props … but […]
It Came From Riverside: The Evolution of Science Fiction
Venture inside UC Riverside’s Eaton Collection for a peek at some of its science fiction and fantasy treasures — including fanzines, manuscripts, first editions, posters and more — and an assessment of the collection’s significance within popular culture and academia. This UCTV Prime original series ventures inside UC Riverside’s Eaton Collection, the world’s largest collection […]
