Halloween is scary time. In keeping with this, there will be a panel discussion about horror and Halloween at the Union Cinema in Kaiserslautern. The aim is to show that horror films are not just dull horror but can also be socially critical.
Sarah Wagner is a political scientist at the Atlantic Academy in Kaiserslautern. She will speak with BR journalist Vanessa Schneider at the Union Kino in Kaiserslautern about monsters and metaphors in and from horror films. Film excerpts will also be shown and discussed. And the audience should, if possible, be dressed appropriately for the occasion – i.e. as scary as possible. We spoke to Sarah Wagner in advance about horror films and Halloween.
Sarah Wagner from the Atlantic Academy Kaiserslautern loves horror films herself. She will talk to BR journalist Vanessa Schneider about the horror genre and Halloween. There are also trailers, film clips and posters of well-known and lesser-known horror films, as well as their placement in the historical and social context.
SWR Aktuell: Halloween is just around the corner. Children dress up, there are so-called haunted houses that welcome guests. And there are also many films about Halloween – for example the film series of the same name from the 70s. Why does Halloween seem to have such a fascination for many people?
Sarah Wagner: As a festival, Halloween combines many elements that appeal to different age groups. It’s about dressing up, collecting candy, and creatively decorating houses and gardens in the USA. But it’s also about horror, about parties, and intentionally exposing yourself to scary situations and then living through them, for example through horror films, a maze in the cornfield or the haunted houses. Regardless of whether you like horror or not, Halloween actually has something to offer for everyone and it is a celebration that stands out from the more traditional, conservative festivals such as Christmas or Easter. Of course, the commercial aspect also plays a role; the day and the associated elements such as costumes, sweets, films or parties are also marketed accordingly.
SWR Aktuell: Why is the spooky so much in the foreground?
Sarah Wagner: The spookiness fits perfectly with the autumnal season – it’s dark and scary again, the cold season is beginning. Halloween is also to be understood in the context of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the days immediately following Halloween and on which the saints and the deceased are remembered. Reference is often made to pre-Christian customs and to the customs that Irish immigrants brought with them to the USA. An example here is the Jack O’Lantern, the hollowed-out pumpkin with a grimace. As is so often the case, the ever-increasing marketing of the festival plays a role over time, and here Halloween has almost a unique selling point with its spooky element.
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SWR Aktuell: How did the idea for the Movie Talk at the Union Cinema in Kaiserslautern come about?
Sarah Wagner: My colleague Janna Uhry-Ganz wanted to go Halloween would like to host an event that celebrates this popular American festival, but at the same time can give the audience something new about Halloween and American horror films. We could have just shown a film, but we also wanted to take a look behind the camera and discuss what these films can tell us about the USA. The products of a culture do not arise in a vacuum; they tell us something about the fears and traumas of a country. And since I love watching horror films myself, she immediately signed me up for the event.
SWR Aktuell: What do you want to achieve with the Movie Talk?
Sarah Wagner: Hopefully we can clear up a few old prejudices and show that horror films are not just plain horror, but can also tell us a lot about American society and politics when we take a closer look. There are many exciting, scary and clever films, which also open up new perspectives when you take a second look. And above all we want to spend an entertaining and funny evening together and also hear from the audience: What are the Rhineland-Palatinate residents’ favorite films? Where did you get really scared for the first time? The evening is aimed at all horror fans and those who might want to become one!
SWR Aktuell: The title is Monsters and Metaphors – what will the conversation with BR journalist Vanessa Schneider be about?
Sarah Wagner: In the conversation we will look at three phases of the horror genre, starting in the 70s. We look at the so-called golden era of horror films in the 70s and 80s, then take a look at the 90s and 2000s, ending with popular horror themes during the administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump. We talk a little about the political background of the respective era and then choose two or three examples from the horror genre that are exemplary of these times and that we talk about.
SWR Aktuell: What are the most common metaphors in horror films and why?
Sarah Wagner: The threats and monsters in horror films are extremely diverse and it depends on which subgenre you watch. So, for example, is it about ghosts, haunted houses, traditional slasher films, vampires, zombies, possessed children, found footage or maybe even aliens? The places where actions take place also often tell us a story.
Horror films allow for many interpretations
For example, is it about the contrast between city and country, is it about repressed guilt that shows up in dreams or hauntings, or do zombies function as thoughtless consumers in a capitalist society? Or where do the threats in the various films come from: from outside, from within the family itself? So symbols and metaphors abound! All of this allows for diverse interpretations of the films and can provide insight into what these monsters actually stand for and what they could symbolize. The films can of course be interpreted in different ways, so it remains exciting.
SWR Aktuell: Why are horror films so popular with people?
Sarah Wagner: Horror films deal with something human that is deeply rooted in us: our fears, our vulnerability but also our aggression. In everyday life we often ignore this, we think we have control over situations. Movies allow us to experience certain feelings that we might otherwise ignore – all from the safety of our couch.
Horror films have a long tradition
In addition, there is a direct and often very intense physical reaction: you feel frightened, frightened, scream, your adrenaline levels rise, you feel disgusted. And don’t forget – horror has a long cultural tradition, regardless of whether it’s scary fairy tales or gothic horror literature, people have always liked to be scared and are fascinated by the locations far away from so-called social civilization.
SWR Aktuell: Why do we only know US horror films and not German ones – what makes American films special?
Sarah Wagner: First and foremost, it’s a very pragmatic reason: the American film market is simply much larger and more dominant than the German film industry. There are also a lot of good international horror productions, and Japanese horror films in particular have been popularly and successfully remade in the USA. One should also not forget that formative horror films in the 1920s were German productions, e.g. Nosferatu or The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Many horror films also focus on young people and their environment; Topics that have long been established and popular in the US film landscape.
SWR Aktuell: What is the biggest criticism of horror films?
Sarah Wagner: The most common criticisms that relate to horror films are that they are relatively simple in terms of content and that they glorify violence and have a negative impact on young people. If you look at the entire genre, in my opinion this criticism falls short. Of course, as with all films, you should pay attention to the age rating and talk to children and young people about the content. Interestingly, horror films in particular address many of the fears of young people and are very popular in this age group, and that cannot be ignored. However, an entire genre is often demonized in discussions without really taking a closer look at the films or the target groups.
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SWR Aktuell: To what extent can horror also be intelligent?
Sarah Wagner: There are many clever horror films that make you think and deal intensively with complex topics. The film “Get Out” discusses racism in the USA in an exciting way, films like “Hereditary” deal with topics such as gender or the identity of mothers, and the entire “Scream” franchise is a clever and funny meta-commentary on the horror genre himself.
“Haunted house” films can represent middle-class fears
Many horror films tell of particular socio-political developments, even if this may not be entirely obvious upon first viewing. In the wake of the 2008/09 financial crisis in the USA and its aftermath, “haunted house” films experienced a renaissance. Cultural scientists interpret this as a reflection of the economic fears of the white middle class, whose home ownership should actually be liberating but is now dragging them into the abyss (through debt or ghosts).
SWR Aktuell: What is your favorite horror film?
Sarah Wagner: There are so many great horror films, it’s hard to choose. My favorite horror series is the “Scream” series. I grew up with this franchise and it entertained me really well and gave me a thrill thanks to many good moments of suspense and funny dialogues. Scream 2 is my absolute favorite and proof that a sequel to a horror film can be really good!
Monsters and Metaphors – on October 31, 2023 im Union Cinema in Kaiserslautern. It starts at 8:30 p.m. and entry is free.
2023-10-30 05:38:55
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