British Horror and Fantasy Cinema from Dracula to Harry Potter

Overview

Introducing you to a range of critical approaches to film and literature and making full use of our unique London setting, we will engage with debates on the cultural appeal and social significance of horror and fantasy, and the nature of audiences and film spectatorship. Key topics for discussion will be the depiction of London and the East End as both a landscape of fear and wonder; the representation of women, gender and sexuality in horror and fantasy; the psychoanalytic interpretation of horror and the ways through which these films engage with the history of Britain and its capital. With an emphasis on cinema, we will also compare the writing of British authors with film adaptations of their work.

Course aims

This British Horror and Fantasy Cinema from Dracula to Harry Potter course from Queen Mary University of London aims to:

• provide you with knowledge of the development of British horror and fantasy cinema from the 1950s to the present
• provide you with an understanding of the impact of social and economic contexts in Britain in the 20th century and their representation in cinema
• give you an introduction to a wide range of critical approaches in the study of cinema and compare their effectiveness and relevance
• provide a context in which to explore the relationship between history and film production, and an introduction to detailed analysis of films as primary sources within their social, cultural and industrial contexts
• engender an aesthetic understanding and appreciation of British horror and fantasy cinema as well as familiarise you with the indigenous cultural and social significance of dominant visual motifs and narrative themes
• enhance your analytical skills and your ability to write film commentaries and criticism with clarity and authority.