I constantly meet folks who are surprised that I write, read, watch, and teach Horror. Here, hold my red pen, my cat, and my beer, and check out this list.
This is such an interesting and thoughtful post, Crystal. You are totally right that horror and romance are the genres that people put up the most fuss about as genres. I think sci-fi used to be one of those genres, but with the mainstreaming of nerdification, nobody blinks an eye at sci-fi anymore.
I think it's interesting that you bring up the performative nature of people saying they dislike horror (or really any genre) when the genre is so broad as to include many permutations. It's like when people say they don't like country or rap music--really? Not even one song in a genre that's huge?
You've made me think about what I mean when I say I don't often like horror because that's clearly not true. I love many of the books you've listed here (Shirley Jackson, all my 19th century gothics) and I enjoy some horror films as well (especially if they're campy). I don't enjoy specific kinds of horror; I have a really hard time consuming works with child harm (regardless of genre) and certain gory imagery. Both those things activate intrusive thoughts for me.
Yes, about science fiction. Great point! It’s gotten a total literary and commercial upgrade as of late! And good for that. And high-five for Jackson and let no one take your cup of stars!
Oh, the dreaded h-word! As a Southern Gothic writer in Richmond, Virginia, I usually sidestep it in polite company. The older ladies of the Ellen Glasgow set smile in approval when I tell them I write Southern Gothic, because it conjures up magnolia blossoms for them; they don’t realize “gothic” means “the past of historical wrongs that refuses to stay buried.”
Like O’Conner and Faulkner, I write horror. Southern Gothic is a polite rebrand that makes the pearl-clutchers smile so we can keep drinking our cocktails in peace (at least in the Deep South; Richmond doesn’t believe nearly as much drinking at social functions).
Love your side-step strategy. This is also real for me in Georgia! My husband, also a Horror writer, @Andy Davidson had a little old Southern lady greet him at a book event for his first novel, In the Valley of the Sun, by saying, “So you are the writer with the deranged mind.”
This is such an interesting and thoughtful post, Crystal. You are totally right that horror and romance are the genres that people put up the most fuss about as genres. I think sci-fi used to be one of those genres, but with the mainstreaming of nerdification, nobody blinks an eye at sci-fi anymore.
I think it's interesting that you bring up the performative nature of people saying they dislike horror (or really any genre) when the genre is so broad as to include many permutations. It's like when people say they don't like country or rap music--really? Not even one song in a genre that's huge?
You've made me think about what I mean when I say I don't often like horror because that's clearly not true. I love many of the books you've listed here (Shirley Jackson, all my 19th century gothics) and I enjoy some horror films as well (especially if they're campy). I don't enjoy specific kinds of horror; I have a really hard time consuming works with child harm (regardless of genre) and certain gory imagery. Both those things activate intrusive thoughts for me.
Excellent post; enjoyed reading.
Yes, about science fiction. Great point! It’s gotten a total literary and commercial upgrade as of late! And good for that. And high-five for Jackson and let no one take your cup of stars!
Great list!
Cheers, Elaine. Means so much coming from you. Thanks for reading!
Oh, the dreaded h-word! As a Southern Gothic writer in Richmond, Virginia, I usually sidestep it in polite company. The older ladies of the Ellen Glasgow set smile in approval when I tell them I write Southern Gothic, because it conjures up magnolia blossoms for them; they don’t realize “gothic” means “the past of historical wrongs that refuses to stay buried.”
Like O’Conner and Faulkner, I write horror. Southern Gothic is a polite rebrand that makes the pearl-clutchers smile so we can keep drinking our cocktails in peace (at least in the Deep South; Richmond doesn’t believe nearly as much drinking at social functions).
Love your side-step strategy. This is also real for me in Georgia! My husband, also a Horror writer, @Andy Davidson had a little old Southern lady greet him at a book event for his first novel, In the Valley of the Sun, by saying, “So you are the writer with the deranged mind.”
This is it, right here 🤣🤣🤣🤣