Horror Scholar Journal Volume 1 edited by Cecilia Abate

Horror Scholar, 2019

Available: free and online at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-dPP15cficp5M8LxuSHz5K5TKLSqxo8J/view

This is a review for the first issue of Horror Scholar’s (Cecilia Abate) experimental themed literary magazine, Horror Scholar Journal, Volume 1. She launched the journal “in response to the intimidating process of pitching to formal literary magazines and the niche community of horror scholars looking to further their work” (p. 4). The focus of the first issue is American Horror Story.

Spinster Eskie, in the article titled “Coven’s Forgettable Witch”, discusses the blank canvas trope in horror, focusing on Zoe and how her role was “a safe bet for the series (white, boring, etc.)”. Rather than taking a chance on giving attention to Queenie or Nana would have rejected tradition, something the author argues that witches typically break.

In Dodie Miller-Gould’s article, “Gothic Representations of Mothers and Daughters in AHS: Freakshow“, uses Gothic tropes to discuss Elsa Mars and her mothering, or lack thereof, regarding Dot and Bette Tattler, and Barbara (Imma Wiggles).

Abate herself argues, in “The Pop-Horror Temporality of Cult and Apocalypse“, that these two seasons in particular stand out as being closer to the viewer than the others, as they address what was occurring and worrying people at that point in time. This is especially true of Cult and its political commentary.

The last article, Paula Ashe’s “Class Anxiety in Murder House“, presents good information, but is admittedly a dense read. Ashe argues that American Horror Story: Murder House is “an ideologically potent response to the realities of risk society colliding with the values of neoliberalism” (p. 25),  and that “at its heart, American Horror Story is a conservative morality tale about a neoliberal family in material crisis”(p. 22), making valuable points in that regard. Be prepared for a lot of information in this one.

I think the only criticism I have for this volume is that it could go through another edit, as I noticed a few typos, but other than that, this was a very solid first issue for Horror Scholar Journal. It is worth a read if you are interested in horror analysis, but be warned that if you have not viewed the seasons of American Horror Story that are discussed, there are spoilers ahead. I’m looking forward to the next issue. Highly recommended.

Contains: spoilers

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker