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Magazine Review: Horror Scholar Volume 1, edited by Cecelia Abate

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

GL Magazine rocks Teen Read Week!

I’m normally not a reader of magazines for teen and tween girls, seeing as my daughter is four, but this week I had to examine several of them. I was surprised and impressed that GL Magazine (also known as Girls’ Life) devoted a section to Teen Read Week! Granted, it was labeled “Promotion”, but considering that many of the “articles” focus on clothes and beauty products, how much they cost, and where you can buy them, I’m not sure how much difference it makes. What’s cool is that it’s there at all, especially considering some of the other magazines I looked at this week.

And it doesn’t appear to be just a bunch of advertisements from publishers, although the section doesn’t hide the fact that publishers paid for the advertisements. GL called the section “Teen Read Week Book Club” and YALSA’s Teen Read Week logo is on almost every page.

I visited the website for GL to see if they had extended their promotion there, and there’s a poll right on the front page for the October-November issue. It’s not splashed across the page (and I wouldn’t expect that) but it’s there. GL also gave their Teen Read Week Book Club its own page, but I sure as heck never would have found it if I didn’t have the actual magazine in hand to search for the direct URL to get there (maybe that’s the point). If you can get there, you can win a giveaway not just some very nice YA titles, but an iPad 2 for your ebook reading pleasure. GL also has a regular Book Club feature, with some substance to it, and I think it’s really cool. Unfortunately, with a front cover story like “15 weird boob questions you’re too embarrassed to ask” on the print edition, a lot of girls might never find something like the Teen Read Week center section, or the book club feature, which seems to be only online.

Major kudos to GL Magazine for recognizing that girls’ substance matters, instead of just their surface, and for promoting not just Teen Read Week, but reading for all the teen girls in their audience, every month.