The Horror Sensorium: Media and the Senses

by Angela Ndalianis

Horror films, books and video games engage their audiences through combinations of storytelling practices, emotional experiences, cognitive responses and physicality that ignite the sensorium--the sensory mechanics of the body and the intellectual and cognitive functions connected to them. Through analyses of various mediums, this volume explores how the horror genre affects the mind and body of the spectator. Works explored include the films 28 Days Later and Death Proof, the video games Resident Evil 4 and Doom 3, the theme park ride The Revenge of the Mummy, transmedia experiences associated with The Dark Knight and True Blood, and paranormal romance novels featuring Anita Blake and Sookie Stackhouse. By examining how these diverse media generate medium-specific corporeal and sensory responses, it reveals how the sensorium interweaves sensory and intellectual encounters to produce powerful systems of perception.

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Shiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book I at first speed read at my breaks at work. I soon bought it for myself and use it for my own research! Very well written and lots of fun facts for the horror geek in all people.