ARTH1918: Witches, Ghosts, and Evil Clowns: Figures of Fear in Art, Folklore, and Popular Culture

From some of the earliest expressive evidence of humans through contemporary popular culture and social media, our art, stories, and belief systems have been filled with figures of fear. The returning dead, living people with strange powers, spirits, demons, monsters, and mad killers haunt our dreams, but sometimes seem to show up during our waking hours. Worried communities and obsessed individuals have committed grave injustices and acts of violence based on fears about such beings, often fueled by deep-seated prejudices. Yet we are also attracted to these characters, playing with them, depicting them, and taking on their guises for fun. Many of us derive real enjoyment from scaring ourselves. This semester, we will investigate these figures of fear, drawing on academic approaches from art history, folklore, anthropology, history, and cultural studies. We will read a variety of academic works, and we will also encounter and think about primary works, including folktales, visual works of art, movies, literature, games, costumes, decorations, haunted houses, and objects used for magic and protection. This course will give you the opportunity to build skills of close observation and visual analysis, learn surprising things about your own surroundings, think critically about culture and history, and deepen your appreciation for the individual artistry, cultural knowledge, and the play of communication that make folklife, art, and popular culture so rich and remarkable.

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