WARNING

This talk contains graphic images of

mutilation, destruction, and mayhem (mostly
taken from cheesy 1980s-style horror movies)
and references to racism, existential dread,
and neckbeards.
Please do not throw up on the speaker.

Why do people die in horror

movies?

Why?
You had sex
Youre a bad person
Youre not a bad person, but you once did something
bad to somebody, and they want revenge
You thought about maybe having sex
You did something bad to a witch/gypsy/fortune teller
and got cursed
You got to second base and were probably going to
have sex
You caught the attention of an evil serial killer
Etc. etc. etc.

Main themes: Moral judgments, and

Main themes: Moral judgments, and

Main themes: Moral judgments

But some of the most frightening

horror movies have very little to do
with morality and evil

Alien

Hellraiser

Hellraiser

The Thing

We have one man to thank

We have one man to thank

We have one man to thank

We have one man to thank

Lovecraft and the Superfan

A not-quite inspirational tale of the
evolution of modern horror

H.P. Lovecraft: 1890-1937

August Derleth

What is Lovecraftian horror?

Cosmic fear

Indifference of the universe

Mankind doomed by curiosity

Mankind doomed by curiosity

How has horror changed?

Cultural touchstones

Batman!

Evil Dead

True Detective

The evolution of The Thing: A

case study

1938: Who Goes There?

Short story by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Basic plot structure intact
The intrepid scientists SAVE THE DAY!
by the grace of God, who evidently does hear
very well, even down here, and the margin of
half an hour, we keep our world, and the
planets of the system too.
YAAAAAAAAAY!

1951: The Thing from Another World

The thing is actually a bloodthirsty plant

1951: The Thing from Another World

The thing is actually a bloodthirsty plant
THE INTREPID SCIENTISTS SAVE THE DAY!

1982: The Thing

The intrepid scientistswell

The legacy of August Derleth

Why is he so hated?
Emphasized Cthulhu
More interested in
traditional themes of
good vs. evil

Who cares?

Moral of our story?

Died a complete professional

failure

Shat on relentlessly by horror

scholars

Your dreams and passions are probably

stupid, confusing, and/or silly.
Theres a very good chance no one will
appreciate said dreams and passions in
your lifetime.

Or ever.
Follow them anyway.

Thank you!