Horror and the holy : wisdom-teachings of the monster tale

Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-142) and index.. Filmography: p. 143-145.. Responsibility Kirk J. Schneider.

Introduction - Ecstasy, terror, and infinity. 1 The structure of horror: chaos and obliteration. Freudian and Jungian perspectives. 2 Wisdom-horror: Dracula and Frankenstein. Dracula: a study in hyperconstriction. Frankenstein: a study in hyperexpansion. 3 Further inquires into wisdom-horror. Further studies in hyperconstriction: The phantom of the opera, "The fall of the house of Usher", The invisible man, The incredible shrinking man. Further studies in hyperexpansion: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The birds, Forbidden planet. Studies in bipolar horror: Vertigo, Alien. 4 Horror as a worldview. Between fanaticism and despair: toward a worldview of wonderment: Wonderment in psychology, Wonderment in science, wonderment in religion. Epilogue: a comment on evil

'Throughout history, human beings have been strangely fascinated by the monstrous and the macabre....Schneider explains the compelling power of such tales as a result of our thirst for the sacred, and identifies elements of the holy in familiar bloodcurdling yarns. True horror arises when the mundane becomes unexpected and when the contained breaks free of its confining chains to become unlimited. Anything boundless tends to become terrifying....Drawing upon a detailed and telling analysis of eleven well-known horror stories, Dr. Schneider finds that a spiritual understanding of life can be attained through horror....'

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