Description
Book SynopsisExplores the long-neglected element of the supernatural in films from Spain and Mexico by focusing on the social and cultural contexts of their production and reception, their adaptations of codes and conventions for characters and plot, and their use of cinematic techniques to create the experience of emotion without explanation.
Trade Review"The authors offer a provocative exploration of the conventions and aesthetics of the supernatural via close readings of selected fiction features . . . such as
The Vampire (1957) and
Shiver (2008). The key themes of these movies (among them, patriarchy in crisis) are fruitfully examined within the historical-sociopolitical context of the disorienting forced leap into modernity undergone by both Mexico and Spain in the 20th century. Rodíguez-Hernández and Schaefer's research is in-depth and up-to-date."—D. West,
Choice“The human psyche envisions the future in terms of hopes and fears. This volume skillfully explores the ghosts of those fears. A welcome work, indispensable for understanding the gothic supernatural in films from Spain and Mexico over six decades.”—Andrés Lema-Hincapié, coeditor of
Despite All Adversities: Spanish-American Queer Cinema “Finally, a long-awaited comparative examination of the supernatural in Mexican and Spanish horror and hybrid films. These case studies illuminate historical and contemporary sociopolitical problems through highly readable yet philosophical close readings grounded in film analysis. An indispensable and exciting contribution to genre studies.”—Sergio de la Mora, author of
Cinemachismo: Masculinities and Sexuality in Mexican Film“The pairing of Mexican and Spanish films leads to innovative readings that move beyond the framework of the national to identify the potency of supernatural tropes and motifs in posing questions about the limits of science and reason in tackling the most important themes regarding the nature and meaning of human existence. The authors bring to bear an impressive grounding in psychoanalysis, Marxist theory and analysis, and other relevant thought from a variety of fields.”—Kathleen Vernon, coeditor of
A Companion to Pedro AlmodóvarTable of ContentsTable of Contents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction: Anxiety, Awe, and the Changing Shape of Fear
2. Porous Landscapes of the Modern World: The Witch as Sublime Intruder
3. Haunted Houses: Inheriting the Supernatural
4. Evil in the Classroom: The Fascination and Danger of Schools for Girls
5. A Desperate Longing for Order: The Masks of Innocence
6. Patterns of Temporal Terror: A Repetition Compulsion?
7. Conclusion: Sublime Afterimages
Appendix: Filmography
Notes
References
Index
