Monstruos y Miedo: Terror, Poder y Sociedad en el Cine Latino y Latinoamericano

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Horror movies have historically been much more than a genre of fear: they can be a powerful medium of social critique and cultural analysis. In this course, students will explore and analyze the genre of horror films beyond surface-level scares – they will learn approaches and theoretical frameworks to unravel the complexity of social, political, and cultural meaning hidden behind monsters, zombies, vampires, and other icons of the genre. We will also investigate the literary tropes and influences for many of these films. Through a multidisciplinary learning environment, students will analyze horror films from Latin America and the United States, studying how these films address issues such as social inequality, racism, sexism, institutional violence, power dynamics, and cultural tensions. The course will combine cinematographic analysis, critical theory, cultural studies, and hands-on audiovisual production. A central component of the course is a collaborative project in which students will collectively write, produce, direct, act in, film, and edit their own horror vignettes. These short films will serve as practical applications of the course's theoretical insights, challenging students to create compelling horror narratives that provide meaningful social commentary.