MPR News with Angela Davis

What can horror movies teach us about ourselves and our society?

Coming up Monday at 9 a.m.

A Family eats popcorn and watches a scary movie
The music is building... the tension is heightening... what will happen next?!
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Halloween is here! For some of us, that means fun costumes and cute children trick-or-treating. For others, it means leaning into the scary side of the season with our favorite horror movies and scary stories. 

People have been telling stories about monsters, ghosts and the supernatural for centuries. But why does horror appeal to us? What do we get out of scary stories? And what can they teach us about ourselves and our society?

To answer those questions, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a folklore professor.

Guests:

  • Jeffrey Tolbert is an assistant Professor of American Studies and Folklore at Penn State Harrisburg. He teaches courses on American horror movies and monsters, aliens and the supernatural.