Why take this course?
Horror isn’t just about jump scares—it’s a lens into the fears, injustices, and power struggles that shape our world. Screams & Social Justice: Analyzing the Politics of Horror invites you to explore how films like Get Out, The Purge, and Parasite reflect real social issues—from race and class to gender and consumerism. Through discussion, analysis, and a bit of fright, you’ll uncover how horror stories reveal deeper truths about society—and why what scares us on screen matters off screen.
Questions This Course Will Explore:
- What if the scariest part of horror movies isn’t the monster—but the society they come from?
- Who’s the real villain: the killer… or the system that created them?
- Do horror villains create fear—or expose the fears we already live with?
- Why do some monsters never die—what do they say about what society refuses to face?
- What’s more terrifying: the supernatural… or the systems we accept as normal?
Who This Course Is For
- Anyone interested in media, culture and politics
- Horror fans who want to dig deeper into underlying themes
- Activists, writers, creators who are curious about storytelling as resistance
Example Curriculum
Prof Kathy Bio
Kathy Simon is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Associate Professor of Psychology and Community Mental Health. Prof Kathy created this online course, Screams & Social Justice: Analyzing the Politics of Horror, to bring together her passion for teaching with her love of the horror genre. Prof Simon's goal is to give students the tools to not only appreciate horror as entertainment, but also to unpack its cultural messages, question its assumptions, and see how it speaks to broader issues in our lives today.
If you’ve ever suspected that your favorite scary movies had something more going on beneath the surface—or if you just love horror and want to dive deeper—you’re in the right place.