Dr. Lowenstein, Professor of English and Film and Media Studies, will work with colleagues to diversify and globalize the Horror Studies Archive recently created by Pitt's University Library System. The Global Horror Studies Archival and Research Network will be the first of its kind. Horror is a truly global vocabulary. Each nation has its own historically- and culturally- specific inflections regarding horror, but nearly every country in the world has an artistic horror tradition of some kind that is recognizable through the lens of the others, and all are shaped by transnational influences and global developments.
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August 24- Exhibit with archival materials from the George A. Romero Collection Opens, co-sponsored with Pitt's University Library System. On view in-person in the newly renovated Dept. of Archives and Special Collections Gallery at Hillman Library
October 9 | 2 PM and 4 PM- "Horror Genre as Social Force" Information Session for students, faculty, staff, and community members interested in learning more about the scholar community, co-sponsored with Pitt's University Honors College. Central to this information session will be the Night of the Living Dead, 1968.
October 13 | 7 PM - 8 PM - Reading with Daniel Kraus, co-author (with George A. Romero) of the new novel The Living Dead and co-writer (with Guillermo del Toro) of the novel, The Shape of Water, co-sponsored with Pitt's University Library System.
October 17 | 7-9 PM - Celebration of the 25th anniversary of the pioneering horror film, "Tales from the Hood", with the Pittsburgh resident, film's director Rusty Cundieff, co-sponsored with Pitt's University Honors College. Attendees will partake in a watch party of the first "Tales from the Hood," highlighted with stories and commentary from Cundieff and discussion with Acting Dean Audrey Murrell, along with other special guests.
The watch party will also include discussion and commentary of "Tales from the Hood 2 and 3.
October 20 | 7 PM -"Scream Queens: The History and Future of Women in Horror", writers panel, featuring readings & conversations with four major women authors, including the award-winning Kathe Koja, co-sponsored with Pitt's University Library System and Pitt Honors.
November 9 | 2 PM - “Final Girls Berlin Festival - Best of Fest”, a screening of new female-directed short horror films will be available for a week preceding the event. On Nov. 9, the curators and directors will join us for a Q&A, representing countries from all over the world. Sponsored by Pitt’s Horror Studies Working Group and the Global Studies Center.
November 11 | 2 PM - Programming and Film Festival Workshop with Elinor Lewy and Sara Neidorf: Final Girls Berlin Film Festival head programmers Elinor Lewy and Sara Neidorf will discuss the process of running a film festival and programming horror films, with emphasis on women-directed horror. Sponsored by Pitt’s Horror Studies Working Group and the Global Studies Center.
January 25 | 7 PM - 8 PM - Beyond the Bride of Frankenstein: Monsters and other Fearsome Women
Join this lecture featuring women horror authors and scholars Dr. Melanie Anderson, Dr. Lisa Kroger, and Lisa Morton.
January 28 | 6 PM - Queer Horror Film Club with Bridget Keown: The Hunger
Part of an ongoing Spring 2021 discussion on queer horror film, Bridget Keown, Pitt Lecturer in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies will lead an hour-long discussion on Tony Scott’s The Hunger (1983), starring David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve.
January 29 | 4 PM - 5 PM -Global Horror Studies Archival and Research Network Workshop: How do we build the mission and methods of the Global Horror Studies Archival and Research Network?
This introductory, brainstorming workshop will feature GHSARN members Dr. Stacey Abbott (Roehampton, UK), Dr. Roger Luckhurst (Birkbeck, UK), Dr. Angela Ndalianis (Swinburne, Australia), Dr. Daniel Sacco (Ryerson, Canada), Dr. Johnny Walker (Northumbria, UK), and Kristopher Woofter (Dawson, Canada) as well as Pitt colleagues Dr. Nancy Condee, Dr. Charles Exley, Dr. Michael Goodhart, Dr. Adam Lowenstein, Dr. David Pettersen, and Dr. Ben Rubin. The discussion is open to the public, and participation is welcomed.
February 3 | 7 PM - Malaysian and Singaporean Horror Series screening of Sumpah Pontianak
Third in the series of schlocky films from the 50s. The first Pontianak film appeared in 1957 Singaporean Malay horror film directed by Indian film director B.N. Rao starring Maria Menado and M. Amin. Based on the Malay folktales of a blood-sucking ghost born from a woman who dies in childbirth. The smash-hit premiered on 27 April 1957 and screened for almost three months at the local Cathay cinemas. Its success spawned two other sequels, Dendam Pontianak (Revenge of the Pontianak, 1957) and Sumpah Pontianak (Curse of the Pontianak, 1958). It is also said to have launched the Pontianak genre in Singapore and Malaysia, with rival Shaw producing its own Pontianak trilogy and several movies of the same genre were also made in Malaysia.
February 4 | 7 PM - George Romero and Pittsburgh: The Early Years Screening and Discussion
Join us for the premiere screening of the George Romero & Pittsburgh: The Early Years documentary and a special presentation of the George A. Romero Foundation Pioneer Award honoring the late Pitt alum and Night of the Living Dead star Duane Jones to be presented by Suz Romero. The film is the product of a group of dedicated Pitt students and mentors from the Making The Documentary course who creatively persevered during a pandemic using materials from the Romero archives and interviews.
February 6 | 8 PM - 9 PM - An Evening with Horror Director Gigi Saul Guerrero
Mexican-Canadian horror director and actress Gigi Saul Guerrero will showcase some of her horror film work and discuss filmmaking with members of the Pitt community. Guerrero is co-founder of Luchagore Productions in Vancouver, Canada, and directed her feature debut Culture Shock for Blumhouse Productions Television. She has gained recognition for her numerous short films, many of which look at Mexican culture and experiences through horror.
February 9 | 7 PM - 8 PM - It Came From the Archives! Unearthed Treasures from the George A. Romero Archival Collection
Join Horror Studies Collection Coordinator Ben Rubin and Visiting Researcher Adam Hart as they discuss their favorite and most significant discoveries from processing the George A. Romero Archival Collection. Rare and never before seen materials will shed new light on Romero’s classic films as well as reveal the films that could have been through unfinished and lost projects. Event hosted by the University Library System.
February 10 | Time: TBA - Queer Horror Film Club with Marian Phillips: Queer Love
Part of an ongoing Spring 2021 discussion on queer horror film. Marian Phillips of the Horror Studies Working Group will lead an hour-long discussion on a film.
- Check back for Zoom-Link
February 13 | Time: TBA - My Bloody Valentine 40th Anniversary Celebration
GARF Network talks with cast and crew of the classic slasher film to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its release.
March 2 | Time: 1 PM - Twisted Sisters: Women Creators of TV Horror
Dr. Stacey Abbott (University of Roehampton) will give a talk on the history of women in horror TV production, with Dr. Adam Hart (Visiting Researcher at the University of Pittsburgh Library System) responding.
March 3 | Time: 7 PM - Malaysian Horror Series (Film 2): PONTIANAK HARUN DUNAL MALAM
Join us for a virtual series of films based on the Malay folktales of a blood-sucking ghost born from a woman who dies in childbirth. The smash hit premiered in April 1957 and screened for nearly three months at the local Cathay cinemas. Its success spawned two other sequels in 2004 and 2019. It is also said to have launched the Pontianak genre in Singapore and Malaysia, with rival Shaw producing its own Pontianak trilogy.
March 13 | Time: 7 PM - The Howling 40th Anniversary Celebration
Join the George A. Romero Foundation on March 13 for a howling good time in celebration of The Howling’s 40th anniversary. GARF Network hosts Matt Blazi and Eric Kent welcome director Joe Dante and cast member Dee Wallace (Karen White) about what went into the making of the movie and the film’s impact on horror.
March 16 | Time: 7 PM - A Conversation with Linda D. Addison
Join us for a reading and conversation with acclaimed horror poet Linda D. Addison. The conversation will focus on her biography and path to success, her role as a mentor, her approach to horror and poetics and the intersection of content and style, and feature a reading and discussion of her poetry.
March 18 | Time: 4 PM - Summoning Candyman: A Panel Discussion of the Cinematic Urban Legend
Since its release in 1992, Candyman (directed by Bernard Rose) has become a pillar of Black horror through its representation of how the trauma of racism is carried down from one generation to the next. 2021 will see the release of a reimagined Candyman, or—as it has been described, a “spiritual sequel”—to the 1992 film, which itself spawned two sequels in the 1990s. Our panel of experts include Professor Robin R. Means Coleman, Dani Bethea, Professor Dawn Keetley, and Jon Towlson!
April 6 | Time: 7 PM - 8 PM - Expanding the Horror Canon: A conversation with Jewelle Gomez and Michelle Laine.
Join us for a conversation with acclaimed horror authors Jewelle Gomez and Michelle Lane. The conversation will explore expanding traditional horror conventions to include marginalized communities, the intersections of inspiration and mentorship, and revisiting characters through sequels.
April 13 | Time: 7 PM - Everybody Has A Secret Face: Queer Horror & Poetry
Part of an ongoing Spring 2021 discussion on queer horror film. Horror cuts right to the heart of our hidden fears and desires. For decades, queer horror fans have found dark reflections of our lives and experiences in scary movies. In this workshop, we mine horror film imagery to find poetic inspiration, exploring the scenes that haunt us to write about what's terrifying, intriguing, or maybe even attractive in this genre. No previous writing experience is required: beginners welcome!
Sponsored by the Global Studies Center, Pitt's Honors College, and the University Library System.