Class 1.1: Discussing Death, Fear, and the Uncanny

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to horror, psychoanalysis, and associated theories presented in the lecture notes.

The Uncanny

A term referring to something familiar that becomes strange or frightening, often invoking dread.

Abjection

A human reaction of horror or disgust, particularly related to loss of boundaries between self and other.

Jacques Lacan

A French psychoanalyst known for his ideas on the unconscious, identity, and the nature of desire.

Sigmund Freud

An Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, emphasizing the role of the unconscious mind.

Julia Kristeva

A Bulgarian-French philosopher and literary critic who explored themes of abjection and the relationship between horror and identity.

Anxiety in Psychoanalysis

Described as a sensation connected to the desire of the Other, often linked to feelings of identity and self-perception.

The 'Uncanny Valley'

A concept in which entities that appear almost human cause unease in observers, due to their near-human appearance but noticeable strangeness.

Fear in Ancient Societies

A reflection of both individual and collective anxieties, often expressed through cultural artifacts like amulets and traditions.

Function of Horror

To evoke fear and anxiety in order to explore deeper truths about human nature and societal norms.

Monstrous-Feminine

A concept referring to representations of women in horror that are perceived as abject and threatening to the symbolic order.