Why do we LAUGH after a jump scare? The science of FEAR. Nina Nesseth (Ep. 75)

Creative Culture with Steve Ramsey

Grab your popcorn! Nina Nesseth, author of "Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films" slashes into the Creative Culture Podcast for a ghostly discussion on why horror movies scare us and what causes our brains and bodies to react the way we do. We also highlight the evolution of horror reflecting societal concerns, from classic monsters to modern real-world horrors. Dare to listen? 🎬💀

Some of the fun topics include:

• The physiological responses to fear, appeal of jump scares, and our evolutionary understanding of threats play significant roles in horror.

• How horror movies mirror societal fears and values, evolving over time to represent themes such as consumerism, the Red Scare, queerness, trauma and more.

• Why the genre is expanding with the rise of liminal films and reflections of real-world events like 9/11 and the pandemic.

• Debunking t common misconception links horror movie consumption to real-world violence; however, this correlation is not based on any science and utter bullshit lol.

Whether you're a horror enthusiast, science nerd, or just a curious listener, this episode is a revelation about a genre that mirrors our deepest dreads and cultural shifts. Don't miss out on these dark yet enlightening insights!

Get a copy of Nina’s book, Nightmare Fuel here: https://amzn.to/3ZPDGwp

You can watch the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/QD_fnZ5Me-U?si=08SLsDkXyMo3WBnw

You can help support Creative Culture here: https://www.patreon.com/creativeculturepod

Thank you!