Slash and Grab: Horror of the 1980s

De: Adam Jortner, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Adam Jortner

We can learn a lot about American history and culture by looking at the horror films of the 1980s. The horror boom that began in 1978 coincided with an era of global nuclear fears, urban decay, and recession as well as the collapse of the Hollywood studio system and the decline of censorship laws that had held sway for nearly 50 years. This volatile mix of circumstances gave rise to the gory, violent, over-the-top—and very successful—genre of horror that we now know as the “slasher” or “splatter” film.

In the 10 lectures of Slash and Grab: Horror of the 1980s, you’ll follow Professor Adam Jortner as he examines how these films were created, why they were made, and what kind of reaction they sparked in American audiences. You’ll explore movies that have become classics of the genre, including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Halloween, as well as the lesser-known productions such as The House on Sorority Row and The Stuff. Along the way, you’ll consider how culture shaped the films, as well as how the films shaped the culture in everything from their subtle subversion of gender expectations to the role they played in stoking the era’s so-called “Satanic panic.”

While the slasher film may have been at its most popular in the 1980s, that doesn’t mean the genre has been laid to rest. Changes in American culture, technology, and filmmaking have transformed horror movies to reflect the anxieties of a different generation. However, much like the killers that made the splatter movies of the 1980s so distinctive, the power of horror to reveal our deepest fears never truly dies.

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A genre full of contradictions and allegory

I love these little presentation lectures that Great Courses and also Audible put together. There’s always something to learn. It’s fun to think about how a much maligned and often reviled movie genre can at the same time have so much to say about its environment and society but contains themes that could be supported by those who revile and malign the genre.

Lectures

Learning to love listening to these lectures that are free to listen on audible. This was a pretty good one about 80s horror movies heard about movies that I have never heard of and will probably never watch now but also just more detail about horror movies that I grew up watching. Highly recommend this listen

Enjoyable review of the history of the slasher film.

Lots of stuff I didn’t know, like how the Motion picture code ran through 1968 and prevented movies like slasher and gore ones from being made. A chronological review of slasher films from the late 70’s to the early 80’s.

Fun fact: now I know why they number these films!

Phenomenal Learning Experience

I learned so much, probably more than I thought I wanted to know, and I am so happy I listened to these lectures.
Having seen the first Friday the 13th and the first Halloween (my first horror movies as a teenager), I can honestly say that they they horrified me enough that I’m very careful about which ones I see now. Now that I’ve heard about so many really good movies, and so many really bad movies in the genre, I think I’m ready to see more.
Thank you!

So fun!

I thought this was such a great audio lecture. I really don’t like watching these types of movies, but I really enjoyed listening to someone provide synopsis and analysis. It was fun to learn about the interaction between film and society.

Mistakes!

While this was just fine with listing titles and something I could have playing along with a workout-this was rife with mistakes. Carol Anne asks for a goldfish, not a hamster. Only the parents are outside the Myers house to reveal Micheal as the killer-no police! Many more here and there. It may be just nitpicking but it does make the listener stop and go-um…nooooo…

It’ll bring back fun memories.

Fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun! A lot of fun lots and lots.

Not deep, but fun!

This wasn’t particularly academic, and it wasn’t always accurate, but it was a lot of fun to be reminded of horror movies in the 80’s, and how ubiquitous they were.

It was easy and enjoyable to listen to, and left me with some ideas to ponder.

I enjoyed seeing these movies in a wider historical context. It was interesting to see how things like the end of the Motion Picture Code, VCRs, and the conglomeration of media companies, have impacted horror movies.

I think he makes a good argument that censorship and corporate conglomeration limit opportunities for new ideas, new people, and pushing the limits of expression.

He also makes a good argument that from the 1930’s (before the MPC,) through grind house independents, to the post-MPC movies of the 1970’s and 80’s, movie audiences haven’t really changed. We’ve always consumed movies that pushed the boundaries of reality, good taste, and social mores.

In depth, well, researched, very knowledgeable

This course gives us a glimpse into the idea of what horror means from the 1970s to the 1990s. Horror films in my opinion are the new fairytale. Meant to teach lessons, this course shows you how whore is a vital part of the American landscape. And not just American culture but worldwide culture. From teaching moral lessons to showing the best way to survive this course shows you how to navigate through the dangerous situations that we find ourselves in.

Entertaining

Nice combination of information and entertainment. Narration was well done. Plus, it didn’t shy away from the gore.