Sociology reveals the invisible in our world. Sociologists explore the parts of our society that remain “in the dark,” and this has a lot in common with the horror genre. Both sociologists and horror fans find value in delving into the qualities and behaviors of people that others would rather not address. Both focus on things we don’t want to confront. More than many other genres, horror films are rife with sociological implications.
We are sociologists who host the Collective Nightmares podcast. Our podcast examines horror films from a sociological perspective. We focus on issues such as the representation of individuals of different genders, sexualities, and racial/ethnic backgrounds as well as the ideological messages of the film narratives.
Horror movies are a great teaching tool for undergraduate classes. For example, two recent films, Summer of ’84 and The First Purge, are a good fit for sociology courses focusing on gender, sexuality, deviance, and social problems. We’ve used discussion of horror films in our classes with great success – and what better time than Halloween to inspire students to think sociologically about horror?!
Summer of ’84 (2018)
Summer of ’84 models itself on popular media of the 1980s in look, tone, and story (The Goonies (1985), Explorers (1985), Stand By Me (1986), etc.). Our lead protagonist, an upper-middle class, white, heterosexual, boy, Davey, played by Graham Verchere, suspects his neighbor of being a serial killer. He convinces his friends to help him spy and investigate. Hijinks and horror ensue.

In our discussion of Summer of ‘84, we examine the representation of young women in adolescent boy-centric summer adventure movies. We also discuss the ubiquity of troublesome, but “oh so palatable” tropes. These include the representation of women, people of color, and political ideology that, when couched in a nostalgic 1980’s setting (which we both grew up smack in the middle of) can feel homey. The cultural climate of our youth seems to have clouded our ability to see the way Summer of ’84 depicted first and foremost women, but also racial inequity and the political climate of the 1980’s.
To address these ideas in your classroom, consider a discussion centered on the following argument, which we make in the podcast: Summer of ‘84 presented women largely as sexual currency for young men’s bonding.

Horror is a genre that relies on stigmatized topics and transgressing boundaries, and it therefore has unique potential to challenge or reinforce common conceptions of normalcy. One of the ways the core group of boys are cast as normal, good, and moral, in contrast to the suspicious neighbor, is via their hegemonic heterosexuality. This is largely done by showing them discussing women as potential sexual trophies, engaging the male gaze toward adult magazines, and taking advantage of Davey’s vantage point to watch his neighbor Nikki, played by Tiera Skovbye, undressing.
Nikki is relegated to the role of “love interest” as a willing participant in these exchanges. She takes pride in her ability to give the boys status through her flirtations, exalting them as her only true friends. She finds their covert attempts to see her naked as flattering, rather than a stark invasion of privacy. For a deeper discussion, we take this argument a step further and ask ourselves why we, both trained sociologists (one of whom specializes in gender) found the film enjoyable in spite of these deeply problematic behaviors. What does that say about the pervasiveness of these gender ideologies in our society?
The First Purge (2018)


The concept of The Purge (2013) film and now TV series is that once a year in the U.S. for 12 hours, all crime, including murder, is legal. The most recent film in the series, The First Purge, arrived in theaters this summer. In the film, the right-wing New Founding Fathers of America political party conducts an experiment on Staten Island, a borough of primarily poor people of color. This experiment is a trial run of the Purge concept that is rolled out nationally in the other films.
This premise offers director Gerard McMurray an allegory to explore a host of sociological issues relevant to current U.S. society. The film works as a basis for a discussion of class inequality, racial injustices, gendered violence, and social control. In our discussion of the film, we address deviance, racial stereotypes, anomie, solidarity, and the social psychological influences on behavior, especially the internalization of norms.
Though the horror genre is notorious for being particularly white-dominated, The First Purge is directed by a Black man (Gerard McMurray) and the primary stars of the film are people of color (Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade). While critical and thought-provoking in many ways, the film is also disappointing when it comes to portrayals of gender and sexuality. Questions for class discussion could include how social structure influences individual agency within the film’s narrative. How does the film perpetuate and challenge race, gender, and racial stereotypes? What is the role of intersectionality in these stereotypes?
In preparation for Halloween, we will soon have a follow-up post detailing which of our prior podcasts are relevant to different sociology courses. We will also have an example assignment to share that instructors can adapt to their own needs/classes to help you discuss horror films with your students.
Marshall Smith earned his PhD in sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2011 focusing on gender, sexuality, youth, and media. He currently teaches sociology classes at CU Boulder for the Farrand Residential Academic Program.
Laura Patterson earned her PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2011, focusing on environmental issues and the impacts of HIV/AIDS in rural South Africa. She’s currently a research consultant with a Colorado-based pregnancy prevention program and other federally-funded evaluation efforts, in addition to teaching at CU Boulder and Adams State University.
Comments 46
Nick — February 22, 2019
Yeah, horror movies are our fears. Because when viewing they cause strong emotions and the person remembers them. This is directly related to memory, I read about it in a scientific article. There was a lot written about the possibilities of the human brain. I don't watch those movies anymore.
Kreb — August 12, 2019
Horror films is my favorite genre. Watch latest movies and shows on your PC using a movie android app. Install the android apps on pc using Nox Android emulator
kik login pc — July 28, 2020
kik login pc
dolly — May 17, 2021
Ich habe große Angst vor Horrorfilmen. Ich schaue nie alleine einen Horrorfilm und wenn ich sehe, schlafe ich zwei Tage lang nicht. Ok Lass los, Leute, die Horrorfilme mögen, können es genießen. Und wenn jemand ein Augenproblem hat, können Sie hier nachsehen
suka — August 25, 2021
It's great to be here with everyone, I have a lot of knowledge from what you share, to say thanks, the information and knowledge here helps me a lot. fireboy and watergirl
Install CokernutX — October 19, 2021
Go to Settings > General > Profiles and Device Management and under Downloaded Profiles, kindly tap CokernutX profile and hit the InstallMonitor the establishment progress from your iOS gadget's home screen.
personalised website design — October 20, 2021
Nice article to read during lockdown
Joseph M. Phipps — January 19, 2022
It was incredible to peruse your post! The humanistic creative mind appears to have made another issue for sociologists. Human science of instruction centers around educating and learning. The construction of instructing and learning includes the physical, passionate, and scholarly parts, among others, and understudies can get custom exploration paper composing by visiting https://www.360wichita.com/blog/Education/Best-Paper-Writing-Service-2022.html site to deal with their undertakings. Much obliged to you!
aska — June 15, 2022
I never imagine that floors will be so https://www.bbntimes.com/society/best-research-paper-writing-services cheap with such quality because when I see the quality in sample I’m totally amazed. “Yorkville Condos” comes with a great opportunity to avail because no one can get flooring in such rates. So I really like the post and also I appreciate the person behind this blog.
Courtney T. Pegram — August 24, 2022
Most of us have parts of our lives we may like to change. This may bring about negative feelings at times, but it’s normal. It’s part of our process of creating happy and healthy lives for ourselves and also visit https://my-assignment.help/ site for quality work. You may want to become better at managing money, or you may aspire to take real steps to improve your overall health and wellness.
Darlene Pinkham — May 6, 2023
It's interesting that a large portion of the horror experience is designed to allay our concerns rather than accentuate them. The audience is comforted that normalcy has prevailed over the offender when the murderer is imprisoned, the threat is removed, or the ghosts are exiled. In other words, horror stories might be viewed as a kind of love story for the culture of the film's creators, a confirmation of societal standards.
Mac — May 16, 2023
I really hope there will be a lot more content like this. Pikashow
Pikashow — May 17, 2023
Pikashow Apk.
Pikashow Apk is an Android-based application that provides users with access to a vast collection of movies, TV shows, and live TV. Its user-friendly interface, compatibility with multiple devices, and regular updates make it an excellent choice for users looking for a convenient and affordable way to access movies and TV shows. Pikashow is a streaming platform that provides its users with access to a wide range of movies, TV shows, and live sports events. The platform offers a user-friendly interface and allows users to watch their favorite content without any interruption or buffering.
Pikashow apk — May 30, 2023
A fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post.
Pikashow Apk is an Android-based application that provides users with access to a vast collection of movies, TV shows, and live TV
asd — May 30, 2023
A fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post.
https://Pikashow.vip
MS Dinesh — June 5, 2023
The Google Home app is a free app that allows you to control your Google Nest, Wifi, Google Home, and Chromecast devices, plus thousands of compatible connected home products like lights, cameras, thermostats, and more – all from your smartphone or tablet.
There is no official Google Home app for Windows, Mac, or Linux desktops. However, there are a few ways to use the Google Home app on your PC using an Android emulator.
Download Google Home on PC.
youtubepro — June 20, 2023
YouTube Pro APK Download: Unlocking New Features and Enhanced User Experience offering an enhanced user experience by unlocking a variety of features that are not available in the official App
Sophie — June 23, 2023
Thanks for the movie names it would be nice to take a look on weekends.
Bravo
neverendservices — August 1, 2023
nice post of this article. thanks for sharing.
Mumbai Model Girls — August 1, 2023
Great article! I enjoyed your informative writing style and appreciated how you made complex ideas accessible.
Dating girls in mumbai — August 1, 2023
Great article! I enjoyed your informative writing style.
Dating girls in mumbai
Sana Jeff — August 1, 2023
NordVPN MOD APK IS THE BEST APP TO WATCH MOVIES but only download from nordvpnmodapk.com
loconto — August 4, 2023
Nice article! I found a lot of useful information in your blog, it was a pleasure to read, thanks for sharing this great content, keep sharing!
Bangalore Dating Girls
Amelia smith — August 5, 2023
Your premium Spotify free trial is automatically started when you sign up, and it lasts for 30 days. That's a full month to stream any song or podcast you like to your heart's content with no ads; after the trial period, your membership reverts to the free tier unless you decide to upgrade to Spotify Premium.
https://spotidown.com
Jorge Auther — August 5, 2023
The UK49s Teatime Results game is very simple and interesting to play. This game has no hard and fast rules for its players. There are two methods to play; it depends on you whether you play a six-ball draw or a seven-ball draw. In a six-ball draw, you have to choose six numbers from 1 to 49. On the other hand in seven ball draw, you have to choose 6 numbers and one booster ball.
isabasu — August 7, 2023
Thank you for this brief explanation and very nice information. hope to see you again.
Regards => Dating service Bangalore
ishabasu — August 9, 2023
Very Nice Blog.
Mumbai Model girls
Chat GPT Login — August 9, 2023
I always make my collection of best horror movies using Chat GPT Login
Skymovieshd — August 9, 2023
SkymoviesHD enormous collection of movies and TV shows is one of its most notable qualities. From vintage films to the most recent blockbusters, there is a wide choice of genres and categories to fit your tastes.
Mumbai Companion — August 16, 2023
Very Nice Thank you
Arslan — August 16, 2023
Chat GPT sign up will take you to the never ending journey of fun
Ash — August 16, 2023
Wanna see good dramas visit katha anakahee watch online for quality time
Jaffery — August 16, 2023
Wanna see good dramas visit katha anakahee today episode daily motion
Prewitt Trudeau — August 19, 2023
KineMaster is a versatile mobile video editing application, offering an array of tools and features for creating and enhancing videos on-the-go. With its intuitive interface, users can trim, splice, and combine video clips, add transitions and effects, insert text and overlays, and incorporate audio tracks. KineMaster supports multiple layers, enabling intricate editing, while its user-friendly controls empower users of various skill levels to produce professional-looking videos. It's widely used for social media content, vlogging, and even small-scale video production. KineMaster's accessibility and functionality make it a popular choice for those seeking a robust video editing solution directly on their mobile devices. https://kinemaster.com.in
sada smith — August 22, 2023
winning the UK49s Lotto requires a combination of strategic thinking, informed decision-making, and a dash of luck. By applying the strategies outlined in this comprehensive guide, you'll be well-equipped to enhance your odds of winning. Remember, while winning the lottery is never guaranteed, your approach and mindset can greatly influence your experience. https://teatimeresultsz.com/
filmygod — August 22, 2023
From Filmygod, you will get to download web series, HD movies, Hindi dubbed movies, South movies, Tamil, Telugu, Bollywood, Hollywood Hindi movies.
pikachu app — September 3, 2023
amazing
pikachu — September 3, 2023
i love this article and love to tell you that pikachu app
treesdoor — September 4, 2023
partisi lipat sebagai sekat ruangan saat ini banyak sekali di cari, alasan mereka mencari partisi lipat tidak lain karena penggunaan nya yang fleksibel dan efisien, dan juga tampilan nya yang bisa menyesuaikan dengan desain sebuah ruangan. Saat ini partisi lipat tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai sekat ruangan saja tapi juga bisa meredam suara antar ruangan sehingga tidak mengganggu aktivitas di sebelah nya. Partisi lipat ini atau yang bisa di sebut partisi sliding wall, untuk mendapatkannya sekarang sangat mudah, apalagi di zaman digital yang serba online, anda tinggal searching di browser dengan kata kunci partisi lipat pasti akan muncul. Disini kami PIREKI ASIA sebagai salah satu produsen yang sudah belasan tahun berkecimpung di dunia partisi mempunyai produk unggulan terbaik, salah satunya yaitu partisi geser penyekat ruangan Sorepa yang bisa menyekat ruangan dan juga meredam suara sehingga menjadikan ruangan anda semakin lebih terjamin privasinya.
Alight Motion — September 11, 2023
If you want to edit your photos and make your images look more attractive and fabulous, this app is enough for you to provide you extremely satisfied results with deep impressions. It is in your hands to edit, alter the brightness of photos freely, change effects, change color, and anything that you want is available in this awesome app.
https://alightmotionspro.com/
Antenia — September 18, 2023
The game Hill Climb Racing can be downloaded free.
Hill Climb Racing
khan g — September 22, 2023
The Picasso app download is a great alternative to watching and accessing the premium content of renowned platforms. On this apk version, you can easily access movies, videos, web series, trailers, Picasso app Live Tv, Live cricket, and whatnot. This App requires no subscription charges or registration process to access all the available content. Users must download the app and watch their favorite movies and shows without worrying about subscription fees.
Picasso APK — September 27, 2023
On the Picasso App, you get the option to watch the most hit movies for free, you can easily watch all the movies using it.
Chat GPT Login — September 28, 2023
ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology that allows
you to have human-like conversations and much more with the chat gpt login free.
Instander — September 28, 2023
Instander apk is an instamod for Android phones, which can help you get more features
such as no advertisements, download images, videos, and many other Apps of social media.
Chat Gpt Sign Up — September 29, 2023
This chatbot is an AI-powered chatbot that uses the GPT-3.5 architecture to
generate human-like responses to text-based conversations with Chat GPT Login.