Professor Wheeler Winston Dixon will discuss and sign copies of his new book, "History of Horror" at the University Bookstore at 7 p.m. Oct. 6. Professor Gwendolyn Foster will join him to discuss and sign copies of A Short History of Film, which they co-wrote.
"History of Horror" is a one-stop source that unearths the historical origins of characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman and their various incarnations in film from the silent era to comedic sequels. The book offers a comprehensive survey of the of the popular film genre arranged by decades, with outliers and franchise films overlapping some years. It explores how the horror film fits into the Hollywood studio system and how its enormous success in American and European cultures expanded globally over time.
"A History of Horror," supported by rare stills from classic films, brings more than 50 timeless horror films into frightfully clear focus, zooms in on today's top horror websites and champions the stars, directors and subgenres that make the horror film so exciting and popular with contemporary audiences.
From Rutgers University Press: "A Short History of Film provides an accessible overview of the major movements, directors, studios, and genres from the 1880s to the present. Dixon and Foster lead a fast-paced tour through the invention of the kinetoscope, the introduction of sound and color between the two world wars, and ultimately the computer generated imagery of the present day. Compact and easily readable, this is the best one-stop source for the history of world film available to students, teachers, and general audiences alike."
Dixon's discussion and reading begins at 7 p.m. at University Bookstore, lower level of the Nebraska Union. A book signing will follow.
Dixon is James Ryan Endowed Professor of Film Studies, Professor of English and, with Gwendolyn Audrey Foster, is Editor-in-Chief of the Quarterly Review of Film and Video. He is the author of 28 books, including the recently published "Film Noir and the Cinema of Paranoia," and "Film Talk: Directors at Work" both from the University of Rutgers Press.
Gwendolyn Audrey Foster is professor of English and Film Studies. She is the author of seven books and received the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award in 2004.