In the Black Box Theater on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m, the Writers’ Life Lecture series focused on horror writing. Moderators included L. David Hansen, creator of the series and co-host, and Olivia Petersen, creating writing student and co-host. The Special Guest was Dr. John Opel, a Madison College faculty member and accomplished author.
Opel, also known as “Jack,” talked about his personal history and experience with the horror genre, which included seeing the film “The Exorcist” in the theater at age 6. “Rosemary’s Baby,” another classic horror film, was also part of Opel’s early exposure. He spoke fondly of seeing these films, even saying how lucky he was to “be traumatized by the magnificence [of these films].”
Opel spoke of his writing process after reading some of his work before a crowd of about 30. A terrible accident in 2012 was pivotal in his writing production as, for a time, he was “trapped in his own body.” Opel confessed that when writing, he feels like a vessel of sorts, with 2000 words a day pouring out of him.
The difficulty comes, however, when he reads what he has just written.
Horror is for entertainment, to explore fears, to provide a moral lesson or hold a cultural mirror up to people. “Stories help us explain things,” Hansen said.
Clips were shown from “Frankenstein,” released in 1931, and “Heredity,” 2018. The event concluded with a discussion of Jordan Peele’s films “Get Out” and “Us.”
“Comedy and Horror both share the feeling of discomfort,” said Raven Parmentier, Clarion staff writer and audience member.
“The thing that was most interesting to me was the way the genre of horror was talked about as a reflection of societal fears, like how (German film) The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari (1920) was essentially about old men sending young boys off to war,” said Malik C. Terrab, a visiting student from Dartmouth College.
The Writers’ Life series can also be viewed online. Future topics will include “The Role of AI” and more.