In the Season 7 premiere, cohosts Garret Castleberry and Scott McMurry wade into the entertainment genre of the American Horror Film. Their dialogue begins with an "origin story" segment in which they share personal introductions to the genre (2:18) before setting the stage for a focused discussion of Universal's first Classic Movie Monster released in 1931, Dracula (7:10). Conversation includes examination of the cultural context in which the feature was produced and distributed, literary and stage play influences,  and the genre conventions that Dracula helps establish (13:57). Along the way, Scott and Garret employ segments demonstrating how this cultural artifact both imitates and innovates the horror genre film, what role(s) presence versus absence play in the visualization of this adapted narrative, before then considering the ways in which Dracula communicates fear in film.  Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Scott McMurryProducers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)Recommended readings paired with Season Seven "Communicating Fears in Film":Kendall Phillips. Projected Fears: Horror Films and American Culture. Praeger, 2006. Stephen Prince. Apocalypse Cinema. Rutgers University Press, 2021.Additional Research available via the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection [UHD].Ways to Connect with us online: Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode.Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics.Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel.Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/.

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