GEN 346 - Core II: Fear and Horror

Semester Hours: 3
Fear is a common emotion, and, for some, a constant state of being. Yet fear is rarely discussed openly. This course focuses on fear to better understand ourselves and our society. It utilizes questions to help achieve this understanding. What is fear? Is fear ever good? Is fear an appropriate justification for harming or killing others? What does it mean to live in fear? What does it mean to be feared? How might the horror genre help us imagine and process our fears? What makes us afraid? Why do some people enjoy being afraid? This course examines fear through various academic lenses, including aesthetics, biology, criminal justice, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Students will evaluate and apply these various perspectives to their own lives and to contemporary issues.

Pre-requisites: GEN 130 - Core I: Foundations of Critical Thinking, sophomore standing or above, and GEN 112 - Composition II: Argumentation and Research.