Rethinking Horror in the New Economies of Television

"Rethinking Horror in the New Economies of Television brilliantly skewers horror's changing televisual roles, analysing the genre's recent explosion in popularity. Exploring how a horror cycle has become ubiquitous and valuable across the US TV industry of the twenty-first century, Stella Marie Gaynor smartly complicates our understandings of both television and horror. This razor-sharp study will appeal to a wide range of fans and academics-in short, immediate reader attention is advised." -Professor Matt Hills, author of Fan Cultures and The Pleasures of Horror.

This book explores the cycle of horror on US television in the decade following the launch of The Walking Dead, considering the horror genre from an industrial perspective. Examining TV horror through rich industrial and textual analysis, this book reveals the strategies and ambitions of cable and network channels, as well as Netflix and Shudder, with regards to horror serialization. Selected case studies; including American Horror Story, The Haunting of Hill House, Creepshow, Ash vs Evil Dead, and Hannibal; explore horror drama and the utilization of genre, cult and classic horror texts, as well as the exploitation of fan practice, in the changing economic landscape of contemporary US television. In the first detailed exploration of graphic horror special effects as a marker of technical excellence, and how these skills are used for the promotion of TV horror drama, Gaynor makes the case that horror has become a cornerstone of US television.

Dr Stella Marie Gaynor is Associate Lecturer at the University of Salford, UK, where she teaches horror media, television, radio, and media studies. Recent publications explore her favorite horror content, covering zombies, vampires, serial killers, true crime, and grim history. She is a founding member of BAFTSS Horror Studies SIG.