“This paper examines motifs of ghostliness and haunting in representations of transsexuality, both in the violent and oppressive representations of transsexuality within a transphobic culture, and in the self-representation and narration of transsexuals themselves. Using scholar Avery Gordon’s definition of haunting–which characterizes haunting as the “knot” of oppression, self-representation, and knowledge production–this paper argues for […]

“This edition examines “The Tomb” in depth, including the historical context in which Lovecraft was writing, as well as the social and technological changes that occurred. It exposes multilayered ghosts housed within the text. It also examines Lovecraft’s fascination with the supernatural and the development of the horror genre, which he modeled after Poe’s work.” […]

“This essay explores how director Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining establishes the Overlook Hotel as an environment where conservative complacency has become the norm and all hope of progression is lost. By using a maze motif and the backdrop of Native American genocide, The Shining explores and critiques how modern America was constructed.” For more, read the full […]

“This article analyzes specific examples of magic found in two major artistic outlets of the Harlem Renaissance, jazz and literature. Characters use voodoo and hoodoo to seek power and revenge, control the supposed stronger party, and give meaning to seemingly insignificant occurrences, thus offering a way for the artists of the Harlem Renaissance to control […]

Note: We are pleased to offer this brief break in our hiatus to bring to you a post by our lead editor, Esther Wolfe. Keep an eye out for the abstract to her article later in the summer.

“This article explores modern urban legends that appropriate the idea of the Wendigo, a spirit from various Native American Tribal legends. These urban legends are informed by a cultural guilt of the dispossession of Native American territories, but the victory of monster over protagonist demonstrates the futility of these attempts to comprehend histories of atrocities.” […]

Written by Rachael Heffner. I’ve always loved scary things. Movies, video games, stories, you name it. It was no surprise that I found inspiration in BuzzFeed’s, Two Sentence Scary Stories. I read them all, one at a time, loving the chill it gave me up my spine. As I continued on, I read something about […]

Written by Ashley Starling When I arose this morning, I could not see my face. The mirror showed the tiled wall but nothing in my place. Squinted, stretched, squirmed; Still an empty space. I would have puzzled forever but I had not the time to waste.

The following post is by Morgan Blair, an undergraduate from the University of Louisville, and it deals with the concept of the uncanny as it is utilized by writer Georg Heym and director Robert Wiene. The uncanny itself is an important facet to consider when studying the paranormal, particularly ghosts and hauntings. Morgan’s post provides […]

Written by Rebekah Hobbs Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) was written almost a century ago, but it still inspires fascination for romantics. The tragic storyline is a cautionary tale that tells us that dreams are unsubstantial, and must not be held too long. The story is still powerful because people in the modern era are […]