ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona faculty members Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, and Jeff Stoyanoff, associate professor of English and of women's, gender and sexuality studies, have released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast. In the latest episode, the hosts return from a July hiatus for a Horror Joy series on summer camp slashers, beginning with “Friday the 13th” (1980).
The hosts’ discussion focuses on sexuality, gender roles and moral judgment, the absence of adult authority and supervision and how the camp functions as a microcosm for late-1970s/early-1980s anxiety around Reagan-era politics and youth economic prospects, drawing on Kara M. Kvaran’s socioeconomic analysis and related scholarship. The discussion ends by sharing joys of slasher nostalgia, pre-cellphone disconnection, practical effects, and offering an invitation to listeners to email about a possible Discord.
The full episodes of "Horror Joy" can be accessed on podcast providers or on Red Circle.