cover of episode Fascism, Fear and the Science Behind Horror Films

Fascism, Fear and the Science Behind Horror Films

2024/10/25
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Jason Stanley
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Michael Olinger
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Brooke Gladstone和Michael Olinger:讨论了关于唐纳德·特朗普是否为法西斯主义者的争论,并引用了多位政治人物的观点。他们探讨了特朗普的言论和政策,例如其对移民和政治对手的描述,以及“美国优先”计划,这些都引发了关于其法西斯主义倾向的讨论。 Jason Stanley:他认为将焦点放在特朗普身上是错误的,应该关注整个法西斯社会和政治运动。他指出,美国历史上一直存在法西斯主义的影子,例如种族隔离制度。他认为法西斯主义是一种政治运作方式,它依赖于特定类型的宣传,其目标是确保统治群体在数量上保持最大。他分析了美国一些州的政策,例如关于性别认同的规定以及“爱国教育”的倡议,这些都反映了法西斯主义的特征。他还指出,对少数群体作家的作品进行审查和禁令,以及对大学的学术自由进行限制,这些都是法西斯主义的体现。他认为不能简单地将法西斯主义等同于希特勒和大屠杀,而应该关注其在更广泛的社会和政治背景下的表现。他强调,在2024年,不承认正在发生的事情是法西斯主义,历史将会谴责。他认为美国已经出现了法西斯主义的许多特征,例如对教育体系和媒体的控制,以及对政治对手的妖魔化。他认为应该使用“法西斯主义”一词,但避免陷入无关紧要的细节。他认为使用“法西斯主义”一词是必要的,以避免成为法西斯主义兴起时的同谋。他认为美国经常采用法西斯主义的解决方案来解决国家问题,例如庞大的监狱系统。他认为许多采用或支持法西斯策略的人是出于功利主义目的,而非出于真正的信仰。他指出,言论最终会转化为政策,将他人描述为害虫是对其进行迫害的合理化。他认为当代美国法西斯运动是由寡头利益集团领导的,例如石油巨头和亿万富翁阶层。他认为巨大的财富不平等会破坏民主。他分享了他个人的家庭经历,这让他对法西斯主义的危险性有了深刻的认识。他认为他祖母的回忆录描述了纳粹德国逐步走向大规模暴力的过程,而美国目前的情况与纳粹德国初期的情况类似,存在否认和逐步走向大规模暴力的情况。他认为媒体对法西斯主义的危险性关注不足。他认为当前的运动不仅仅关乎特朗普,而是一个基督教法西斯主义和自由主义者的社会和政治运动,其目标是破坏民主制度。他认为对抗法西斯主义的力量在于地方社区和人民,以及独立媒体、地方新闻、法院和学校。他认为工会是法西斯主义的目标之一,因为工会促进了唯物主义政治,这与法西斯主义的民族认同相冲突。他认为需要在差异中建立团结,以对抗法西斯主义。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Jason Stanley first warn about Trump's fascist rhetoric in 2018?

To call attention to the fascist social and political movement in the U.S.

What is the central role of women in fascist ideology?

To bear children and ensure the dominant group remains numerically largest.

Why do horror films make our skin crawl?

They tap into our hardwired fear responses and transfer threat arousal to pleasure.

What is the anatomy of a jump scare in horror films?

It involves a threat, often imperceptible, followed by a sudden, startling event.

Why are screams in horror films attention-grabbing?

They have fast vibration between high and low notes, triggering a greater fear response.

What is the significance of Black Horror in film history?

It provides counter-narratives to mainstream horror, often addressing racial issues.

How did the Blaxploitation era impact Black horror films?

It led to serious attempts to create stories with Black characters at the center.

Why do people seek out horror films despite knowing they are fictional?

Theories include transforming fear into enjoyment and seeing narratives that resonate with personal experiences.

Chapters
Jason Stanley, a professor of philosophy at Yale University, explains why he believes Donald Trump is a fascist and discusses the characteristics of fascist movements.
  • Fascism is a way of doing politics that feeds on propaganda.
  • Fascist movements target immigrants, LGBTQ people, and aim to keep the dominant group numerically largest.
  • Trump's policies and rhetoric align with fascist tactics, including the use of propaganda and the creation of internal enemies.

Shownotes Transcript

Donald Trump is being called a fascist – by his former appointees, as well as by his opponent Kamala Harris. On this week’s On the Media, a historian of fascism explains why he sounded the alarm back in 2018. Plus, the science behind why horror films make your skin crawl.

[01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Jason Stanley), a professor of Philosophy at Yale University and who has written several books on fascism. He first warned about Trump’s fascist rhetoric in 2018, and explains why it's more important than ever to call it by its name. 

[20:05] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with science writer Nina Nesseth) to explore how horror filmmakers make our skin crawl, the anatomy of a jump scare, and why all screams aren’t created equal. Her book Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films) delves into question – why do we crave being scared senseless in the movie theater? 

[32:50] OTM producer Rebecca Clark-Callender) dives into the history of Black horror to see what it is and who it's for, ft: Robin R. Means Coleman), professor of Media Studies and of African American and African Studies at the University of Virginia and co-author of The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar); Tananarive Due), author, screenwriter, and lecturer on Afrofuturism and Black Horror at University of California, Los Angeles; Rusty Cundieff), writer and director of *Tales from the Hood (1995); *and Betty Gabriel, actor widely known for her acclaimed performance as "Georgina" in Jordan Peele's blockbuster *Get Out (2017). *

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