New ES Topic in Spring 2026: Race in Horror Film and Fiction

ES 470-01: Race in Horror Film and Fiction Spring 2026 Course Information

ES 470-01: Race in Horror Film and Fiction offered in Spring 2026

The Ethnic Studies Department is offering a new topic in Spring 2026!

ES 470: Race in Horror Film and Fiction examines BIPOC-created cinematic and literary works of horror through the disciplinary lens of ethnic studies, engaging critical perspectives on the genre to analyze how contemporary BIPOC horror invites us to understand racism/colonialism. 

Horror has a long history of engaging with social issues. More than that, it's preoccupation with fear and monsters makes it uniquely suited for exploring the norms that govern our society (and the consequences of traversing them) and those deemed "monstrous" in their otherness. But what happens when such "monstrous" others are the ones creating the horror? What can the genre's use of fear help us understand about our society? How does horror grounded in BIPOC histories and lived experiences expose what's truly horrific in the world we live in?  

This course will be led by Dr. Anne Jansen, amjansen@calpoly.edu, Lecturer in Ethnic Studies at Cal Poly. Please contact Dr. Jansen if you have any questions about the course.