A call for proposed chapters for an edited book on ‘American Horror Story ‘ (2011-) has been released. Taken from the original CFA, the details are as follows:
‘American Horror Story is an anthology horror series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The series comprises five seasons—Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, and Hotel—each self-contained, featuring a different storyline, characters, setting, and time period. The series, which has garnered acclaim from critics and from its devoted audience, has been lauded for how it blends (and bends) elements of the horror genre with true events in American history, as well as for its exceptional recurring cast. AHS has also received praise—and some criticism—for how it tackles sensitive topics like sexuality and race. The series is campy, graphic, and excessive; it revels in being transgressive.
We invite proposals for scholarly essays on any topic pertaining to any season of the show (or a combination of seasons) for an edited collection that will interrogate the intricacies of this subversive series.
Topics for essays could include, but are not limited to:
– representations of race, gender, and/or sexuality
– depictions of monsters/monstrosity
– the grotesque
– the gothic/Southern Gothic
– generic conventions of horror
– intertextuality
– connections between seasons
– revision/reimagining of American history
– AHS’s place in American pop culture
– audience reception
– environment
– space/place
– philosophy
Please send proposals of 250-500 words to Cameron Williams (cameron.williams@ung.edu) and Leverett Butts (leverett.butts@ung.edu) by June 30, 2016. Completed manuscript drafts should be 5000-8000 words and will be due in early 2017′.