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Introduction – TV Horror: What a Time to Be Alive… and Undead

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2024

James Rendell
James Rendell
Affiliation:
University of South Wales
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Summary

Abstract

This chapter considers the often-overlooked longstanding connections between horror and television, before reading the genre's graphic shift as emblematic of the new/current golden age of TV horror. Located within a post-TV paradigm, the chapter considers television's portalization facilitated by internet technologies that alter the production, distribution, curation, and consumption of horror TV. A pertinent feature of posttelevision, the chapter examines the complexity of transmedia: fostering hyperdiegetic depth and commercial opportunities for industry players, and outlets for fan participatory practices. Finally, the chapter develops the abject spectrum model, broadening audiences’ affective engagement with horror beyond being scared. It also considers audiences’ ideological deconstructing and aesthetical evaluation of horror. The chapter ends by providing an overview of the book.

Keywords: horror, post-TV, portals, transmedia, audiences, abject spectrums

As we move into the third decade of the twenty-first century, far from dwelling in niche shadows or underground catacombs, horror television is being feasted upon by hordes of ravenous viewers as it takes centre stage on many TV outlets. Stranger Things’ (Netflix 2016–) inaugural season saw it rank among the top three series on Netflix (Holloway, 2016), while season two was the most streamed show in the world before season three, at the time, shattered the record for most viewed series or film in the platform's history (Katz, 2018; Mumford, 2019). In 2022 season four then became the most viewed English-language series on Netflix and the second series after the South Korean dystopian horror hit Squid Game (Netflix 2021) to total over one billion hours of audience viewing (Hailu, 2022). Other genre fare has also proven extremely popular. Season five of Black Mirror (Channel 4 2011–2014/Netflix 2016–2019) was the most consumed text on Netflix in the UK (James R, 2019), American Horror Story's (FX 2011–) third season premiere was the second most viewed FX episode of all time with 5.54 million viewers (O’Connell, 2014), while The Walking Dead's (AMC 2010–2022) ‘debut in 2010 […] was the most-watched premiere in AMC history. Its

Type
Chapter
Information
Transmedia Terrors in Post-TV Horror
Digital Distribution, Abject Spectrums and Participatory Culture
 , pp. 11 - 66
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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