The ceramics teacher wanted to make mothers of us, ‘Make yourself in your image,’ and we all got to work, squeezing these wet slabs, pressing, thumbing, stretching lids over eyes, strands over scalps, building a mirror from the dust that layered every hand. Back from the kiln, the ward, its birthing heat, and I…
Film, TV
James Wan – Master of Modern Horror
Malaysian-born, Australian film director James Wan is most known for reviving the horror genre since debuting his short film Saw in 2003. After the 1990’s slasher craze wore off, it was Saw that encouraged horror enthusiasts to give the genre another try. Its simplistic plot, featuring moralistic ethos of righteous living and a madman’s intricate…
Film, TV
My Favourite Horror: (The Haunted Place) 1963
It is near impossible to declare a favourite in a genre so heterogenous. Does one choose an example of body horror, or celebrate the nostalgia of slasher films? Should we recognise a cult classic, or applaud the slew of modern horror reclaiming some seriousness? I feel inclined to give the vied-for-top-spot to 1963’s ‘The Haunted…
Arts, Venue
Horror favourites: Books and paintings
For me the best horror book is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. A story about abandonment, power, beauty and what it truly means to be human. This just scrapes the tip of the iceberg of why the book still haunts me. When you factor in that Shelley was 18 when she wrote it, grieving from a miscarriage,…
Arts, Venue
My introduction to the Gothic
I’m a big fan of the Gothic; literature, art, movies, architecture, you name it. The creatives who cultivated this interest from a relatively young age were filmmaker Tim Burton, and by extension, Helena Bonham Carter, and author Marcus Sedgwick. Many people are familiar with the work of the former two, but, in my opinion, the…
Fashion, Venue
What your Halloween costume says about you (and other stupid assumptions)
As the trees shed their leaves and the days grow shorter, there’s a quiet anticipation for the spookiest day of the year. Yes, people, it’s the most wonderful time of the year – Halloween. It means we’ll be witnessing this year’s additions to the pop-culture pantheon. From Princess Leia to your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman, Britney…