It's Halloween... the annual high-water mark for spooky stories and terrifying tales. But have you ever wondered why so many scary stories -- from classic literature to horror to science fiction to music -- have so many elements in common? University of Kansas professor John Tibbetts has given a lot of thought to that question. He's now compiled a series of interviews and conversations with authors, artists and filmmakers who have used what scholars often call "the Gothic impulse," which employes a specific set of components to generate a creepy atmosphere. KPR's Laura Lorson spoke with Professor Tibbetts about the far-reaching impact of gothic themes and how important they've been to modern storytelling.
That's John Tibbetts, an associate professor of film at KU. He was speaking with KPR's Laura Lorson about his most recent book, "The Gothic Imagination: Conversations on Fantasy, Horror and Science Fiction in the Media." A public presentation on these topics will take place this (MON) afternoon at 2:30, in the Alderson Auditorium at the Kansas Union in Lawrence. The free event will feature a lecture, film clips and a book signing. For more information, visit the website ku.edu.