A Classroom of Horror

English can be an absolutely terrifying subject for some students. However, by taking English 316, some students have turned their worst nightmare into a horrifically awesome class.

With the lights dimmed and projector fired up, students couldn't help but be somewhat excited about watching a horror film for a class grade. The title screen flashed and it was time for terror: Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, one of the first greats.

Inspired by the idea of using film as a means to help students engage in class, Professor Ritterbusch of the English Department has tried to connect this generation's television fixation with something positive.

Professor Ritterbusch said, "It's a good vehicle to help students expand what they know. People will think outside the box with film."

Sure, the idea may come off as being some way to make middle school children pay attention in class, but it's actually an extremely appropriate idea. Most students would rather watch commercials then pick up a book and read about Gulliver's Travels, so getting a chance to view some of the greatest pieces of horror cinema while in class seems like a bargain.

Adam Solomon, who needed an upper level course, said, "It's pretty cool to have a discussion about horror."

After watching the eerie Count Orlock bring disease and death onto the screen, the class warily checked under their seats for vampires, and then proceeded with their discussion about the film. The class looked at various different angles to the film from visuals, meaning, and appreciation.

It came as general consensus that the film had a very unique look due to its German Expressionist background. Some of the students said the art stlye was "somewhat laughable" by today's standards, but very effective for 1922, and remarked on the brilliant camera work that had to be used to shoot some scenes like the "iconic shadow" silhouette on the staircase. Many students thought that Count Orlock was a particularly frightening character for horror and described him as having an "unwavering gaze, a slow and methodical walk" – characteristics that made him quite "creepy". This led to discussions of how horror has changed and evolved to adapt for modern audiences. Instead of the slow vampires of late, today there are the lighting fast blood suckers in the form of characters like Edward from the popular film series Twilight. The class seemed to agree that horror had changed.

One student during discussion said, "Today is a type of horror with gore and jump out to scare you. I feel like horror films desensitize us."

Furthering our discussion on horror, the class took a deeper look at the film and tried to figure out how politics or economics of the time could have played a role in the development. Could Nosferatu have been a metaphor for a tyrant of the time period? Perhaps the rats that swarmed the city held some message that needed to be spread to the people, even if it was through the deadly plague? Social background was even brought up during the time as one student suggested that the protagonist, who had been running from the vampire, was "running away from homosexuality." Jokes aside, who would have thought that homosexuality and vampires could have been a subject for serious debate in an English class?

"Nosferatu" is only the first film for this semester; others include Dracula, Night of the Living Dead, andEyes without a Face.The class gives a broad depiction of horror films from genre and time period.

Jason Smith said, "It's cool how she set it up with a vampire, zombie, and monster block spanning 100 years. That progression is really cool"

Whether you just want to check out a film on a slow Tuesday night at 7:30 or want to get into a deep discussion to the developments of horror, English 316 is a deadly choice to look into. Who knows, maybe it will be coming back to life next year?