Class Description
The most iconic heroines in cinema come from the most brutal subgenre in horror: slasher films. Halloween’s Laurie Strode, Alien’s Ripley, Scream’s Sidney Prescott are remarkable examples of The Final Girl. The idea originates in a feminist critique of slasher movies, but has escaped academic confines and taken over pop culture. This class will look at the origins of the idea, and how it’s evolved, and how slasher movies have changed in response.
In the first session, we will discuss the original of the concept of the final girl, from an excerpt from Carol Clover’s critical text on slasher movies, Men, Women and Chain Saws. We’ll discuss some of the movies mentioned, and how well they hold up or undermine Clover’s arguments. In the second session, we’ll discuss how the idea has become popularized, changed, and evolved since the book was released. We’ll discuss two movies released after the book and look at how the hold up or challenge Clover’s original concept.
All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.
Jenna Stoeber is a professional video essayist with a master’s degree in media and culture, specializing in horror. She covers topics like horror media, internet culture, video game cultures, and more.
What to Expect
Format: Virtual
Class Capacity: 24
Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged
Materials List
Required
- Digital Course Packet
- Clover, Carol. Men, Women and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, “Chapter 1: Her Body, Himself.” 1992. P. 21 - 64. (43 pages total).
- Church, David. “Queer Ethics, Urban Spaces, and the Horrors of Monogamy in It Follows.” Cinema Journal. 2018. P. 3-28. (25 pages total)
- Films (viewing access provided by instructor)
- Halloween (1978)
- Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
- Scream (1996)
- It Follows (2014)
First Assignment
- Clover, Carol. Men, Women and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, “Chapter 1: Her Body, Himself.” 1992. P. 21 - 64. (43 pages total).
- Halloween (1978)
- Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Cost and Registration
2 Sessions, $100 ($90 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($100), Community Supported ($95), and Sponsor ($105). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
Having trouble signing up? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to registration by clicking here.
RegisterThe views and opinions expressed in this class and/or by the instructor are not necessarily representative of the Newberry. We aim to ensure that in our classes, participants can have respectful disagreement to foster critical thinking. This is a space to challenge and expand our own worldviews to work towards better understanding and appreciating humanity.
Support the Newberry
Your generosity is vital in keeping the library’s programs, exhibitions, and reading rooms free and accessible to everyone.
Make a GiftQuestions?
Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.
We are in office Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am–6 pm CT.
We are available by email Tuesday through Saturday.