In this innovative book, Julian Hanich explores the subjectively lived experience of watching films together, to discover a fuller understanding of cinema as an art form and a social institution that matters to millions of people worldwide.
The Aesthetic Paradox of Pleasurable Fear
Exploring the paradox of pleasurable fear, the book delves into why we sometimes enjoy emotions we typically avoid, particularly in the realm of cinema. Julian Hanich examines aesthetic strategies of fear through iconic horror and thriller films, identifying five distinct types of fear experienced by viewers. His nuanced classification enhances film studies by emphasizing the bodily, temporal, and social aspects of fear in the theater, advocating for a phenomenological approach to understanding cinematic emotions.