Penn State Altoona professors host podcast on horror nostalgia

ALTOONA, Pa. - Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, and Jeff Stoyanoff, assistant professor of English and women's, gender and sexuality studies, released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast, titled "Horror Nostalgia: The Rack with Tom Deady and 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.'"

For many of us, our love affair with horror began at a young age, fueled by "Goosebumps" books, "Are You Afraid of the Dark," and the iconic horror paperbacks found on the revolving racks at local grocery stores.

Nostalgia, with its roots in homesickness, offers a sense of comfort and belonging. But horror, while evoking strong emotions, can also be deeply comforting. It disrupts our sense of security, only to draw us back in, promising a strange warmth.

The episode will touch on the following topics:

• Tom Deady's The Rack: The hosts chat with Deady about his love for "Salem's Lot" and the process of curating his anthology of horror stories.
• Alvin Schwartz's "Scary Stories": A discussion on the power of simple illustrations, the performative nature of storytelling, and how horror prepares us for adulthood.

The episode is now available online. Learn more about the "Horror Joy" podcast.