The Revolting Child in Horror Cinema [recurso electrónico] : Youth Rebellion and Queer Spectatorship

Drawing together film theory, queer theory, childhood studies, and reception studies, The Revolting Child in Horror Film examines the "revolting child" in such films as The Bad Seed, Village of the Damned, Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, and The Omen. It argues that monstrous child stands in for the queer child by taking on its various incarnations: the child with a secret, the child "taken over" by monstrosity in adolescence, the changeling child, and the cabal of queer youth. The child monster is both revolting and repellant, and yet is also a body in revolt against patriarchal institutions like state, family, and religion. As such, they offer a variety of subject positions for the spectator: from a pedophobic rage directed at children to a queer identification with the revolting child and against a heteronormative culture. Indeed, the cinema of revolting children allows us to have our child and beat it too. Drawing Together Film Theory, Queer Theory, Childhood Studies, And Reception Studies, The Revolting Child In Horror Cinema Examines The Revolting Child In Such Films As The Bad Seed, Village Of The Damned, Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, And The Omen. It Argues That Monstrous Child Stands In For The Queer Child By Taking On Its Various Incarnations: The Child With A Secret, The Child Taken Over By Monstrosity In Adolescence, The Changeling Child, And The Cabal Of Queer Youth. The Child Monster Is Both Revolting And Repellant, And Yet Is Also A Body In Revolt Against Patriarchal Institutions Like State, Family, And Religion. As Such, They Offer A Variety Of Subject Positions For The Spectator: From A Pedophobic Rage Directed At Children To A Queer Identification With The Revolting Child And Against A Heteronormative Culture. Indeed, The Cinema Of Revolting Children Allows Us To Have Our Child And Beat It Too. Revolting Children : A Taxonomy Of Child Monstrosity -- Malice In Wonderland : The Terrible Performativity Of Childhood -- Demons Are A Girl's Best Friend : Possession As Transgression -- Raising Hell : Abuse, Rejection, And The Unwanted Queer Child -- It Takes A Child To Raze A Villiage : Demonizing Youth Rebellion -- Afterthoughts : Fear Of A Queer Playground. By Andrew Scahill. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes Filmography. Review: "Deftly weaving together similar strands of queer theory, childhood studies, and horror film scholarship, Andrew Scahill argues for the queer pleasures and revolutionary potentials inherent in the figure of the monstrous child. His work makes a significant contribution to the growing scholarship on childhood and monstrosity, offering fresh perspectives on iconic bad kids from Rhoda (The Bad Seed) to Regan (The Exorcist). Informed, informative, and fun-to-read, The Revolting Child in Horror Cinema explores why we love to hate our monstrous offspring." - Harry Benshoff, author of Monsters in the Closet: Homosexuality and Horror Film "Andrew Scahill knows that childhood can be scary. His new book seeks to explain the real terrors of The Exorcist and Village of the Damned by using a convincingly sharp, jargon-free discussion of queer theory that breathes new life into cinematic texts weighed down by past interpretations. Politically vibrant and thoughtfully subversive, The Revolting Child in Horror Cinema is a welcome addition to the growing number of cultural studies on horror." - W. Scott Poole, author of Monsters in America and Vampira The monstrous child is the allegorical queer child in various formations of horror cinema: the child with a secret, the child 'possessed' by Otherness, the changeling child, the terrible gang. This book explores the possibilities of 'not growing up' as a model for a queer praxis that confronts the notion of heternormative maturity. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-11 Revolting Children....Pages 13-30 Malice in Wonderland....Pages 31-56 Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend....Pages 57-78 Raising Hell....Pages 79-111 It Takes a Child to Raze a Village....Pages 113-142 Afterthoughts....Pages 143-148 Back Matter....Pages 149-193