Shadow Animism and Ontological Xenophobia: An Anthropology of Horror

Abstract

By examining the Western strain of the Horror genre, I explore the dynamics that define its central character as an ontological xenophobia that must be perpetually cleansed. Beyond a sociological account I suggest we take what it contains seriously as ontological explorations. With a focus on predation as case study, I analyze the genre as conforming to the gazing relation of the Naturalistic West regarding its reversal: Animism. I conclude with the possibilities that the Animist “bubbles” displayed in Horror fiction hold out for us to shift into a register in which we can build relational competence beyond our horror.