TABOO - TRANSGRESSION - TRANSCENDENCE

The horror genre occupies a unique positionality, navigating the boundaries of taboo and transgression, and offers ample opportunity to interrogate societal anxieties. This talk explores the aesthetic and narrative intersections of violence, motherhood, and catharsis in horror films. Representations of motherhood in this genre often serve as a canvas to project fears of bodily autonomy, identity, and the generational transmission of trauma. By examining iconic and lesser-known works, this presentation investigates how the aesthetics of violence, particularly those involving maternal figures, reflect and reshape cultural perceptions of caregiving.

Through the lens of feminist film theory and psychoanalysis, the talk delves into the ways horror films depict the maternal body as both a site of life-giving power and a source of terror. Drawing parallels between cinematic representations of mothers and broader societal taboos surrounding maternal subjectivity, this exploration considers how these narratives navigate themes of sacrifice, monstrosity, and redemption. The discussion further interrogates the cathartic potential of these depictions—do they offer avenues for the audience to confront and reconcile with fears of transformation and loss, or do they reinforce oppressive frameworks of motherhood as inherently sacrificial and isolating?

Rooted in an interdisciplinary approach that integrates art, science, and cultural studies, this talk aims to bridge conceptual frameworks of liminality with the evolving technological aesthetics of horror. It seeks to uncover how the genre’s reliance on boundary-crossing mirrors the human pursuit of understanding complex identities and emotional landscapes. By situating the maternal figure within the transgressive dynamics of horror, the presentation contributes to a broader conversation about the transformative potential of art to navigate and redefine the limits of identity, resilience, and belonging.