Jay Moses

Folk Horror, having initial roots in the early 20th century, has continued steadily in multiple media to explore societal fears of our day. This SPACE class will look at the origins of the genre, its explosion in the upheaval in the 1970's, and its current place of cultural relevance in a world filled with anxious nightmares regarding its future. Session One: The Tools of Engagement: Modern Folk Horror Studies Session Two: The Stories of Ambrose Pierce Session Three: The Stories of Thomas Hardy Session Four: The Grandmaster of Folk Horror: M.R. James Part I Session Five: The Grandmaster of Folk Horror: M.R. James Part II Session Six: The "Folk" of the 1970's: The Unholy Trinity Session Seven: Movies/Media of the 80's and 90's: The Blair Witch and Steven King Session Eight: Modern Manifestations: True Detective [show less]

The Dark Crystal, a film directed and created by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, was released at Christmastime in 1982. An attempt at a more mature and decidedly darker direction for Henson, it performed modestly in the box office to mixed reviews. Despite its poor initial beginnings, over the next 42 years, The Dark Crystal became a cult classic. Why the appeal all these years later? In this class we will explore this multifaceted dark fantasy as a stand of world building from the better appreciated “Muppet” canon. Over the course of eight sessions we will discuss the world of Thra through the film itself, seen afresh with the new lenses of various forms of modern criticism. Please join us for a combination of short lectures and lively discussion of this visual and technical masterpiece whether you’re a long-time fan or neophyte. [show less]

Throughout Tolkien's works, the sense of loss is pervasive, building upon Tolkien's personal belief that to create myth was to engage the cultural awareness of a past "fall." This course will analyze Tolkien's most obvious allusions to a Fall in the legendarium, while looking at literary examples of a "Fall" in society of which Tolkien built upon. Session One: "There must be a Fall": Tolkien's idea of story-telling Session Two: The Biblical Back Drop Session Three: The Greek Awareness Session Four: The Fall of Rome Session Five: The Great War Session Six: The Attraction of the North: The Nordic Influence Session Seven: Modernity's theft Session Eight: Life as Teacher: Tolkien's Loss [show less]

Doctor Who is the longest running Science Fiction program on television earning great recognition and accolades in the process. Despite this, Doctor Who is infamous for writing/producing some of the best in Science Fiction television, and at the same time arguably the worst. This Class will make use of a free streaming device (tubi) in order to view these episodes individually once again, so that we can discuss their merits or “demerits”; to view some of "the best" and "the worst" of Classic Doctor Who. Hartnell, Troughton, Pertwee, the Bakers, Peterson and McCoy are ready to open the TARDIS doors for us; Let the conversation begin! Session One: Criteria and Process Session Two: The Best: The Talons of Weing Chiang Session Three: The Worst: The Macra Terror Session Four: The Best: The Caves of Androzani Session Five: The Worst: The Twin Dilemma Session Six: The Best: The Daemons Session Seven: The Worst: Paradise Towers Session Eight: The Best: The Dalek Invasion of Earth [show less]