Communicating Fears in Film: Monstrous Metaphors, Part 3 - The Invisible Man (1933)

Send us Fan MailIn the third entry in our Communicating Fears in Film focus on "Monstrous Metaphors", cohosts Garret Castleberry and Scott McMurry unveil the hidden mysteries detailed within director James Whale's horror film adaptation The Invisible Man (1933). The hosts peek into H. G. Wells' source material novel as well as subtle influences  connected to Universal's growing catalog of suspense-thriller and classic monster movies (3:58). This leads to a conversation about cultural context that elevates The Invisible Man as a commentary on class difference in the early twentieth century, and the relationship between class and power in the literary tradition (17:00). Whale's feature sparks discussion concerning the movie's innovative practical effects and production techniques (25:00). Scott and Garret then entertain the machinations of the film's narrative structure (29:27), including a debate concerning the effectiveness of The Invisible Man's sense of humor (41:55). Finally, Scott answer's the weekly question concerning ways in which Whale's InvisibleMan communicates fear in film (1:20:00).   Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Scott McMurryProducers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)Recommended readings paired with Season Seven "Communicating Fears in Film":Kendall Phillips. Projected Fears: Horror Films and American Culture. Praeger, 2006.Stephen Prince. Apocalypse Cinema. Rutgers University Press, 2021.Murray Leeder. Horror Film: A Critical Introduction. Bloomsbury Academic Press, 2018.Additional Research available via the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection [UHD].Ways to Connect with us online:Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode.Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics.Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel.Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/.Support the show