Horror: Defining the Genre, Sub-genres, Styles, and More

6 comments

Two of my favorite topics in all the world are genre and horror. I'm simply fascinated by the ways that we, as creators and consumers, decide to delineate and define genre. What "counts" as what? Who decides? When is it black and white vs. shades of gray? Horror, in particular, is a fascinating conversation to have, not just because I like it so much, but because of all the genres, horror probably has the most stigma and shame swirling in its depths (though erotica is in the running). What this leads to is a lot of skewing and denial, muddying otherwise clear waters until it becomes much more difficult to see the blocks that horror is made up of.

Genre talks, meet horror talks. This is my jam. Let's talk about the horror genre in all if its dark, controversial glory. And what the hell, let's do it in an infographic. (Click to enlarge.)


Annie Neugebauer

Column by Annie Neugebauer

Annie Neugebauer likes to make things as challenging as possible for herself by writing horror, poetry, literary, and speculative fiction—often blended together in ways ye olde publishing gods have strictly forbidden. She’s a two-time Bram Stoker Award-nominated author with work appearing and forthcoming in more than a hundred publications, including magazines such as Cemetery Dance, Apex, and Black Static, as well as anthologies such as Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volumes 3 & 4 and #1 Amazon bestsellers Killing It Softly and Fire. She’s an active member of the Horror Writers Association, and in addition to LitReactor, a columnist for Writer Unboxed. She’s represented by Alec Shane of Writers House. She needs to make new friends because her current ones are tired of hearing about House of Leaves. You can visit her at AnnieNeugebauer.com for news, poems, organizational tools for writers, and more.

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Comments

Kris Peterson's picture
Kris Peterson from far northern California is reading The Sea Came in at Midnight February 22, 2018 - 4:20pm

This might be your best column yet (and probably the one you spent the most time on). Making these points graphically is effective.

Kris Peterson's picture
Kris Peterson from far northern California is reading The Sea Came in at Midnight February 22, 2018 - 4:21pm

Also, candy corn. 

Ashley B. Davis's picture
Ashley B. Davis from California is reading In the Woods February 22, 2018 - 5:28pm

Great column! Is this the top secret thing you've been waiting to do?! Also, I see you sneaking candy corn in there.

AnnieNeugebauer's picture
AnnieNeugebauer from Texas is reading Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 5 February 26, 2018 - 1:22pm

Kristin- Thank you so much!! Yes, I spent hours and hours making this one--so glad you like it. :) 

Ashley- Thanks! Yep, this is the one I've been itching to do for a long time. (It seems inevitable, doesn't it?)

I don't know what y'all are talking about with candy corn, though. All I see is a mountain. ;)

Repo Kempt's picture
Repo Kempt from Newfoundland March 2, 2018 - 2:30pm

I got to be Facebook like #666! Hehe.

Great article, Annie.

AnnieNeugebauer's picture
AnnieNeugebauer from Texas is reading Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 5 March 5, 2018 - 3:08pm

Ha, nice! XD Thanks, Repo!