Exploring Fear and Ethics in MediaMatthew and Riki explore horror as a vehicle for ethical discussion and social commentary. From the urban-rural tensions in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre to AI anxieties in modern thrillers, they examine how horror reflects society's deepest fears across decades—and why some manufactured scares (sharks, clowns) persist despite lacking real-world danger.In this episode we discuss:

• Does horror require supernatural elements, or can pure human evil drive the genre?
• How do horror tropes evolve as audiences become aware of them?
• What's the difference between Alien as horror versus Aliens as action, and where does Jurassic Park fit?
• Why did vampires dominate Gen X fears while zombies captured millennial anxieties?
• How did McCarthyism inadvertently allow horror filmmakers to critique Cold War politics?

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This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics, a The Ethical Panda Podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check our our website to find out more about this and our sister podcast Star Wars Generations.We want to hear from you! You can keep up with our latest news, and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.

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