University News Last updated 02 May
探花直播 (BCU) is hosting a new exhibition, recreating a young horror-enthusiast鈥檚 bedroom to discuss the influence of the genre.
Curated by the Youth & Horror Research Network, in conjunction with Flatpack Festival, Fear in the Bedroom draws on an archive of films, television, books, magazines, music and video games from 1970-2000.
鈥淲e are delighted to partner with the Flatpack Film Festival this year and collaborating with researchers to explore the unique and compelling genre of children's horror films,鈥� said BCU Exhibitions Manager John Hall.
鈥淥ver the years, Flatpack has played an integral role in our teaching and learning programmes鈥攄elivering live project briefs, facilitating guest lectures, and enriching our students鈥� educational experience through a dynamic and multifaceted partnership.鈥�
The Youth & Horror Research Network, led by Dr Cat Lester (University of 探花直播) and Dr Kate Egan (Northumbria University) has curated the exhibition to examine how horror has shaped young people鈥檚 understanding of the world, whilst challenging the notion of the genre鈥檚 harmful influence.
鈥淏y bringing together an assembled archive collection of horror-themed products aimed at children, this exhibition takes viewers through the history of children, youth and horror media,鈥� said Principal Investigator at the Youth & Horror Research Network, and Associate Professor in Film and Television at University of 探花直播, Dr Catherine Lester.
鈥淚t鈥檚 engaging visitors in the multifaceted world of everyday horror through the eyes of a child and to challenge notions of horror鈥檚 harmful influence.
鈥淲e want people to consider the relationship between innocence, play and horror that these exhibits encompass, to bathe nostalgically in their own memories and to introduce a new generation to horror toys, books and games of the past.鈥�
Dr Egan, an Assistant Professor in Film and Media at Northumbria University hopes the exhibition will ignite plenty of nostalgia: 鈥淒espite ongoing debates about children鈥檚 access to horror, the early 1970s to the late 1990s was a period of plenty for the young horror fan.
鈥淭his exhibition is not so much envisaged as a snapshot of a bedroom at a given moment in a given year, but rather as a time-capsule of children鈥檚 horror media.鈥�
The exhibition is coinciding with , an international film festival based in 探花直播, which runs across the city from 9-17 May 2025.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to announce our partnership with BCU, University of 探花直播 and Northumbria University to present Fear in the Bedroom,鈥� said Sam Groves, Head of Programme at Flatpack Festival.
鈥淭he exhibition will feature special items on loan from horror aficionados' archives, archive footage examining the impact of horror films over the past few decades, and personal recollections of the BBC's renowned horror program, Ghostwatch."