Happy Halloweek! Time for deciding whether you’re going to celebrate on Halloween itself, or the next weekend. One costume or two? Classical costume or meme-inspired getup? What kind of candy should we bring to class so we can keep the leftovers?? (Reese’s pumpkins, obviously). We’ve compiled a list of our favorite spooky Eidolon articles to help you embrace the season. Revisit a few now!
When the Classics Won’t Stay Dead: The Art of the Sequel from Homer to “Halloween,” by E.D. Adams and T.J. Bolt.
“By looking at the ways in which modern horror’s propensity for sequels mirrors ancient literary practice, we can enrich our understanding of horror sequels and appreciate the sequel as a pillar of the horror genre.”
Classics Halloween Costumes: A Practical Guide, by Tori Lee.
Mutilated herm: Wear a large cardboard box with your head stuck out the top. Add some scribbles around the midpoint.
Don’t Look Now, But There’s an Ancient Roman Depiction of a Dolphin Under Your Bed: A horrifying inquiry, with pictures and Benjamin Franklin, by Donna Zuckerberg.
“Don’t those angry dolphin eyes look exactly like those in the Roman mosaic I began with? Let’s not even ask how Arion is keeping his balance, since he appears to be dolphin-surfing. Maybe he tied himself to the murder dolphin using his voluminous red robe. All the better to hide the bloodstains later.”
The Uncanniest of Valleys: Ancient and Modern Doppelgängers, by Ted Gellar-Goad.
“When we tell stories about meeting our doubles, they are not usually happy stories. Think of the myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection and wasted away. On some level, we must fear self-knowledge, and suffer from a fragile sense of self. Who are you? How do you know? What makes you you? Are you replaceable?”
Classical Halloween Party Ideas, by Tori Lee.
The Roman Baths: Guests progress from the cold frigidarium (chill with window units and buckets of ice; drink: beer) to the warm tepidarium (room temperature; drink: red wine) to the hot caldarium (floor heaters are an option, but install a brazier beneath your floor for an authentic effect; drink: mulled wine). For a unique touch: a make-your-own strigil table. Buy aluminum foil and gallons of olive oil at Costco so your friends can wipe themselves down in the nude!
Horrific Catharsis: Greek Tragedy in Modern Horror, by E.D. Adams and T.J. Bolt.
“Throughout the horror genre, recognition scenes abound; violence flows through generations; gore practically bathes the viewers. And when the Scream films, quintessential examples of the modern horror genre, are analyzed next to Greek tragedy, it becomes apparent that horror is not just a form of ancient tragedy — it is the most direct descendant of Greek tragedy in modern cinema.”
“Much as we fear death, the male-dominated Greek culture feared women who broke the cultural norm of female passivity, so their zombie myths portray young, enticing women as dangerous and deadly.”