Writer
Ed Jones revels in unpacking the sociopolitical motivations behind popular culture and placing them in their historical context. An avid gamer since the early 1980s, a veteran, and the one-time God-Emperor of Newark, Delaware, Ed serves as a contributor to The Unconventional, as well as regular staff for Damocles Thread Development. His series “Zen and the Art of Screaming” is a thorough exploration into the horror genre’s tropes, its origins and evolution.
Articles
Zen and the Art of Screaming—Series Conspectus
Join us on an incisive deep-tissue study of the evolution and icons in classical and contemporary horror fiction, from monsters to slashers and less supernatural fare, as well as their varying manifestations, such as podcasts, radio plays, and other media.
Building a Better Predator: Vampires
In today’s installment of Zen and the Art of Screaming, we take a deep dive into the origins of vampires—how they originated as an Eastern European myth, to how they came to represent “the Other,” to how the evolved into sexy supernatural beings in modern media offerings.
Mythos & Majesty
In today’s installment of Zen and the Art of Screaming, we examine how, despite his faults, H.P. Lovecraft changed the way we think about—and experience—horror.
Building a Better Predator: Zombies
In today’s installment of Zen and the Art of Screaming, we explore the evolution of the zombie from mindless automaton to George Romero’s symbolic and revolutionary horror movie staple.
Horror in Music
In today’s installment of Zen and the Art of Screaming, we examine the role of horror in music—from musicians selling their souls to the devil for fame & fortune, to artists whose appearance and sound conjure images of demons and hellfire.
Building a Better Predator: Werewolves
In today’s installment of Zen and the Art of Screaming, we explore the origins of werewolves and Lycanthropy and examine how werewolves came to represent the Other, fear of self and loss of agency.
Horror in Anime and Gaming
Today’s Zen and the Art Screaming examines the methods and techniques employed by Japanese content creators to produce unique horror that spans numerous genres.
Building a Better Predator: Fae and Fairies
In today’s edition of Zen and the Art of Screaming, our intrepid author takes a look at the culture-spanning origins of the tiny tricksters known as the fae.