Media Advisory: UM experts available for spooky topics & tales

Here are a list of UM experts and ideas to regale and fascinate your audiences this Halloween season.

Scary movies—Brenda Austin-Smith, Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media, Faculty of Arts
Halloween isn’t complete without a good scare but what really makes a horror movie truly terrifying? Film Studies Professor Brenda Austin-Smith is available to chat about the evolution of horror films, why the genre continues to captivate audiences, and her take on the top must-watch scary movies this Halloween.
Availability: Available on all days except Oct. 28

Psychology of Fear—Kristin Reynolds, Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts
It’s that time of year again when we pay good money to be chased by clowns, walk into haunted houses, and jump at every creak in the dark. But why do we love it so much? Clinical Psychologist, Kristin Reynolds, can unpack the strange science of fear; why our brains crave a good scare, how fear can feel rewarding, and what separates the thrill-seekers from the “nope, I’ll stay home” crowd.
Availability: Oct. 27 11am – 1pm, Oct. 28 2:30- 4pm, Oct. 29 10am – 11am, Oct. 30 2pm – 3pm. Can also be available earlier if needed.

Economics of Halloween—Sandeep Arora, Associate Professor, F. Ross Johnson Professor of Marketing, Asper School of Business
From candy aisles to costume racks, Halloween has quietly become Canada’s second biggest spending season and not just for kids. Canadian households are spending, on average, about $70/household or more on everything from candy and haunted house tickets to matching family costumes. Marketing expert, Sandeep Arora, can break down the economics of this spooky season, why we spend the way we do, what drives Halloween buying trends, and how fear and fun fuel the market.
Availability: Limited availability. Please reach out to us for interviews.

Traditions of pranking and mischief, 20th century—Sarah Elvins, Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Arts
Before Halloween was about candy and costumes, it was all about mischief. UM Historian,Sarah Elvins, can explain how pranks and practical jokes became part of early 20th-century Halloween traditions and why that playful spirit still lingers in how we celebrate today.
Availability: Oct. 28, Oct. 29, Oct. 31 from 9am – noon

Wave of nostalgia during Halloween—Nicholas Evans, Social and Personality Psychologist, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts
As much as Halloween is about fear and fright, it’s also about nostalgia; the smells, sounds, and traditions that take us back to childhood. Nicholas Evans, a social and personality psychologist, can explain why this time of year triggers so many warm, familiar feelings and why we love to relive them year after year.
Availability: Oct. 28 (before 11 am and after 4 pm), Oct. 30 (before 3:30 pm)

Vampires, witches & imagination: Dr. Kenneth MacKendrick, Professor & Department Head, Department of Religion, Faculty of Arts
What is evil? Why does Halloween fascinate us? From vampires and witches to imaginary companions and fantasy gaming, explore how our cultural stories of monsters and imagination reflect deeper questions about morality, religion and the imagined self. Kenneth MacKendrick, Department head for UM’s Department of Religion can speak to how fear and fascination around Halloween are connected to the religious and imaginative study of evil. Also, what fantasy worlds (like LARPing, Dungeons & Dragons) tell us about real-world morality and identity; why the season of spookiness still matters in a digital age.
Availability: Phone interviews only, available on Thursday, October 30 from 1pm-3pm and Friday, October 31 from Noon-2pm

For interview opportunities, reach out to UM Media Relations.

UM Media Relations