Film Matters: Please tell us about your article that is being published in Film Matters.
K. M. Wise: My article that is being published in Film Matters is titled “Generational Horror: A Comparison of Tim Curry’s and Bill Skarsgård’s Portrayals of Pennywise in Stephen King’s IT.” I started writing this research paper in the fall of 2017 almost immediately after the remake was released. I was incredibly taken with the film and I knew that I wanted to start some kind of conversation surrounding how spectacular I thought it to be. I finally found my inspiration in the changes made from the original miniseries to the new film and what that could tell us about the millennial generation.
FM: What research and/or methodologies do you incorporate in your article?
KMW: Since I am not the most avid consumer of horror films, I started by doing a ton of research on the actual psychology behind what makes a film scary. Once I started to understand the practices and tools that could be employed by horror films to scare audiences, I rewatched both the miniseries and the remake to see if I could spot specific instances where these devices could be seen. Once I was able to actually identify moments that utilized (or subverted) horror tropes, I was able to then think about how the tools were different from miniseries to remake and then, in turn, what made them effective for their respective audiences.
FM: Describe the original context for/when writing this article while an undergraduate student.
KMW: When I saw the 2017 remake of IT during the film’s opening weekend, I was not expecting to be so captivated by it. Immediately after watching the film for the first time, I turned to my friends and said “If this started playing again right now, I would absolutely watch it.” While in theaters, I probably saw IT about six times. Each viewing revealed something I had missed either about the film’s form or story and I couldn’t get enough.
By Halloween, I had fallen deeper into the history of the story itself, which included buying the original novel as well as watching the miniseries from the nineties with some friends. Throughout the entire show, my friends and I found ourselves nearly hysterical with laughter at the campiness and absurdity of the miniseries. However, after speaking about my passion (or borderline obsession) for the new film with people who had been alive to watch the miniseries when it actually aired, I found that they had a very different reaction to the material. The vast majority of those whom I spoke to looked back on the show with terror and a few even confided that they were still scared of clowns to this day because of the IT miniseries.
After realizing these discrepancies in reactions, I began to wonder what exactly accounted for the differences in the two generations that would influence what they found scary. I looked at historical events, popular culture of the time, the psychology of horror, and the influence of technology on viewers. By the end of my research, I was satisfied to find that while there is no one definitive answer, there are several points that may have had an impact on both iterations of Stephen King’s work. As a millennial trying to pick apart a film that I thought told the world a lot about our generation’s psyche, I was thrilled go find that I felt as if I understood myself and my friends a little bit better by the end of this paper.
FM: How has your department and/or institution supported your work in film and media?
KMW: The University of North Carolina’s Film Department is absolutely magnificent when it comes to supporting and empowering their students! Whether it is working to find a summer internship or offering guidance for funding a short film, the faculty and staff in the department are always willing to help to the best of their abilities. Not only have they directly helped me achieve some of my wildest goals such as an internship in Hollywood and now having one of my research papers published, but they have also indirectly encouraged me to seek out new opportunities for what I love even if they seem far-fetched or unattainable.
FM: How have your faculty mentors fostered your advancement as a film scholar?
KMW: While I have always felt the full support of the entire UNCW Film Department, there are definitely a few professors that have profoundly influenced my growth as a film scholar and a writer. First off, Liza Palmer was the greatest influence on this specific paper as well as my introduction to Film Matters. Without her help, I wouldn’t have thought to submit this piece to the journal and perhaps wouldn’t have even felt confident enough to pursue a topic that was so recent. I owe much of the success of this piece to her unwavering kindness and attentive instruction.
Dr. Tim Palmer was also a huge influence on my college experience and growth as a film scholar. When I first enrolled in the film major at UNCW, I had no idea that film scholarship was even an option. However, after taking Dr. Palmer’s American Cinema 1927-1961 class, I realized that not only was researching and writing about film a viable option but also something I was incredibly interested in. Over the last two years of my undergraduate career, I spent quite a few visits in Dr. Palmer’s office asking about his experience with film scholarship. Without his help and advice I’m not sure I would have sorted through all of the questions in my head and been able to find a path forward that I am so excited to pursue.
Next up is Dr. Nandana Bose, who was the first person to introduce me to the world of cinema beyond the borders of the United States and the first to show me that reading subtitles really isn’t that difficult. Dr. Bose opened my eyes to so many different ways of thinking and living that had previously escaped me due to the restrictive parameters I had unknowingly placed upon myself by only watching English-language films. I would have never realized my love of Korean Cinema without her Global Cinema class and her New Wave Korean Cinema class. She also showed me that strong women have so much to offer the academic world and that I couldn’t wait to make my own mark.
Two other professors who have deeply influenced my writing styles during my time at UNCW are Dr. Carlos Kase and Dr. Todd Berliner. While both are similar in their obvious brilliance, their styles are incredibly different from one another. Dr. Kase’s Cult Cinema class taught me to have as much fun with my writing as possible. I not only learned that my writing could be an extension of myself, but that writing can be a truly euphoric experience if you let go and allow yourself to the find words or phrases that elate you. While Dr. Kase taught me that unrestrained writing can be an art, Dr. Berliner showed me that purposeful writing is almost a science. Though there may be no exact right or wrong way of conveying something, Dr. Berliner helped me realize that there are definitely more successful ways of getting your point across. Since taking his class on American Cinema since 1967, I have learned to rein myself in a bit while writing so as not to lose my audience in my excitement. By learning from two extremely capable and opinionated professors, I have not only learned to adapt my writing for my audience, but also found a very satisfying balance in my writing where I can be both poetic as well as articulate.
While Terry Linehan was never one of my professors for film scholarship, it would be wrong for me not the mention him here. From getting me an internship in Hollywood to offering hugely influential advice on my writing, Terry has supported me throughout the majority of my undergraduate career. He always believed in me no matter what and made sure to tell me so. Through his guidance I have gained so much confidence that I wouldn’t have otherwise.
Finally, I need to give a huge thank you to Dr. Sue Richardson and her sister Stef. Not only did they put up with my obsessive nature during my last semester of college, but they urged me to reach as far as I could with all of my work. Equally generous with her praise as well as criticism, Dr. Sue helped me realize that I could push myself and my work further than I ever thought possible. She also helped me understand that we are never done learning, which continues to excite me daily. Dr. Sue was the exact person I needed during the end of my undergraduate career.
I know this answer is incredibly long, but I feel hugely indebted to all of the professors that taught and encouraged me during my four years at UNCW. Without them I wouldn’t be sitting here now, writing this response. I hope that my future work continues to make all of you proud.
FM: How has the Film Matters editorial and publication process impacted the development/evolution of your article?
KMW: Before being involved with Film Matters, I was definitely lacking in the grammar department. I was also notorious for writing a paper in one sitting without much (or really any) revision work. After working with the editorial board I have learned that revisions are a crucial part of all good writing. This is a skill that I know will benefit me for my entire writing career to come.
FM: What audience do you hope to reach with your Film Matters article and/or what impact do you hope it has on the field of film studies?
KMW: With this article, I hope to reach other young people in my generation. When you study film in school, sometimes it can seem as if the older generations have the cornerstone on film scholarship. If you are only reading work by scholars much older than yourself or from many years ago in your classes, you can begin to feel as if there isn’t a place for your work in the current conversation because of your age or lack of experience. I hope that as a group we can realize that our voices are crucial to the ongoing narrative just as they are right now in this moment. With the world changing so fast, the millennial voice deserves to be heard. We should all share our opinions and findings because who is better suited to talk about our generation and its impact on society than us?
FM: What are your future plans?
KMW: Though I am currently taking a year off to be with my family, I plan on attending graduate school in the fall of 2019. I hope to continue my film studies education and write many more papers about how the new generations are shaping society through our art. I’m even working on revising my senior thesis from undergrad and I hope to submit that paper to a few conferences coming up!
Update: Since completing this interview over a year ago, I have been lucky enough to begin pursuing my MA in Cinema and Media studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. I am continuing my work on millennial interpretations and reactions to media but with a specific interest in fandom. Currently, I am looking at online fan communities surrounding the kpop group BTS and the impact that the group’s music videos have on representations of sexuality, gender, and beauty. I am looking forward to where this journey takes me!
Author Biography
K. M. Wise recently graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a BA in Film Studies and a minor in History. Awarded the Excellence in Film Studies Award for the spring class of 2018 at UNCW, Wise focuses her research on the representation of gender and sexuality through film. Originally from Annapolis, MD, she possesses a deep love for all types of history and has recently rekindled her love for Korean cinema. Wise is currently working toward her MA in Cinema and Media Studies at the University of British Columbia.
