Death Makes a Holiday

David J. Skal, author and critic on all things creepy, is a vistiting Lansdowne Scholar at UVic this year. In addition to teaching a very cool course based on his book, The Monster Show, he's giving a couple of lectures -- tonight's was based on his book about the origins and evolution of Halloween, Death Makes a Holiday.

Hubby and I attended, along with a standing-room-only crowd, and were fairly well-entertained, if a bit skeptical of some of his facts. Part of the problem was that he has written from an American standpoint about a holiday that differs a fair bit on this side of the border (our celebrations embrace a number of British traditions including fireworks and Guy Fawkes tie-ins); on the other hand he had some interesting observations about post-9/11 Halloween celebrations state-side.

His next lecture, set for some time in November, is going to be about King Kong -- no doubt to tie in with the upcoming Peter Jackson remake (to be released Dec. 14th).