Parents and Children
Thursday, June 11, 2026, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Instructor: Elizabeth Nathanson, Ph.D., Muhlenberg College
When Carrie hit screens in 1976, it was a controversial blockbuster adaptation of Stephen King’s third novel. Celebrated and critiqued by critics and scholars, audiences debated the nature and ethics of the film’s shocks and horrors. Starring a youthful Sissy Spacek as a teen with supernatural powers, the film offers a nightmarish vision of a world fraught with adolescent bullying, religious fervor, and repressive parenting. Carrie was marketed as popcorn fare but has since found its place in the canon of both horror and teen films.
This seminar explores how Carrie offers a view into the fears and anxieties of 1970s America. We will consider how it emerged in the context of the era’s major social movements and participated in a cycle of films that offered a paranoid view of America. Carrie asks us to consider the tenuous and ambiguous lines between “good” and “evil” and to confront our fears about monstrosities that live at home.
Are you interested in “just” seeing this movie? Visit the public screening page here.
Cinema Classics Seminars offer an entertaining and engaging way to learn more about some of the true classics of world cinema. All students receive an introductory lecture before the film and a guided discussion after the film. In addition, those in attendance receive a ticket to see it on the big screen, as well as popcorn and a drink. Please note: the screening associated with this seminar will be open to the public, as well.
Please contact BMFI Programs and Education Manager Jill Malcolm with any questions.
$30 for members, $40 for non-members
Schedule