I've loved the horror genre since I was a little girl. In fact, by sixth grade, I had my middle school locker adorned with screenshots of Freddy, Michael, and Jason. Of course everyone thought I was a bit of an -*ahem*- freak, because I was born and raised in small town Missouri, where being much different than anyone tends to stir trouble for you. But I paraded about in my
Halloween shirt and spiral-bound notebooks filled with my own terrible yet twisted tales all the same.
Something I noticed, however, was that I got a lot of crap about watching horror (and NOT doing so just to go with my "boyfriend", get scared, and bury my face in his arms), while the guys of any social click or standing could watch them avidly and no one really cared. Why were girls getting thrown into a different titles -- normal, if they flinched and got grossed out; or a freak, if their eyes light up and a smile arises from a creative decapitation.
Around a year ago, I stumbled upon Ax Wound Zine, a delightful breath of fresh air in the horrow community. Ax Wound Zine: Gender in the Horror Genre is a zine dedicated to the mission of bringing attention to the women of the horror community. Founder and Editor, Hannah Forman, says this about her mission with Ax Wound:
"It is my hope that “Ax Wound” will create a dialogue about gender in the horror/slasher/gore genre — a genre typically thought to reinforce patriarchal values. I want both the zine and the website to provide a safe, stimulating environment for feminists who struggle with their enjoyment of these films, and a place to explore what these films are about, and why we love them so much."
Ax Wound has caught some impressive attention:
"Ax Wound is my favorite critical horror magazine. The articles are intelligent, funny, insightful, and incredibly entertaining. These girls know their gore, and they make you want to re-watch all your favorite films with a whole new perspective. I love it and highly recommend it to any horror fan."
- Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever)
Not too long ago, Hannah created a manifesto for Women in Horror Month, and why we should make it February. I've been charmed by Ax Wound and the small bits of work I've had with Hannah, and just how comforting it is to know about all these people welcoming women with open arms in the horror community. So, of course, when she asked people to start reposting the manifesto and spread the word about Women in Horror Month, I was eager to help.
The link above will take you to the Ax Wound site and, specifically, the post Hannah made on Women in Horror. But I've wanted to do more than just post a link and a random blog. It's my hope to post a few blogs this month about women and their contributions to the horror industry. So, even though the entire blog itself won't be dedicated to only Women in Horror Month, there will be a few extra posts -- or so I hope -- to keep spreading the love for girls and gore.
So check out Ax Wound Zine and keep an eye out for the newest issue whenever it goes on sale. When I know myself, I'll be sure to post a link.
~Angel
