Tales From The Cathedral: Conversation with HSWG Undergraduate Paige Branagan

3/15/2025
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At the time of this interview, Paige is an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh who worked closely with the HSWG and acted as a representative for the group. Paige has also created an amazing project and was awarded the Student Showcase Scholarship in the past. In this interview, she reflects on her experiences within the group and her passion for horror, highlighting her academic journey as well as her future aspirations.

CG: To get started, can you introduce yourself and share a little about your academic background as well as your interest in horror?

PB: Yeah, I'm currently a senior. I major in Digital Narrative and Interactive Design, and I'm a history minor. I got my foot in horror about three years ago. I took a class called Women in Literature, and the entire class focused on the monstrous feminine and how throughout history women are portrayed as impure, unclean, or improper, which plays a significant role in horror. That was the start of it for me and another component is that I really want to pursue academia. I'm planning to start applying for my PhD next semester. When I spoke to Dr. [Nathan] Koob about all of this, I was originally wanted to work with him on a class he was creating called Race, Culture, and Video Games. Over the summer, he sent me an email saying, "Well, if you want to go into academia, you need to do a capstone project; you seem very interested in course development so why don't you create your own class?" I was like, "Okay, I've never done that before, but it sounds cool." That's how the project was created. I ended up making a Canvas and a syllabus, outlining what the class would look like, which was great. I also served as a UTA for him, and he allowed me to give guest lectures for a couple of his classes. It worked out well; I got to go through all the material and visualize what it would look like, and then I was able to implement it on a small scale, which I think was cool.

CG: Yeah, that sounds amazing, oh my gosh.

PB: Yeah, It was really fun.

CG: So, was that your first introduction to the Horrors Studies Working Group?

PB: Yes, pretty much. I did that project, and he was like, "Hey, I'm part of this thing, there's a Scholarship Showcase for horror projects, applications close in January." He said if I wanted to get funding or further develop it I should apply. I had never like really applied for a grant before or received money from the university for research and it seemed laid-back enough so I thought, "All right, cool, I'll do it." I mainly requested funds for books and materials to help further develop the course, and it ended up being really useful. Especially because now I'm taking this further and presenting it at a National conference in April. I feel like without that grant money and the further development of this project, I wouldn't have brought it as far as it is now.

CG: Nice—yeah, that sounds amazing. So what was the process like, of applying for it? Any tips, for other undergrads who are thinking about applying?

PB: Okay, so I think the biggest tip I would give is to know exactly what you will be spending the money on and to be very specific about that. I remember sending in my first draft and saying, "This is what I want," but it was very vague. You have to provide a cost breakdown of what the money will go towards, and I was inexperienced. So, I sent something that only provided estimates without any specifics on what I would buy, and I was unsure, thinking, "Maybe I'll buy this; maybe I won't." They responded that it didn't work. I think going in with a clear idea is essential. Things can change over time, but at least in your document–-since you have to provide a cost breakdown anyway—being specific about what you want to buy and why will help you. I believe it makes the process a lot easier so they don't have to send it back and say, "Hey, you need to fix this."

CG: Very cool. Has the Showcase shaped any of your current work in a particular way?

PB: Yeah, I think so. I believe the main thing for me was that it made me a lot more comfortable presenting this project because I received a lot of good feedback at the showcase. I also think it was really beneficial in gaining traction with higher administration. For example, Dr. Koob tells me that some professors are aware of my project now and have mentioned it to him. Dean Nicola Foote, from the Honor's College, was present at the Showcase and was really excited about it and actively advocated for me, which I think is cool. Overall, I believe it really helped me in making connections and gaining traction within the university. It helped me learn how to give an effective presentation to a group of older individuals, who are more experienced than I am, in a way that makes sense. I mean, I was a 20-year-old saying I wanted to teach this university class to a bunch of experienced professors. I see that as a valuable learning experience in understanding what works and what doesn't in a presentation like that.

CG: Okay, yeah that seems like it’d be very helpful. Was there any personal inspiration for your class?

PG: Yeah, a lot of this came from my freshman year. I didn't watch, but I took an introductory film class, and we had a very open-ended final project—it was like, picking a movie and analyzing it. I chose Perfect Blue because I had just seen it for the first time, and it was very fresh in my mind. I think that movie, as a case study, is really interesting because it was made in the '90s and you see a female protagonist in horror who undergoes many terrible experiences, but you're not supposed to take pleasure in that. It's somewhat akin to Laura Mulvey's concept of the Male Gaze. It's one of the first examples where you're meant to view this story and think, "This is horrifying, and I hate this." Whereas I think a lot of horror, especially back then, fed off stereotypes of women—like the blonde who was always unclean or not a virgin, so she would die first, and then the brunette, who was a virgin, who became the final girl at the end. And, I think that much of horror depicted women being tortured through the lens of the male gaze, so men could think, "Wow, I like this; this is cool." But it's like, wait, no, this is not cool or fun. So I think I wanted to—-not necessarily bring awareness, but more so put this in a format where I could analyze examples that reinforce those stereotypes and reproduce harmful tropes, then examine examples actively working against that and try to change the narrative. I think that's important too because, obviously, women need to have a place in horror. There are many things you can do with women in horror, but so far, it's been hard to see a female protagonist and think, " I know this was created with like the male gaze in mind, you know?"

CG: Yeah, exactly. I think that's very interesting and important work. Going off that, what aspects would you think are more thought-provoking or fascinating when it comes to horror and do you have a favorite sub-genre?

PB: Yeah, that’s a hard question. Well, I think my favorite subgenre is psychological horror.

CG: Ohh yeah, amazing, mine too!

PB: Yeah! <laughs> I'm not really a huge fan of paranormal stuff; I think you could be really good at that, but I also think there's a lot of bad paranormal horror. I think psychological horror is cool, especially because I'm really interested in the distinction between reality and fiction. I believe that interest partly stems from Perfect Blue, which is about a woman slowly losing her mind and descending into insanity. I think that can have many metaphors and can be viewed through very different lenses. I feel like horror is an effective way to tell stories that might otherwise be shocking. I don't feel like I'm expressing this very well, but I think it's a good way to raise awareness or foster critical understanding, prompting people to analyze issues and perhaps consider that some things shouldn't be accepted. I also think it can be fun; horror is very inventive, and there are numerous possibilities within it, especially in psychological horror. There are many different ways a person can lose their mind and navigate the boundaries between reality and illusion, which is where my interest lies.

CG: Definitely, definitely, that's a very interesting way to think about it. Pivoting more to the Horror Studies Working Group, though, what role would you say you play in the group? Could you describe some of your responsibilities?

PB: Yeah, I play a very loose role; I don't feel like I'm technically the undergraduate liaison. I don't think that's an official title or anything; that's just something that's kind of been said. However, more recently, one of my "responsibilities" was to gauge interest in opening a Horror Studies Center. A lot of it involved assessing whether the undergraduate student body would find this useful. Additionally, some people in the group informed me that the undergraduate body holds a lot of sway with the administration. So if we express that we really want this and that it would be beneficial for our learning, the administration is much more likely to start putting things into action if they believe it aligns with their best interests. I would say that a significant part of my role involves gauging what's happening with the student body, particularly how interested they are in horror. I do try to unofficially recruit people—-not into the group, but rather to inform them, like, "Hey, there's this really cool grant. I know you're working on this horror project; you should apply." So I think of myself as acting as a voice for the undergraduate student body, even though this mostly pertains to my circles within DNID and history. I'm not talking to everyone on campus. <laughs> It's a very loose role.

CG: Yeah, so kind of like a student ambassador almost?

PB: Yeah, exactly.

CG: And has the role shaped your academics in any way? Or your personal interests?

PB: I think it's really cool to be in a group like this. Essentially, the process involved talking to Dr. Koob a lot, and I was like, "Yeah, this is something I'm interested in." He said, "Well, I'm the Associate Director. You should come to our meetings ." It's not that I have an official title or role; it's purely volunteer. I don't get paid, nor do I earn credit for it, but it's something I enjoy being a part of. It's really interesting to see the kinds of projects that professors at the university are working on in the horror genre, as I feel that doesn't get a lot of attention elsewhere. I think it has been really cool for me to be in this group where I can explore my niche interests, and it has helped me engage with other professors. Since DNID is so project-heavy, I can say, "Hey, I want to make this project, but it's going to be a horror game," and I can explain where I'm coming from and my background. I think Dr. Koob bringing me into this has been very meaningful to me, and it's exciting to be part of a group that, although smaller and we don’t have an official horror studies certificate, is working toward that goal. I think it's great to be part of the groundwork, and I hope that in the future they establish a Horror Studies Center and certificate because these stories are important. It's fascinating to see things from behind the scenes and from an academic perspective if that makes sense.

CG: Yeah, I think it is really important. A funny point that came up when I was talking to Greg [Siegle] is that this group is just a bunch of horror nerds so a lot of the discussion, besides the more administrative, is just going to be very chill very light-hearted.

PB: <laughs> Yeah, that is funny. I like the fact that it's low stakes because it feels like a place where I can explore my interests without judgment, and I know I'm surrounded by people who love the same things I do, so yeah, it's cool.

CG: Out of curiosity, have there been any key moments that have stuck with you while being in the group that have impacted you?

PB: Um, okay, let me think. I mean, I would say more recently I went to the Queer Horror Conference, and I think that was really impactful for me. I think it was really cool that this was something that was kind of born as a part of that group, or that the group was a part of and helped with, you know? I also just love a good conference, <laughs> so it was cool to go to a dedicated space where people could talk about queer horror. I am very interested in queer horror too, so I think it was just a really nice space for me to be in and learn. I feel like I got so many movie and book recommendations, and I'm like, I gotta go read this stuff and do all these things. I don't know about other specific moments; I would say it's more about being a part of it that has been impactful. Also, getting the grant itself was a really cool moment just because it was like, wow, I feel like I can actually do things. I'm good at the things I want to do, and having that support from them has been really nice, along with the feedback I receive. As I said, being surrounded by people who are interested in this is great.

CG: So how do you envision a particular future within the group? Are there any specific goals or projects that you hope to pursue?

PB: I mean, this is not my project, but I do hope the Horror Studies Center happens. Yeah, I think that would be really cool. I hope the horror studies certificate becomes a reality too. I might have to come back to college, but I'm not going to do that. <laughs> I wish I could. I would love to see this group, over the years, gain more traction and recognition within the university. I believe it is respected, but I hope it becomes more prevalent as an academic area of study that people can pursue and are interested in. I think it's really important; this group is currently laying the groundwork for that by gauging interests and recruiting people. In the future, when the Horror Studies Center and certificate do happen, I believe it will be impactful and change a lot within the University. There seems to be a lot of interest, and I think people will be excited about it, so I look forward to seeing how that evolves over time.

CG: Yeah! I remember first showing my horror newspaper to Dr. Koob, and he told me more about the group. I was like, "Oh, I need to be a part of this; this is me." Out of the other student groups that you've been a part of, how would you say the Horror Studies Working Group is unique compared to them?

PB: Um, okay, well, I do feel like I'm going to repeat some of the same things I've been saying, but I think horror studies, specifically, has been important because it's kind of providing a new avenue within the university that hasn't really been seen before. I mean, to my knowledge, we haven't had anything specifically in horror studies before this. I know there are horror literature and horror film classes, but I don't want to imply that is definitive; those may be the only two horror-focused classes. I just think that being in this group, which is relaxed and allows for open discussion of ideas, is really important. I believe it could lead to the future offering of more horror-centered classes, which I think people would find very interesting, building a sense of community based on people's interests, which I think is cool and vital. There are already many concentrations within the university, and I think horror studies represents another one that hasn't truly been explored yet, so I find that exciting. Also, I've participated in student clubs, which are structured differently; I've served as a board member in those clubs. I just feel like this group is different, at least at this stage. I really appreciate how this group focuses on building community with these people.

CG: Okay, if you were to reflect, let's say five years from now, on your journey in the Horror Studies Working Group, what would you want to have accomplished, or what would you want to be remembered for?

PB: Honestly, I would like to be remembered, you know, for my project. I think that was probably—I'm not going to claim that it's the magnum opus of my academic career because I believe I have a long way to go, but for my time in undergrad--was the most impactful experience of my life, and it is still something that I am continually working on. I remember receiving a lot of feedback, with people saying that they hadn't really seen a project where someone was creating a university class. I'm sure it has been done before, but in this specific capacity, I don't know that it has. I am really proud of the work that I did, and, you know, grant or no grant, being in that space and having support from people who are like-minded and truly understood what I wanted to do with this project was very important for me. I want this project to live on; I hope to become a professor one day and teach this class, you know, as an actual university professor. I think my main goal is to be remembered as that girl who created a university class when she was 20 years old.

CG: I mean, that's inspirational! Honestly, Dr. Koob told me about your project, and I was like, "Wow, okay, forget the newspaper; I could do more. I could do so much more!"

PB: I am really thankful to Dr. Koob because I didn't even know that it was an option. Then he said I should do it, and I was like, "Can I do that?" He replied, "Yeah, do it !" I feel like that kind of changed my perspective on the forms that projects can take. You can do whatever you want, as long as it has some substance. I think it's really important to create projects that are truly tailored to your interests, and this was the perfect intersection of academia and horror. I was like, "I really need this, you know?"

CG: Yeah, it's amazing. It's honestly amazing.

PB: Thank you!

CG: Finally, Paige, what's your favorite scary movie?

PB: Gosh, okay, I have to think about this first. <laughs> Like, wait, I have to pull up my Letterbox. <both laugh>

PB: Okay, I think I want to say this isn't necessarily horror, so I hope I don't get anyone saying, "That 's not horror," but Se7en.

CG: Oh, Se7en’s amazing!

PB: Yeah, I love that movie. I think it changed my perspective on so many things, and also I just think it's brilliantly done. I love it! I just rewatched it recently, so it's fresh in my mind.

CG: Yeah, Se7en's great! My friends and I have this ongoing joke whenever we give each other gifts we scream, “What's in the box!”

PB: Exactly! <laughs> The cultural impact! I'm like, people are still saying it.

CG: Yes, exactly, that's amazing! That's such a good one. I appreciate you taking the time to sit with me. I know it's a very hectic time, and I genuinely appreciate it.

PB: Yes, of course! Thank you for interviewing me. This was awesome.