Hello, my name is Ani. This is my second year studying in Aarhus as a English Master’s Degree student at Aarhus University and this semester, I will be one of the lucky interns at the Recreational Fear Lab! I learned about the opportunity in my second semester, when I took Mathias Clasen’s Advanced Research Topic course in American Nightmares, which reignited my love for all things horror. The course was exciting to me because I had never studied horror in an academic context. 

I completed my English Bachelor’s degree in Prague, where I grew up. Although the overall experience was amazing, I felt limited by the traditional academic structure and syllabus at times. My experience at Aarhus University has been refreshing in this regard and I cannot wait to see what the Recreational Fear Lab has in store for us. Investigating horror and its potential in academics has been one of the most motivating parts of my education so far. 

Though I have never participated in recreational fear in any official capacity like a haunted house (besides the one in Disney Land), I engage with the horror genre frequently. Horror film nights with my friends are a must, and I also like horror podcasts like The Magnus Archives and my absolute favorite TV series is NBC’s Hannibal. What I enjoy most about TMA and Hannibal is the way these works encompass queer themes within the horror setting. Outside of horror related hobbies I like to knit and read the occasional crime novel. 

I hope to learn about all the different ways research is conducted at RFL during my internship and most of all I want to have fun!