ABSTRACT
When I was a graduate student at Indiana University, I went home over break to visit my family. My nephew Brian, who was 10 years old at the time, begged his mom to let me take him to a scary movie. My sister was hesitant, warning of nightmares that often accompanied these movies. Still, Brian persisted and confidently declared that he was no longer a little boy, that these things didn’t scare him anymore, and that his mom was being ridiculous. Knowing that I studied this type of thing, my sister felt secure enough to let me take Brian to see Alien. Brian was thrilled not only to be going, but also to be going with his big uncle. With popcorn, M&Ms, and soda in hand we sat near the back of the large theater in anticipation of the thrills to come.
