A series of events and conversations as part of OP’s Bullhorn Community Programs to help you discover more about this classic story. More content coming soon!

LOVE, SACRIFICE… & GHOSTS?!

Take a walk down the corridors of The Overlook Hotel with expert panelists to explore the psychology of King’s famous characters and uncover the lesser known themes of love, sacrifice and generational ties explored in this work. What is the enduring appeal of this story? How much of King’s work is autobiographical? Why do we crave horror? How does opera best shed new light on these universal themes?

Panelists:

Kearstin Piper Brown – Soprano

Katie Hafner – Journalist & Author of ‘The Boys’ 

Dr. Indre Viskontas – Neuroscientist & Stage Director 

Moderated by Daniel Harvey – OP Artistic & Community Manager

Stephen King established himself as a preeminent writer in the horror genre with The Shining, published in 1977. The themes are like others in his literary output: the thin line dividing reality from fantasy. His frightening plots emerge from ordinary daily routines. The storylines are not scary in and of themselves. But the way that bizarre occurrences affect believable characters cause terror to the reader. The ways ordinary people become monstrous by their own doing, mirroring King’s own history of drug and alcohol abuse.

The Shining contains many elements of Gothic literature. It is rooted in the power of the past and how irrational violence influences the world.  What Makes a Gothic Novel  (Carla M. Paton. The Writing Collective. 2022, Mar 2) – Atmosphere & setting, Visions and Omens, Supernatural events: Mystery & fear, Women in distress, Tyranny of men. Enjoy these other examples of gothic literature.