10 Questions With… Sam Logan, professor with the School of Exercise, Sport and Health Sciences. Logan is a horror author and has taught Honors College courses in body horror and punk. He is launching a new horror magazine, “SLUGGER,” in November.
What originally brought you to Oregon State and how long have you been here?
I joined faculty within the School of Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences in 2014. I was drawn to Oregon State because of its strong kinesiology and adapted physical activity (APA) programs. Our APA program is focused on undergraduate education, research and community programs to promote physical activity, motor development and health for people with disabilities. I was thrilled to join an internationally recognized APA program and contribute to its mission.
What makes you passionate about higher education?
It’s a place to push boundaries — whether it’s answering novel research questions or approaching the classroom as a pedagogical playground to try out new strategies for teaching and learning. I also love the energy and perspectives students bring to campus and the classroom. They are the lifeblood of the university.
Was there a film or a book that first got you interested in horror, and what about it intrigued you?
Growing up, I absolutely loved R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” series. There’s just something so fun and campy that hooked me as a kid—the unexplained, supernatural and otherworldly. These books were a great introduction to storytelling using horror elements like a ventriloquist’s dummy coming to life, haunted masks and all kinds of monsters. In college, Stephen King’s “The Shining” started my path on adult horror fiction. More recently, I discovered horror books published by small, independent presses. I’m not sure how it happened, but I stumbled across Lor Gislason’s novella “Inside Out.” The story is about an infection that spreads through society. Written in a series of vignettes, Lor’s visceral and goopy take on body horror captivated me. I had found indie horror and haven’t looked back since.
How do the worlds of body horror and LGBTQ identity interconnect, and why is horror a good tool to explore these issues?
When I discovered body horror, I was immediately drawn to stories from LGBTQ authors. I read the “Your Body Is Not Your Body” anthology that featured trans and gender non-conforming authors. I absolutely loved it. I identify in a normative way (straight, cisgender man/male, able-bodied, white), but I always feel like I’m in the ballpark of gender-questioning. Although I do not actively use the gender-questioning label, I relate to queer authors from the perspective of not fitting in. I also acknowledge the inherent tension that exists in my own normative identity and the body horror course I teach, which focuses on reading short stories by queer authors. I constantly ask myself if I’m the right person to teach this course. But then I think, if I don’t, then who will? LGBTQ existence is grounded in the physical body, and horror provides a means to explore identity, experiences and perspectives and take back control of how these personal stories are told.
What advice would you give the younger version of yourself who was just starting college?
Don’t wait to embrace your inner weird. Be yourself and find your people.
How do you use zines as a teaching tool?
Zines are low-cost, do-it-yourself pamphlets that have a long and storied history in science fiction, punk and social justice. I love asking students to design and print their own zine as a final project because it provides them with an opportunity to be creative and reflective. There’s something about making a physical artifact, like a zine, that is rewarding to students. Zine-making also poses a unique challenge to students because there are no formal rules or guidelines with the format. Zines can include text or visual elements, both, or neither. Students sometimes struggle with the lack of structured guidelines, but I think that’s a valuable learning experience to navigate.
What was your favorite course in college?
History of Rock!
Do you see connections between punk and horror, as they’re both topics you explore in your work?
Absolutely. Both punk and horror come with a set of preconceived notions that are exaggerated, misaligned and reduced to something trivial. For example, I think punk is often thought about as simply noise without anything substantial to say. But punk has its roots in challenging authority and resisting normativity. It’s also an incredibly diverse genre—folk-punk, thrash, protopunk, technopunk, post-punk, new-wave, rockabilly punk, riot grrrl, and skate punk (to name a few). Similarly, horror is often thought about as nothing but blood and guts. While there’s plenty of that, at the core of any good horror story are the strong and beating hearts of its characters. Most people probably think of slashers like the “Halloween” series when they think about horror, but there are tons of variations when you dig into it—cryptids, cosmic, folk, body, survival, psychological, atmospheric, sapphic, gothic, religious, apocalyptic (again, just to name a few). Then of course there are combinations of horror specific tropes with other genres like sci-fi, dark fantasy, bizarro, weird fiction, comedy. This all makes for a wide variety of what horror can look like. And just like punk, the best horror media has unique perspectives to share about identity and social issues that challenge the status quo.
As co-editor of a new horror magazine, what do you consider the perfect ingredients for good horror writing?
I’ll hedge my answer by first acknowledging that everyone has their own subjective preferences when it comes to what makes for good horror writing. I tend to like stories that are bold, unique and offer an interesting perspective. This can be accomplished in any number of ways, but I want to read stories that grab me by the collar and don’t let go until the end. We have some great stories lined up for SLUGGER Vol. 1. Current and former OSU students designed the cover and interior art for each story. We will publish body horror students’ stories from this term in Vol. 2 as a special issue.
Who are your top three horror authors (or directors)?
Three?! How about three sets of three? Horror authors: Emma E. Murray, Max Booth III, Carson Winter. Independent horror presses: Shortwave Publishing and Tenebrous Press (both based in Portland), and Ghoulish Books. Horror movies: “The Substance,” “Dead Alive” and “Suspiria” (1977 version).
