Activities

THE TWO FACES OF FEAR. WORKSHOP ABOUT FEAR AT THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CINEMA OF CATALUNYA - SITGES 2007.

Psychology defines fear as a basic emotion that appears upon sensing danger, generally culminating in a very unpleasant feeling. The film maker Woody Allen, however views it as his most faithful companion; the one that has never deceived him to go with another.

Companion and emotion, are in actuality the terms which adjust perfectly to the experience of fear. Acceleration of the pulse, dilated pupils and cold sweats make up this travel companion which has remained with human beings since the dawn of time. In fact, the emotion of fear has never stopped being an evolutionary strategy which responds to a better adaptation the fear in that which we live. Its function is simple, to prepare us to flee or fight when we feel threatened. Curiously enough, sometimes fear also acts as a source of entertainment and we take it along with us deliberately to events such as the Festival of Sitges, with the intention of experiencing a strange delight. What exactly is fear then?

The seminar “BOTH SIDES OF FEAR”, organized by the Chair “the social brain” (www.elcervellsocial.org) from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, invites you to find out the answers behind questions such as why do we feel fear? When it results into pleasure? or Why are some people hooked on it? The 6th and 7th of October at 16:00h, at the Miramar building, all these questions will be analyzed from a neurobiological perspective. In addition, film directors that work in the horror genre who participate in the Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya – Sitges 2007 will provide us with their personal vews about fear.

More details

Dates: 6th or 7th of October. From 16:00h to 19:00h

Place: Auditorium of Miramar Building C/ Davallada, 12 08870 Sitges

Prize: Free entrance.

Application: activitats@elcervellsocial.org.

Participants:

Dr. Oscar Vilarroya. Cognitive researcher and director of the UAB Chair “the social brain”

Dra. Eva Loste. Executive Director of the UAB Chair “the social brain”

Schedule: 15:00 – 15:30 Why does fear exist? Evolutionary perspective about fear.

15:30 – 16:15 The sides of fear. Practical exercises

16:30 – 17:00 The anatomy of fear. Neurobiological explanation related to the practical excises. Fear and pleasure, Why sometimes do they come together?

17:20 – 18:00 The fear expertises. Reflections on fear from horror film directors.

18:00h Appetizer

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