ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona faculty members Jeff Stoyanoff, assistant professor of English and women's, gender, and sexuality studies, and Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, released a new episode of their podcast, "Horror Joy," titled "'Alien' (1979): An Uncanny Political Fable."

In this episode, Stoyanoff and Onishi discuss the following:

• "The Alien as the Ultimate Other": How the alien creature embodies our fears of the unknown and the uncanny
• "Body Horror and the Violation of the Human Form": The film's disturbing exploration of birth, death, and the body
• "Corporate Greed and Existential Threat": The role of capitalism and technology in creating the conditions for the alien's emergence
• "The Heroine's Journey": Ellen Ripley's evolution from a resourceful crew member to a hardened warrior

The full episode can be accessed on podcast providers or on Red Circle. Learn more about the "Horror Joy" podcast.