Elizabeth Erwin Ph.D. '25 has received national recognition for a dissertation that challenges one of horror cinema's most familiar tropes. The Popular Culture Association recently named Erwin the recipient of its Kathy Merlock Jackson Dissertation Award in Popular Culture Studies.

In horror films, a woman's scream is often read as a simple signal of terror and helplessness. Erwin's dissertation, completed as a graduate student in Lehigh's Department of English, argues the opposite, that the scream is a powerful act of defiance.

Titled "When the Woman Screams," the project draws on decades of film theory to push back on the idea that screaming is an inherently weak or submissive act. Erwin contends that when a female character screams, she disrupts cinema's traditional "male gaze," compels the audience to align with her survival, and breaks the long-standing cultural expectation that "good" women stay quiet. Rather than marking victimization, the scream becomes a powerful tool of visibility and resistance.,

The dissertation's format matches its argument. Instead of a conventional academic paper, Erwin built the project as a public website, divided into four publicly accessible parts:

• Podcasts that examine the distinct sound of the horror scream — its pitch, tone, and roughness — and connect those vocalizations to broader historical struggles for women's rights in America.
• A video essay that analyzes "silent screams" in film, exploring how actresses use body language and facial expression to challenge traditional gender norms.
• Blog entries written for a general, non-academic audience, offering in-depth reviews of specific horror films that translate complex film theory into accessible writing.
• A citation list that breaks down traditional academic hierarchies by giving equal weight to university scholars and pop-culture critics alike, blending rigorous research with personal insight.

Erwin argues that "When the Woman Screams" is not a study of victims. It is a celebration of survival, one designed to carry academic insight beyond the university and share it freely with a wider audience.

The Popular Culture Association promotes the appreciation and study of popular culture and advances rigorous, interdisciplinary research into its complexity, significance, and global impact. The organization says it works to welcome and amplify voices from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives by creating spaces — both physical and virtual — where scholars, educators, creators, and enthusiasts can connect and engage in dialogue about popular culture.