Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Americans & Horror


Everyone experiences fear at some point in their life. Even if you enjoy horror stories there is a line that separates those who enjoy the feeling of being scared and those who actually just enjoy the horror. So why do we get such a kick out of being terrified? Perhaps Americans can enjoy horror fantasies because we have the freedom to do so. Perhaps we know it is only in our imagination, in our mind, as we read and watch it. Except from my point of view the mind is the most powerful and terrifying place/thing.

Though people are capable of doing horrid things there’s a small separation in our head from that elicits the pleasure seeking part of our brain and from a reality stand point.  An obsessed best friend holds another friend captive until they die, and then keeps the corps to talk to on a daily basis... Makes for a great story which we as Americans love, but as a news headline it’s not pleasurable (to some).
Religion- some of us live by it so perfectly that that is awesome and terrifying at the same time. For example, I follow the guidelines and I do no wrong so to read a story in which someone who does not follow the guidelines is scary/ and adventure. Example number 2, I follow the guidelines but am of a different belief which requires me to make sacrifices, thus creating fear for those around me.

Fiction- The fact that it is labeled fake means that it cannot happen in real life and I can enjoy it without guilt because I have never seen anything of this nature therefore I am safe. This is a small summary for why we might like alien stories, ghost stories, premonitions, and so on.

We start off wanting an adventure, then realize we actually would not mind a bunny popping out of the bush to make things a little interesting. (Suspense) Once we recognize suspense we want more so we add in a scary scenario, then leading to horror, next thing we know were enjoying the gore of something like Saw. It’s like a substance…once the mind and body is comfortable with the amount it’ll want more.
FUN THOUGHT: Do people get their ideas from the stories, or do stories get their ideas from the people?

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