Artifact 5: The Aesthetics of Horror
Objectives:
- Explore the psychological and emotional curiosity for and impact of horror art on individuals and society
- Analyze the unique aesthetic qualities of horror art
- Understand and utilize some basic principles of film and television analysis
Original Post:
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there were several examples of diegetic, non-diegetic, and mise-en-scene. A particular example of diegetic sound is in Buffy’s daydream toward the beginning of the episode. In this scene, Buffy walks down a dark hallway and approaches a girl in a red dress, who is chanting out loud. This chant alone adds to the aesthetic horror of the video because it makes the viewer wonder what is going on, potentially providing a hint for something that is about to happen. The reason I chose this example is because it is an obvious example of diegetic sound that directly adds to the horror of the scene by putting unnecessary thoughts in the viewer’s mind about what is to come next.
An example of non-diegetic sound is the background music that is playing when the clock on the building is shown on the screen. During this time, there is also a character that is shown who is opening a box, supposedly “stealing the voices” of the people in the town. I chose this particular scene because it adds to the aesthetics of horror because it allows the audience to relate to the predicament that the characters experience.
Due to the fact that the characters lose their voices in this episode, they are forced to express themselves through different means other than speaking. An example of mise-en-scene that I found is when Riley and his friend are stuck in the elevator and they start to think that they will die because their voices are not recognizable. As the characters display feelings of panic and insecurity in this scene, there is added suspense to the scene. For me particularly, I have been trapped in an elevator before so I was able to relate to the feelings of helplessness, which is the reason I chose this specific example of mise-en-scene. This could be the case for other people as well, allowing them to feel as if they are in the shoes of the characters, adding to the horror.
Reflection:
This week’s topic was particularly interesting for me because I find horror films amusing in a way because they all seem to have similar plots, with predictable outcomes. As I began to read the assigned readings and explore the concepts of diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, and mise-en-scene, I learned a lot more about the effects that help make a horror film scary. This allowed me to think about the unique aesthetics qualities of horror art and the extra work that goes on to make the special effects so appealing to one’s senses. I began to think about what makes me keep coming back, regardless of the fact that the movies are so predictable and fake. I think the main reason is because it gives me a feeling of self-control, while experiencing an adrenaline rush. Although the scene may be briefly appalling, I know for a fact that it is not true, so I am able to laugh it off. “Moreover, this fascination can be savored, because the distress in question is not behaviorally pressing; it is a response to the thought of a monster, not the actual presence of a disgusting or fearsome thing” (Carroll, 288). This quote by Noel Carroll in her article perfectly describes what I mean. With horror films, I am able to feel the adrenaline rush but at the same time assure myself that I am safe, enhancing the feeling of self-control. Similarly, I found this to be true when I was working on my research essay for this week and came across the game Hush that was based on real-life events, but interesting because it was a video game and not actuality. I think this speaks to the psychological and emotional curiosity for watching horror films, although the reasons for watching this genre are different from person to person.
From this week’s topic, I was also able to understand and utilize basic principles of film and television analysis with the terms mentioned above. This was done by analyzing different scenes from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and understanding the affect that different principles/concepts had on the overall message trying to be conveyed by the particular scene. I was also able to enhance my understanding of this type of analysis by engaging in further discussion with my peers and experiencing their perspectives. Below, I chose to include a picture that advertised the movie, The Sixth Sense, which is one of my favorite horror films. I like this particular movie because it plays with one’s psychological curiosity throughout and makes it very relatable to real-life scenarios. Movies like this trigger a heightened emotional response from me because I am able to visualize myself in the shoes of the main character, making it more realistic. When movies are able to do this, I think there is a better sense of horror, compared to movies with only fictional characters and plots.
Future:
After diving into this week’s topic, I became more conscious of why I like the horror genre. In the future, I will try to think more about what exactly in the film appeals to me and I will try to look for the examples of sounds that I learned about. In reality, my interest in the horror genre can be a result of the special effects, the plot, my curiosity, the adrenaline from being scared, or a combination of all. I am curious to find out more about what makes this genre so appealing to many people.
References:
2. Image: http://allspectacularmovies.blogspot.com/2012/01/25-sixth-sense-1999.html
Table of Contents
Artifact #1: The Nature of Human Values
Artifact #2: What is Art for?
Artifact #3: Is Food Art?
Artifact #4: The Art of Personal Adornment
Artifact #5: Aesthetics of Horror
Artifact #6: Creative Spirituality
Artifact #7: Technology, Games, & Art
Artifact #8: Remixing Culture
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