Category Archives: Unit 06

Week 6: Enjoying Horror Research Essay

Article #1

Dickson, R. (November 01, 1998). Horror: To Gratify, Not Edify. Language Arts, 76, 2, 115-22. Retrieved November 6th, 2013, from http://www.jstor.org.libproxy.uoregon.edu/stable/41484083?seq=2

 

This article was about the writer doing a personal investigation to why even children are attracted to horror, especially with books. The latest and most popular books for the children to read are the Goosebumps series. Randi read 3 of his daughters Goosebumps books, interviewed all of his daughter’s classmates about the books, and even looked to the author of the Goosebumps series to what he thought about children being intrigued by horror. Randi actually referenced back to our reading for this week, “Why Horror” by Caroll. He went over how monsters must be threatening. All the books had to have a monster that is unnatural with a main character that tries to figure out what this monster is, to prove that the monster exists. This intrigues the reader because they keep on reading to see if the main character is successful. When interviewing the children most of them simply said “I like to be scared”. He gets insight from Stine, the author of Goosebumps who believes that the children like to be scared from the books because it is a secure place to be scared. They can triumph over their fear in the safety of their bedroom or wherever they are reading the book.

One of the issues with this article and solving why people enjoy horror is that Randi could not get very intellectual answers. Many of the children did not understand themselves why they liked the books. Randi even concluded that many of the kids read the books simply because they were popular and everybody else was reading them. Randi does prove one issue brought up by Noel Carroll that many people might take pleasure in not only the monster but also the narrative structure in which the monster is present. (Carroll 278) Randi proves this in that the children like that they have to keep on reading to see what happens next. They like to see the character figure out whom the monster is, to prove that the monster exists, and to hopefully then destroy the monster. The other thing that Carroll states is that “The horror story is driven explicitly by becoming curious. The horror story engages the audience by having the process of discovery, proof, explanation, hypothesis, and confirmation (279). Randi discovered that many of the children followed the story and followed all of Carroll’s points. They put themselves into the characters shoes.

 

Article #2

Gaut, B. (October 01, 1993). The paradox of horror. British Journal of Aesthetics, 33, 4.), Retrieved November 6th, 2013, from http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.uoregon.edu/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=AONE&userGroupName=s8492775&tabID=T002&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA14633203&&docId=GALE|A14633203&docType=GALE&role=

 

Gaut in this article was here to prove that it is not unusual that people enjoy horror. In “Why Horror” he asks how can we be attracted to something that disgusts us or repulses us? (275). Gaut goes over various reasons and possibilities of why we could enjoy horror. One of these possibilities is that the fear may just be muted due to the fact that the viewer knows that it is not real life. Gaut surprisingly shuts down one of Carroll’s reasons on how there is always a monster that is out of the ordinary. Gaut proves this wrong by talking about what is now known as “slashers”. They are not created monsters but are actually derived as psychopathic serial killers. Some people even view these because they just want to overcome their fear. Gaut explains that this could be one reason but it is not the main reason. Many people just like to go and enjoy being scared. The best example he presented was how humans naturally are attracted to danger. People can be attracted to mountain climbing, roller coasters, skydiving, and motor racing.  You can be scared doing these things but they are also fun and enjoyable at the same time. It is controlled fear though. You know you are going to be scared. Gaut finalizes by emphasizing that we may be scared but it is a positive emotion of fear rather than a negative emotion of fear. It is not a paradox of horror because it is not the same type of fear.

Gaut covers many issues brought up in our reading simply because he covers so many different scenarios that people have come up with of why people enjoy horror and has constructed their reason down to why they do not work. For example he proves Carroll wrong with the monster situation. Carroll believes that there must be a monster involved in a horror, that it is essential to have a monster because the viewer/reader need to see if the monster exists or not. Gaut proves this is wrong introducing the slasher horror movies mentioned above. He also proves Carroll wrong in the mention that “The disclosure of the existence of the horrific being and of its properties is the central source of pleasure in the genre” (282). This is not always the case. There are actually quite a few horror movies or books that do not get solved in the end or the monster/ killer does not get defeated leaving you still scared. This is not the reason for the please of the viewer/reader. Gaut says after watching scary movies we are often scared walking to our car or have a hard time getting to sleep because of the scary movie but this doesn’t stop us in watching the movie.

Week 6: Enjoying Horror Discussion

Provide an example of Diegetic sound:

Starting at 13:21 there is a mix of both diegetic sound and non-diegetic sound. I would like o focus on the Diegetic sound. Apart from the “mood music” (Non-diegetic) you hear the gears in the clock tower. You can tell by the sound and how it echoes that it feels eerie and empty. I think the sound of the clock tower really set up for when the creepy guy comes into view. It contributed to the aesthetic of horror because the sound is unusual to hear. Not many people go into clock towers and it seems to be where this creepy monster is hiding.

 

Provide an example of Non-Diegetic sound:

Beginning at 22:35 where the scene of the two fairytale monsters accompanied by two crazy characters in straitjackets and they go to the dorm room to take the guy’s heart out is a great example to show non-diegetic sound. The mood music emphasizes the mood. These fairytale monsters act very strangely; they are calm and collected as they hover through town. There are a lot of instrumentals. I hear a lot of violin and the triangle. I think the woman singing is what makes the characters even more eerie and creepy. Once it gets the part where the man opens the door then BAM! There is a screech sound to make you jump when you see the monsters. As they hold down the man and he struggles, the music gets more and more intense. It calms a little bit while the two monsters look at each other and it once again intensifies when one monster pulls the knife out. The ups and downs of the mood music really add to the horror aesthetics as it in a way tells you how to feel as you are watching the video.

 

Provide an example of Mis-en-scene:

I think the very beginning scene where Buffy is dreaming is a great example to show mis-en-scene. Right after Buffy and Riley kiss and the scene changes. The frame closes in on just them where you can’t see their environment. The room becomes dark and everybody is gone. The diegetic sound intrigues Buffy where you hear this girl reciting something. She goes out to the hall and sees the young girl at the end still talking. The camera angle is always to the height of buffy. When riley touches her shoulder it shoots up to the monster’s face making the viewer feel small in comparison. The actor’s performance is a big part to the aesthetic horror. Buffy is cautious entering the hallway and waling to the girl. These pieces of mis-en-scene add to the horror aesthetic in that you are up close and personal to what is going on.