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.
ARTIFACT:
Researching Horror – view the original post here.
REFLECTION:
Before even delving into this unit, I had a host of preconceived notions about the topic of horror as a form of art. Traumatized by films like Saw and The Hills Have Eyes in my early teenage years, I was very skeptical about the potential for horror film to be a form of art. It was in the process of examining these preconceived notions that I realized what a strong effect my own value system was having on my ability to evaluate the aesthetics of horror film. I do not consider violence beautiful or necessary, despite the overwhelming presence of it in human history.
A combination of post-research considerations and a closer evaluation of my own values and their influence on my opinions about this topic yielded a transformed perception of the genre as an art form. Specifically, it seems that the unique aesthetic qualities of horror art are what made it impossible for me to ignore their pull and effect on people. The aesthetic components of art, as we’ve learned, do not necessarily have to be pleasurable to cause a reaction. Telfer said “an aesthetic reaction need not be a favourable one, and even where it is, pleasure may not be the right characterisation of it.” (Telfer, 17) While she was referring to food, her point is completely analogous to the conundrum I experienced with horror art.
From the research I did, it seems I am not the only person to feel this way. The issue of complexity lays around the impact of horror art on individuals and society – some we’ve found, see positive influences, while others interpret gravely negative influences. Regardless, there is a predisposition, or at least it seems that way, for humans to be curious about the topic.
FOR THE FUTURE:
Future learning goals include a deeper understanding of film and television analysis, as well as a deepened comprehension of the breadth of history surrounding the aesthetics of horror film.
Bibliography
Sine, R. “Why We Love Scary Movies.” WebMD, Mental Health Center. Retrieved May 11, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/why-we-love-scary-movies
Telfer, E. (2002). Food as art. In Neill, A. & Ridley, A. (Eds.) Arguing About Art: Contemporary Philosophical Debates (2 ed., pp. 9-27). New York: Routledge.
Zinoman, J., (2011). “The Critique of Pure Horror.” The New York Times SundayReview. Retrieved May 11, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/opinion/sunday/17gray.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
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