Fear is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that
someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
The horror genre enables an individual to see both extrinsic
and intrinsic fears from a visual aspect. Because horror films are able to
bring these fears to life, individuals are not as worried about the
complexities that may come with it. Though people feel that fear is simply a
figment of an individual’s imagination, it is easy to become so consumed in the
thought of what it could be rather than embracing what it truly is. The art of
horror film making is unique in a sense of it allows an individual to receive a
representation of their wildest fantasies on a movie screen. Though horror
films can be seen as gory and grotesque to some, those that enjoy the thrill
and understand the liberation that a good horror film can bring about tend to
indulge and better relate to this particular genre. Frank Herbert once said, ““I must not fear. Fear is the
mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will
face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has
gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone
there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” I feel that horror films allow
individuals to stray away from their original concept of being and allow a
person to wander and develop their own standpoint on what and/or who to fear.
Upon reading the second chapter of Why Horror, a particular quote stuck
out more than others. It stated, “It is my impression that the
curiosity/fascination resolution that I have offered to the paradox of
horror—despite its reliance on somewhat technical notions like categorical
violations, and co-existentialism—is pretty obvious. It is certainly not as
jazzy as many reductivist psychoanalytic theories. In fact, it may strike many
as not being theoretical at all, but as nothing but a long-winded exercise in
common sense.” When I initially read this, I was somewhat confused as to the
authors idea of curiosity and fascination resolution. Yet, upon reading it
again. I realized that horror movies were not all that grotesque and dreary as
some made it out to be. Rather horror movies are seen in a negative light
because they stay away from the idealistic views that plague our society.
Horror movies also manage to point out the reality of what life actually is and
disabled people from diving further and further into their sense of false
reality. Though we can always choose positivity and happiness, counter actions
and events such as sadness and death are always present to balance out the laws
of the universe. Breaking the status quo and generating new conversation within
the audience is what makes the horror genre and their subgenres is what makes
horror one of the most dynamic genres from a creative and intellectual
standpoint.