Thursday, 20 January 2011

Theory


Read the theoretical texts (Weisberg, Krogh/Schmidt and Schmidt)

1. Do you agree with N. Schmidt's views on why we read horror?

2. What are your own expectations for this theme? What do you expect to learn? What do you expect will be the focus of our analyzes?

3. Which of the aspects and sub-genres of horror mentioned in the material do you suppose you would prefer?

4. What scares you? (Do not say grammar!)

- Mwuuaaahahahahahaaaaaa.... :-o

6 comments:

  1. Horror

    Why are most people fascinated by horror?
    One explanation could be a dualistic view on life. In other words, one will not be able to know good if there is no evil, and then all of a sudden the whole subject becomes a matter of existentialism. Because if there cannot be good without evil then this is a condition of life, just like life and death. The exploration of horror then becomes a deep look into oneself, and a deep look into why the world is like the way it is.
    I doubt that any person, who are fascinated by horror, have been thinking these kind of thoughts, but maybe on a unconscious level this is one of the reasons why the horror literature and the horror movies are so popular.

    Martin

    ReplyDelete
  2. FROM MARIA:

    1. Do you agree with N. Schmidt's views on why we read horror?
    Some read horror because they feel that they have to do it, some feel more alive when they have read or seen something that cared them, some read horror because of the physical effect, some need to search their own dark side and some just thinks it is fun. Like N. Schmidt’s says: The answer to why we read horror lies within each individual reader.

    2. What are your own expectations for this theme? What do you expect to learn? What do you expect will be the focus of our analyzes?
    Actually I do not know what my expectations are for this theme, because Horror is not really a thing that I care about. I think it is fun to watch a horror movie sometimes, but otherwise horror is not really me, and I think it is because I scare easily. (Or that is what my boyfriend tells me, when we watch horror movies together) 
    I would like to learn why so many people find horror interesting, and where the writers get their ideas to a horror movie or book. When we are going to analyze horror I think our focus will be on: effects, symbolic, why do we scare, the horror genre, why has the writer made this story, comparisons, what is the story about, and how the writer created a horrifying mood linguistically.

    3. Which of the aspects and sub-genres of horror mentioned in the material do you suppose you would prefer?
    I think terror is the one I would prefer, because then I can use my own imagination and don’t have to see the creepy monster that is behind the closed door. :/ Sometimes Horror is good but I really don’t like the monsters that are created from real human been.

    4. What scares you? (Do not say grammar!)
    The worst things that scare me are diseases, war and to lose someone that I care about.

    - Mwuuaaahahahahahaaaaaa.... :-o

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. I believe we read horror, because we want to be scared by a fictional story.

    2. I look forward to find out how we are going to analyze the stories, because to me a story is a story. I don't always notice symbols or ask the question "Why?", so I'm looking forward to see all the questions. Horror is not the type of stories I usually read, so it will be interesting to see if it is a genre I will like.

    3. I think that I would like the Terror genre (Mette Weisberg). I think it is interesting to see where your own imagination will take you. It is more scary to create your own monster instead of being scared of someone elses creation. In your own mind you can create the other two types of horror stories as well.

    4. I have to agree with Maria. But something that scares me and horrifies me is how some people are. People who are mentally unstabile and so extreme that they should be locked up. People like Josef Fritzl, Peter Lundin and that guy from Belgium/Germany who ate someone else, just to mention a few. It scares me that some people get to the extreme that way. It is the real life horror stories. They are much more scary than the fictional.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1) I totally agree with Martin on this question.
    2) I like horror and I already learned somthing. I actually did not know that a monster could be a sexual repression. I expect to learn about symbolism and hidden things in the text. I cant wait.
    3)I prefer horror because I have a very good imagination and is not affraid to use it. I do not need to see the monster behind the closed door or the blood all over the place, thats just to much fore me. I love vampire movies and I think it is because I know that they do not really exist.
    4) What really scares me is snuff filmsbecause the show real evil and that exists.Somthing else that really scares me is not graduating english ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. BTW, do you see horror elements in any of the stories you've read outside this theme? I mean; Fairytales, Clash of cult, Africa or Aspects (do not say Arnold S!)

    Would be interesting to hear your examples...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think that people read horror because they want a buzz, an adrenaline rush, something that gets the blood pumping. Maybe some people read it because they have a morbid fascination. Horror stories tend to have supernatural (eg. Werewolf)or unexplainable (eg Aliens) elements. Fear of the unknown.
    I am with Julie on point 2, as I feel the same. It is sometimes difficult to see the symbols and interpret the meaning.
    Get this: There was a survey done in England afew years ago about movie genres and the conclusion was that horror fans were the most likely to be unfaithful to there partners! I can see that horror & being unfaithful have a connection here..... Escape from everyday life/reality by doing/reading/watching something society sees as bad! A forbidden fruit (Adam & Eve) tends to taste better!

    ReplyDelete