Comments on: Horror Over Terror and Videogames as Fresh Source for Exploring our Nightmares http://www.theofantastique.com/2007/09/12/horror-over-terror-and-videogames-as-fresh-source-for-exploring-our-nightmares/ A meeting place for myth, imagination, and mystery in pop culture. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:56:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: IL http://www.theofantastique.com/2007/09/12/horror-over-terror-and-videogames-as-fresh-source-for-exploring-our-nightmares/comment-page-1/#comment-92 IL Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:29:00 +0000 http://theofantastique.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/horror-over-terror-and-videogames-as-fresh-source-for-exploring-our-nightmares/#comment-92 I've often felt that a sense of horror springs more from the irrational world around us. While terror is anchored in reality and has an immediacy to it--an overwhelming sense that direct physical harm is imminent--horror is an escalation of this sense, but without the rational, direct or immediate threat. It interacts with our mental state to compound its effect over time, making us feel powerless to avert it: its more like a feeling that chaos and absurdity are in control, not you, and why doesn't make any sense. <br/><br/>The irrational is a prime enhancer here. The supernatural is irrational, and presents no direct or immediate harm to us, but most of us fear it anyway, given the right environmental stimuli, cultural influences, and personal beliefs.<br/><br/>The irrational in reality can instill a good dose of horror also. Harmful, irrational, inexplicable behaviors from others that can possibly inflict pain and death on us, bring terror if they are an immediate threat, or horror if that threat is not direct or immediate, but still plausible given the right circumstances. Here, our cultural-learning and personal beliefs enhance the effect, producing a sustained feeling of dread that someone or something will actually harm or kill you.<br/><br/>Both terror and horror play on the fears of pain, disfigurement and death, and I don't believe they could exist without that personal connection. <br/><br/>And hopefully Horrorwood will move away from terror-filled excursions for a little bit and get back to some good old scary horror. I’ve often felt that a sense of horror springs more from the irrational world around us. While terror is anchored in reality and has an immediacy to it–an overwhelming sense that direct physical harm is imminent–horror is an escalation of this sense, but without the rational, direct or immediate threat. It interacts with our mental state to compound its effect over time, making us feel powerless to avert it: its more like a feeling that chaos and absurdity are in control, not you, and why doesn’t make any sense.

The irrational is a prime enhancer here. The supernatural is irrational, and presents no direct or immediate harm to us, but most of us fear it anyway, given the right environmental stimuli, cultural influences, and personal beliefs.

The irrational in reality can instill a good dose of horror also. Harmful, irrational, inexplicable behaviors from others that can possibly inflict pain and death on us, bring terror if they are an immediate threat, or horror if that threat is not direct or immediate, but still plausible given the right circumstances. Here, our cultural-learning and personal beliefs enhance the effect, producing a sustained feeling of dread that someone or something will actually harm or kill you.

Both terror and horror play on the fears of pain, disfigurement and death, and I don’t believe they could exist without that personal connection.

And hopefully Horrorwood will move away from terror-filled excursions for a little bit and get back to some good old scary horror.

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