We scare because we’re trying to care
There is a lot of overlap in what we run from and what we turn to. We often turn to the things that scare us, provided we are in a safe environment, to escape the horrors of the real world. And the horrors of the real world often find a way into what we are turning to scare us.
An interest in all things spooky has often been relevant. Whether it be in fans of the “Saw” movies, haunted house goers, or ghost hunters, there has been a draw to the weird and the unnatural in society.
We see this in our daily life. If you open up Facebook or turn on the news, it’s plain to see that the world is on fire. Everything is scary.
More than what gets reported on, we all have our own demons to fight, whether they be past trauma or that creepy guy we met at Alley Cat once. We all have our own horror film villain that we play the hero to in our own lives.
So if life is so damn terrifying as is, why seek out being scared in your free time?
Because it’s an escape. Media is escapism, there are few movies that can’t serve as an escape from reality. But your heart will certainly pound faster at movies like “The Blair Witch Project” than it will at movies like “The Sandlot.” It is this pull for adrenaline and to feel the emotions we had been suppressing without directly having to address them.
This is often known as catharsis theory. It is a release of pent up emotions. By being scared by something like a movie or a ghost tour, we have a sense of security in that we are not being tortured like the people in the story. So, by being physically safe, our minds can release the feeling of being afraid without having to actually address the real world thing we are scared of.
By feeling this fear without addressing the real world, we can learn to manage the fear. People will urge their friends to go see the new “It” film with them or go to the haunted corn maze because they’re “too scared to go alone.” The Daily Beast suggests that this promotes the idea of coping as a group rather than the burden falling on a single person. It encourages asking for help when something becomes too much. It teaches how to deal with the environment around you.
Now that we know why we want to be spooked, let’s talk about how our day to day life finds its way into the spookiness.
Most movies have a statement to make. Horror films are the same way.
Let’s consider identities and how being scared looks different for others. Consider which identities are frequently the target of real life horror and bias motivated incidents Fort Collins has no shortage of. Existing as an individual who holds subordinate identities presents itself with an added horrific effect for being in the political and societal climate of today.
The Atlantic points out how a lot of horror films feature the unusual and feed on fear of the unknown and how that relates to the connections we form in our life. Being scared of what you don’t understand is the centerpiece for most horror films. Being scared of what you don’t understand is not ideal for societal growth. When someone possess an identity we don’t, it’s easy to not understand them and it becomes a little more difficult to feel empathy because it’s harder to put ourselves in their shoes. It’s hard to sympathize with a madman ax murder. If we take our lack of sympathy that these movies teach us to feel, it’s that much harder to sympathize with our coworker who leads a very different life than us.
There is also the argument that horror films promote a conservative agenda. Acculterated points out that there are many vices in horror movies that require punishment. It’s kind of a staple of the genre that if you have premarital sex or use drugs, you will be punished by the wrath of the supernatural.
On the flip side, horror films can be political and promote a liberal agenda. As The Daily Beast points out, many films, like “Night of the Living Dead,” express an anti-war message. “Pan’s Labyrinth” is entirely about the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist Period. We also see a frequent fear of authority and being lied to by people and groups we trust. The government, police, and even the picture of a wholesome American family will often turn on the protagonists of the horror film.
Movies are a commentary on political climates, that’s nothing new. But to associate it with fear is something unique. Directors have discussed how they incorporate politics into their horror films. Director Guillermo del Toro, has publicly talked about how his political and historical views show up in the movies he creates. I don’t believe it is reading too far into horror films by talking about the underlying political themes.
We seek to scare ourselves as a means to feel fear without having to address it head on. And by doing so we frequently feed into a political agenda.