Week 4: "The New Weird"

           The New Weird is actually a category within the genre of horror that i had not been introduced to UNTIL this class. I had seen movies and read many comic books that could be considered "new weird", but was unaware that it had its own classification. The comics I was raised on had a very ironic, over the top, 'pulpy' quality to them, so I went into this genre with an open mind, realizing it isn't quite as literal or serious as J-horror or the more macabre genres of horror. I knew it was a compilation of many different qualities, characteristics and themes within horror that I enjoyed, and sometimes carried story lines that made little to no sense at all, but didn't necessarily have to be explained or have reason to make them entertaining. A perfect example of "the New Weird" classification would be, "Cabin in the Woods", a film I hadn't seen until this class as well. My initial response was "what the hell are we watching? Is this for real?" , and progressively lightened up and allowed myself to enjoy the kitschy, ironic quality of the film and actually found it to be pretty genius in some ways. The film is intended to target a very specific audience, and the story within the film is about how to target specific audiences in this game style horror production. The film "Cabin in the Woods" really embodies the fictional, modern, strange and cutting-edge theme of "The New Weird" genre and though many ideas have been recycled, and it is hard to create original ideas in horror, I foresee the 'weirdness' to progress and evolve over time. 

Week 3: "J-Horror"

          

(Illustration by Danielle Otrakji)

         Along with the moster, vampire, frankenstein class of characters and themes, I am most fascinated with J-Horror at this specific time in my life. It is partly because I find it to be the most frightening category within horror literature and film. My artwork is heavily influenced by Japanese horror and the visual elements in it. My nightmares are also heavily influenced by J-horror and it's a wonderful but unsettling thing. Japanese writers approach the idea of 'monsters' in their stories so differently than American writers. There is often times more revenge or reason behind the stories in Japanese horror and the characters are typically evil as a result of something torturous or traumatizing in their past. I think what I find most frightening in Japanese Horror films and literature is the ghostly elements intertwined with modern technology (Like white-noise on a television, inexplicable phone calls from ghosts, computer screen glitches, and spirits emerging from the TV), paired with the overall foreign quality they have (to an American or non-Japanese viewer of course). In Japanese horror films, the stories are not overpowered with heavy soundtracks or special effects. They move rather slowly, creating a lot of suspense and anticipation, and that slow pacing emphasizes the creepy, eerie mood most of the Japanese horror films possess. They have a very raw quality to them, making it easy to put yourself in the film, therefore making them as sinister and eerie as they are. 

        Kwaidan, the collection of traditional ghost stories, is a good example of the revenge most spirits in J-horror experience. It is easy for the reader to perceive the spirits as evil, because they kill on instinct, when really they are often times tortured souls, or enraged with a personal struggle, and kill out of that rage. Many American films are beginning to embrace the themes and qualities of J-horror, and often times readapting specific films like "The Grudge", "The Eye", and many more. 

Week 2: "Vampires"

(Illustration by Danielle Otrakji)

Vampires are some of my favorite 'monsters' in the horror genre. They are constantly changing over time, stylistically, aesthetically, in their abilities and their weaknesses, etc. It seems as though Vampires transform over time according to a specific audience or demographic. There have been vampires like Nosferatu, Queen Akasha, Louis de Pointe du Lac, to the more modern vampires like Buffy, Eduard from Twilight, or Barnabas Collins from Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows'.

The traditional vampire is typically afraid of garlic, crosses, holy water and wooden steaks, but as time passes, vampires and their storylines become much more complex and are not as simple as they once were. The religious elements like holy water and crosses were used to instill the idea that religion works against the devil's servants. The initial depictions of vampires were very sickly, terrifying creatures who slaughtered mercilessly and had an uncontrollable thirst for human blood. Over time, they became somewhat romanticized and sexualized. In Anne Rice's, Interview with a Vampire, the vampires were portrayed as attractive, beautiful creatures, to appeal to a greater female audience, much like the series of films, Twilight. 

Week 1: "Frankenstein"

(Illustration by Wrightson)

When I moved to the United States, I was introduced to the genre of 'horror', and one of the most intriguing themes in all of these classic films and literature, were the monsters, especially the concept of the 'tragic monster'. They fascinated me. In a strange way I could relate to them. Reading Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly, in high-school, was really eye opening for me. I gained an understanding of why authors in horror create the characters and depictions they do. 

The story of Frankenstein really pushes the reader to think about, and identify, who is actually the monster in these stories. This theme has been heavily influential adapted and recreated in movies today. A director/producer who I have noticed turns to this theme quite often is Tim Burton. "Edward Scissorhands" and "Frankenweenie" are almost the exact story of Frankenstein readapted into modern films with dark and stylized imagery. Edward is created by his 'Father' played by Vincent Price, and is not finished, so he is left with scissor-hands and is left to live alone in his father's creepy mansion overlooking a colorful and perfect town. When he is discovered, he is accepted at first, but then rejected by society because he can't help the position he's in and is banished back to the place he came from, left to be forgotten. As the viewer, I have always been able to relate and sympathize with the 'monster'. Because of the way they are created, they are misjudged and rejected, humiliated, banished, and one must question who is actually the antagonist: the 'monsters', or the people?

                                      

 In "Frankenstein", a creature that is brought to life by Dr. Victor Von Frankenstein, a young man studying natural science. He believes he has the skill-set to bring the dead or the inanimate, to life.  He succeeds in creating life where there wasn't, but his creation frightens him, forcing him to flee. Throughout the story, we find that the monster he has created, is in fact quite kind and intelligent. He is interested in learning and is very articulate. He studies and has the desire to learn as most humans would. Despite his good intentions and his intelligence, society rejects him because he appears monstrous and terrifying. The combination of Victor's neglect and the rejection from society drive the monster to kill Victor's wife and friends, and of course, this makes him appear more monstrous and ferocious to the public eye. In reality, Victor was responsible for the creation, and is to blame for these acts of rage and sadness.

(Illustration by Wrightson)