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The Horror Genre

The Horror Genre. Writing Scary Stories. Purpose of Horror Story (film). Create FEAR within your audience (Reader or viewer) Build suspense by making the reader or viewer feel tense, as they are faced with the unknown and potential danger

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The Horror Genre

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  1. The Horror Genre Writing Scary Stories

  2. Purpose of Horror Story (film) • Create FEAR within your audience (Reader or viewer) • Build suspense by making the reader or viewer feel tense, as they are faced with the unknown and potential danger • Send a message to the reader/viewer about the threat of things in the real world • Entertain us through thrills and chills

  3. Origins • Part of Ancient European culture – myths and legends • Ancient Greek mythology (Medusa, Cyclops etc) • 12th and 13th Century the Catholic Church (Vatican) attempted to re-establish the power it held and the charge of heresy was mixed with accusations of witchcraft (predominantly women) • Literature and Art reflected man’s fear of Hell as created by the Catholic Church

  4. The Middle Ages • Position of the church was upheld by perpetuating FEAR of going to HELL, so Hell and horror had to be shown as an option to not believing in Heaven and the power of the Catholic Church. • Barbaric inquisitions, tortures and witch trials created a nightmarish world where no-one was safe and death was everywhere.

  5. Dracula (Vlad the Impaler) • Traditional horror ‘Archetype’ of blood sucking vampire came from a real person (tyrant) • Vlad's cruelty wasn't confined to this means of execution. He decapitated, blinded, strangled, hanged, burned, boiled, skinned, 'stuck stakes in both breasts of mothers and thrust their babies onto them' (http://www.tabula-rasa.info/DarkAges/VladTheImpaler.html)

  6. Edgar Allan Poe • One of the originators of the more traditional ‘Gothic’ horror • Wrote stories and poems about the supernatural, murder, torture, being buried alive and hauntings • Work is a philosophical reflection about the evil side of human nature and the afterlife

  7. Hollywood and Horror Films • With the late 1890s and early 1900s came the first short (silent films) and the first ‘archetypal’ characters (that were derived from historical people and events) • Dracula, Frankenstein, Werewolf etc • These archetypal characters became entrenched in the culture of cinematography.

  8. Literature and Art • There was a market for Horror in both Literature and Art; and with the development of Hollywood and the film industry, there was a market for Horror films (consequently horror writing). • From traditional Gothic horror, to modern horror and psychopaths, to Comedy and Horror musical theatre, such as: Rocky Horror Show.

  9. Basic Features of Horror • Good versus Evil – struggle for the balance of power (something or someone represents evil) • Protagonist – hero or one who represents goodness • A killer/villain/monster that has a trademark behaviour or evil trait • Plot involves a conflict or problem to overcome – in horror stories the end does not always resolve

  10. Horror Writing Techniques • Sensory description – feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch • Build suspense – keep the reader/viewer guessing • Unexpected events or twists • Events that defy logic or reason • Details that make us nervous or uncomfortable

  11. Contemporary Horror • Individuals are no longer fearful of the unknown or of fantastical creatures • Dysfunctional real world is exposed, fear of the individual, mentally unstable and a break down in law and order • Protagonist and antagonist now exhibit qualities of both good and bad • Children are often antagonists or protagonists and balance of power is unclear

  12. Contemporary audience • Is cynical and sceptical, so horror needs to be believable and not too far fetched • Building of tension, unexpected twists and imagery needs to be crafted carefully • Ending can leave audience with more questions than answers • Consider what horror films reveal about social fears and concerns...

  13. How can I start a story? “. . . naked, naked . . . I don’t have any clothes . . . so so cold . . .” “Who is this?” I asked. “So cold,” the voice said again. “Who is this?” “. . . cold and naked. Sleeping in the trees.” He hung up then. It was the fourth evening in a week that he’d called. The first night he only grunted and moaned. Two days later, he spoke in single words. Those words were cold and naked. The voice was definitely masculine but strained and frightened. The next night he used the same two words, but he doubled up on them from time to time, saying, naked, cold, cold, naked. He was pleading, but I didn’t know what he wanted. He didn’t seem threatening, just desperate and crazed.

  14. Tips • Detail • Unexpected twists • Build suspense • Believability • Hope for character • Point or purpose • Thoughts and feelings

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