The Nature of Fear
What is fear? Why does it have these physical effects on us? The increased heart rate, the shivers down the spine, the possible bladder or bowel failure.
Some say that it is a defense mechanism. Part of the primitive brain, the fight or flight syndrome. When something frightens us, or body responds by making us ready for action. Either in the form of running away from, or fighting whatever it is that has us afraid.
So why do we enjoy the feeling? Why do we seek it out? We read horror novels, or watch horror films. We take part in extreme sports, or ride roller coasters, just to get that thrill, that rush of fear.
On a physical level the fact that the body is preparing for actions means it is releasing all of those yummy hormones and endorphins that are released during exercise. These are basically the bodies own drugs, inducing a euphoric feeling.
On a much more psychological level, it has been claimed that the horror genre is a form of catharsis. A way of facing our fears in a safe way. This allows us all of the excitement of facing these thing, but without the danger.
personally I believe that the horror genre is most effective when it deals with very real, and universal fears. That is not to say I don't enjoy supernatural horror, in fact I prefer it. What I am saying is that no matter how fantastical the monster is, it should in some way represent a real concern.
For example, if you look at 'The Exorcist', on the surface this is the classic good versus evil story, The power of God Vs. The Devil, yet it is also a film made in the wake of the 60's and the cultural revolution that had occurred in that decade. This film is also about a fear of what children were turning into at the time. It's about the death of the morality of one period and the start of another.
My own novel 'Beneath', features a supernatural entity, which to the disappointment of some reviewers on Amazon is never fully explained. This was a conscious decision on my part. I wanted the nature of the beast to be ambiguous. There are hints scattered through the book that it is either a demon, a spirit, an old god, an ancient race of beings, or even an alien. I wanted people to make their own minds up as to what it was. I know what I think it is, but I'm not telling. Part of the problem is if you clarify the origin of the entity as a demon or one of the others, you alienate those who don't believe in that, I wanted people enjoyment of the story to be shaped by their own beliefs and not what i impose on them.
At the heart of the story though it is about a man who is afraid that he can't protect his family. Note that i started writing this book before my son was born and finished it when he was about 8 months old. It is safe to say that the fear of parental responsibility and all it entails were foremost in my mind at the time of writing the book.
well those are my musings for this week. See you all soon
