[summergirl]

This is something I've often wondered about. And I've never been satisfied with the definitions I've found. What is horror? Is it something that terrifies us? Is it something gory and disgusting? Is it something unspeakably shocking? What is it? What is it that horrifies us the most?

[Lomar10]

Back when I was younger I used to think it was just anything that scared me, the old nightmare on elm street movies come to mind. Some gore, lots of spooky movie etc. As I grew older, that changed though. I don't see gore, blood and guts as being horror at all, that's falls into morbid curiousity.

For me Horror would be the psychological thrillers. Those movies, or books, that touch on my emotions that I truly am horrified by the idea or image being presented. The thought of being buried alive for example would be something that truly horrifies me, so those types things define horror to me.

Hope this helps, it's so hard to put into words

[Priestvyrce]

For me, horror is facing the real problems of yourself or environment. Horror that reaches out and connects with the nightmares of our world can give you a peace of mind by having you face them head on.

Which I am such a sucker for vampire novels and movies, they are our dark side , our Id(?) and that is sometimes very frightening to face.

[AuntiePam]

Yeah, it's hard to define. Some people object to labeling, but it's handy if you're trying to decide what to read or watch.

I avoid the slasher stuff and people-in-peril stories because they're too real, too possible. I really don't like intense stuff where people are trying to hurt each other, so that excludes a lot of what's out there nowadays.

Priestvyrce's definition works for me -- true horror connects with the Id. Sometimes you don't even realize that you've been affected until you go to sleep and the nightmares come. :)

That means that horror is different for everyone. What scares you might not scare me.

[summergirl]

The definitions you've given definitely make sense to me. So, moving on. Horror is pretty much psychological, isn't it? Why do you think we're more afraid of some things than others? Is horror and fright the same, or is horror deeper and more psychologically linked? I mean, people are afraid of things like the dark and dying, but that doesn't mean they're horrified of them, does it?

p.s I'm terrible with abbreviations. Does Id stand for Internal demon or something else?

[AuntiePam]

It's the psychological "id" -- found this on-line:

Id -- (psychoanalysis) primitive instincts and energies underlying all psychic activity

If you saw Forbidden Planet, the monster was created from the scientist's id. He didn't even know he'd created it.

But "internal demon" also works. :)

[AuntiePam]

Maybe we learn our fears, but horror goes deeper.

I'm "afraid" to drive hubby's Harley, but I'm not horrified at the thought. (He might be though.)

Maggots on a corpse horrify me, but I'm not afraid of them.

It's all very confusing. :)

[Chlestron]

I think that this can be expanded upon as well because a lot of it depends on the media that you're using. For example movie horror is NOT the same as book horror. Movie Horror is certainly more visual and oftentimes more gory and in your face whereas book horror is slower and often time more in depth. Both play on a person's fears and both ACTIVELY try to scare you, but they have to rely on different means.

It's hard to really describe a visual horror scene in a book because it takes time to write and time to read so that he reader sort of builds up to what the final picture looks like. On the screen, you can suddenly be shown the thing in all of its entirity.

On the opposite side, it's difficulty to do the psychological horror in a movie. In a book, you have have access to what the characters are feeling and thinking as the story progresses whereas on the screen, you only have the actor standing there (and realistically, tremendously talented actors generally don't do horror movies). It can be done on the screen, but it is much easier and more in depth in a book.

[AuntiePam]

Chlestron, you've put some thought into this and expressed it really well. Very perceptive.

Would you mind if I quote you over at the Shocklines board? They've often talked about this over there but I don't think anyone has said it quite as well as you did.

[Chlestron]

Oh sure, quote away I don't mind.