Horror Films
- Submitted by: elli94
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- Category: English
- Date Submitted: 03/11/2011 05:03 PM
- Pages: 8
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Horror is an ancient art form. For as long as we have told stories we have spoken of forbidden, strange and alarming events in order to terrify those around us, while captivating and entertaining. Horror films effectively centre on the dark side of life dealing with our most primal nature and its fears.
Over the years the stories have changed revealing a mirror image of the anxieties of the time, the echoes of wars and sickness, disasters and depression, and presently, creating our own demise and the fear of the unknown. They are reinforcing the rules and taboos of our society as well as showing the macabre fate of those who transgress. For example one of the first horror films Nosferatu (1922) is not simply a tale of vampirism, but offers images of a town beleaguered by premature and random deaths, in a time shadowing the Great War and the Great Flu Epidemic fatalities.
We derive thrills from triggering the rush of adrenalin which fear brings, and through time the phenomenon has spread from the novels and poems of the 1800’s to the hundreds of horror films that spill out of Hollywood each year. The technological change in our society sees the widespread access consumers have, to not only the movies themselves, but an extensive range of merchandise.
From the ballads of the ancient world to modern urban myths, audiences offer themselves up to, usually sadistic, storytellers to be frightened, and they are happy to pay for the privilege.
The association with commercial products
As horror films became more popular a spread of commercial products were introduced, allowing further growth of the culture. Public awareness of horror films was raised through movie posters and previews, advertisement in newspapers and magazines, reprinting of books that the movies were based on and the publication of books written about the movie, Halloween costumes and dolls, gothic clothing and school stationary, as well as food products such as monster shaped lollies.
The...
Over the years the stories have changed revealing a mirror image of the anxieties of the time, the echoes of wars and sickness, disasters and depression, and presently, creating our own demise and the fear of the unknown. They are reinforcing the rules and taboos of our society as well as showing the macabre fate of those who transgress. For example one of the first horror films Nosferatu (1922) is not simply a tale of vampirism, but offers images of a town beleaguered by premature and random deaths, in a time shadowing the Great War and the Great Flu Epidemic fatalities.
We derive thrills from triggering the rush of adrenalin which fear brings, and through time the phenomenon has spread from the novels and poems of the 1800’s to the hundreds of horror films that spill out of Hollywood each year. The technological change in our society sees the widespread access consumers have, to not only the movies themselves, but an extensive range of merchandise.
From the ballads of the ancient world to modern urban myths, audiences offer themselves up to, usually sadistic, storytellers to be frightened, and they are happy to pay for the privilege.
The association with commercial products
As horror films became more popular a spread of commercial products were introduced, allowing further growth of the culture. Public awareness of horror films was raised through movie posters and previews, advertisement in newspapers and magazines, reprinting of books that the movies were based on and the publication of books written about the movie, Halloween costumes and dolls, gothic clothing and school stationary, as well as food products such as monster shaped lollies.
The...