pop culture
Pop culture for horror junkies; all about the famous films, creepypasta tales, trends and tropes that bled from the fringes of fright into the macabre mainstream.
The 10 Scariest 'Are You Afraid Of The Dark?' Tales
Nickelodeon was a much different channel back in the 90s. Millennials like me who grew up in the decade no doubt remember the abundance of awesome television game shows, comedy shows, and shows aimed at teens. One such inclusion that caused us younger kids to sleep with the lights on was Are You Afraid of the Dark?
By Jenika Enoch7 years ago in Horror
Why You Should All Be Listening to "The ParaPod"
"The ParaPod" is a comedy podcast all about the paranormal, which is hosted by comedians Ian Boldsworth (the artist formerly known as Ray Peacock) and Barry Dodds. Basically they both have the same task, to convince each other of their beliefs. Barry believes in ghosts, whereas Ian doesn’t. Sounds intriguing, right? So why should it become your go-to podcast? Well, I’ll try to convince you.
By Craig House7 years ago in Horror
The Scariest Thing About Modern Horror Is That It Stigmatizes Disabilities and Mental Illness
There is really no denying that the "grotesque" has always been an important aspect of the horror genre. In both TV and film, creators have played on our superficiality as a culture. Seeing a deformity or rare disease often makes us uncomfortable, and it can amplify up the creep factor if utilized properly.
By Jenika Enoch7 years ago in Horror
Examining the Scientific Accuracy of the 'Saw' Franchise
Horror films and science go hand in hand (in a way), but it's generally acceptable to say that the gruesome scenes in horror films aren't necessarily realistic. However, that can't be said for every horror attempt. While most are still within a realm of fantasy with no realistic way of translating into the real world, there is one franchise in particular that did its homework before shocking us with gore.
By Jenika Enoch7 years ago in Horror
That Monsters Can Be Defeated
Horror is about… being scared. Therefore it’s also about pain. We fear pain, suffering, and death, and those are some of the only sure things in real life. So horror is also about how we face those realities and what that means for us as humans. At its best, it’s also about examining that which inflicts pain: real-life “monsters” like trauma, sexual predators, harmful industrial and political systems, social injustice, even climate change. We use fantastic or horrific metaphor to illustrate real-life horror and dread and then face them head-on—so we know they can be defeated.
By RoAnna Sylver7 years ago in Horror
The Dangers of Being Alone in Gothic Fiction
Stephen King Stephen King involved both psychological “aloneness” and geographic isolation within his books, The Shining and Salem’s Lot. Salem’s Lot wasn’t located on a main road, but it wasn’t so far away that it was completely isolated from other small towns nearby. The majority of the isolation within Salem’s Lot came from the fact that the main protagonists are alone in their knowledge, and their belief in that knowledge. They alone are fighting the good fight, and the odds get harder to overcome as the town is slowly overcome, leaving them fully alone—taking away the members of the small group of fighters until only Ben and Mark are left, the only humans in a world of blood-thirsty vampires. By the end, Ben and Mark are truly alone, surrounded by animals that have lost their human feelings.
By Terry Stone7 years ago in Horror
Edgar Allan Poe's Life & Work
In the author’s work, we always know that they use their source of creativity among their writing, yet the author also uses his/her life to influence the work. One author that has his work influenced by his life is horror writer Edgar Allan Poe. His writing contains the genres of horror, gothic, and detective/mystery. Some of his works include The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, etc. Edgar Allan Poe’s life has been down since he was three when his mother passed away and his father left him. As he was adopted by John Allan and his wife, he didn't have his book published at the age of 13, dropped out of college due to debt, his adoptive mother passed away from tuberculosis, and evening his wife faced the same disease. Ever since Poe wanted to be an author during his harsh time, he probably uses his depressing life as an outlet to apply to his stories.
By Bass Man Eddie7 years ago in Horror
Making Monsters. Top Story - January 2019.
It’s unlikely that the settlers of the Southern Nevada desertscape expected a museum of horrors to become a cornerstone of their peaceful early-20th-century city. Yet 88 years later, a decorated hearse, a zombified Spider-Man, and a conspicuous sign touting "Tom Devlin's Monster Museum" have been erected as markers for one of Boulder City's hottest roadside attractions.
By Mark LoProto7 years ago in Horror
