The aesthetics of Horror Research

Mark Lane

AAD 250

Aesthetics of Horror Research

“Why do people enjoy horror movies? They enjoy being scared”

            This article from Science Daily News explores possible reasons why people enjoy horror films. The basic argument in the article is that people draw pleasure from experiencing traditionally negative emotions. Fear, Sadness, and anger, are all examples of negative emotions that people tend to experience when viewing horror films. Despite the fact that these are negative emotions, the article suggests that people experience a mix of emotions such fear and pleasure, anger and pleasure, etc. This idea of mixed emotions is somewhat controversial in the science world, but the article cites a recent scientific study in which people were experiencing both negative and positive emotions while presented with “horror” like stimuli.

            In his article, “The Paradox Of Horror” Berys Gaut makes the same argument that was presented in Science Daily News:

“One can also enjoy other “negative” emotions. One can enjoy disgusting stories, and there is a minor genre, popular on college campuses, of “discust” movie, pre eminent amongst which is John Waters’ Pink Flamingos. The negative emotion of anger can also be enjoyed: Irascible individuals sometimes seek out situations in which they will have an opportunity to get angry. Likewise it is possible to relish a feeling of quiet melancholy, dwelling on the sorrows and disappointments of life, and weeping for sadness of the world (Gaut, 299).”

            Gaut’s argument is essentially the same as the one presented in the Science Daily News. Both parties agree that the viewer is experiencing negative emotions such as fear sadness and anger while watching a horror film, but that ultimately the viewer is experiencing pleasure at the same time. They argue that experiencing pleasure as a result of negative emotions is the main reason why people watch horror films, and it’s an argument that makes a lot of sense. It is hard to argue that people don’t ultimately enjoy experiencing these negative emotions when they view horror films; otherwise it is highly unlikely that horror would be such a popular genre.

           Source:

University of Chicago Press Journals (2007, July 31). Why Do People Love Horror Movies? They Enjoy Being Scared. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 2, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2007/07/070725152040.htm