Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Lifestyle

What's Scarier: Literature, Movies, Or Video Games?

Horror fiction plays a huge role in entertainment, but how people experience it has different effects.

Logan Alexander Smith

Oct 25, 2018

Appalachian State University

What's Scarier: Literature, Movies, Or Video Games?

orig00.deviantart.net

In honor of the 200th birthday of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," NPR released an article outlining the best scary stories of all time. The horror genre has been a niche for people of all ages. To some degree, everyone enjoys scary stuff.

The advancement of technology has allowed for the horror genre (with many others). I think the growth, however, has done interesting things to the genre other than spreading the fascination with the unknown.

People have always been scared of things, it's the reason we possess the Fight or Flight reflex. But the opportunity to experience this surge of adrenaline is not one that comes often. Horror fiction allows us to experience this feeling at arms-length.

Interestingly enough, each medium of horror fiction that I will focus on (literature, movies/TV, video games) has its own unique element. I hope that these insights allow you to maximize the spookiness in your life!

Literature

Giphy

The original horror stories were the folklore and "wives' tales." Tales of pixies and changelings stealing children, Koschei the Deathless, and kelpies have formed the basis for many postmodern renditions.

The folk tales always had a purpose, whether they were warnings against certain actions or justifications for natural occurrences, but they eventually evolved to be entertainment. Evolving to exist as flash fictional mediums like CreepyPasta for quick, scarring reads.

They even make horror fiction for children through franchises like "Goosebumps." If folklore was told to children to get them not to hurt nature, why do we make horror novels for kids?

Reading horror stories can be profoundly scarier because the content only exists in the mind, and once it's there, it can't get out. There's no closing your eyes, no looking away. Your imagination manifests the horror.

Movies & Television

Giphy

When horror moved to the screen, it gave physical images of the things that terrify people most. Like other mediums, movies and television allow people to experiences terrors through a window.

Unlike literature, this medium is exclusively through the third-person perspective, which further increases the distance between the viewer and the content. This distance makes movies very easy to separate from if it becomes too terrible.

Video Games

Giphy

One of the more fascinating mediums for horror fiction is the video game. Like literature, the player is put into the mind of the protagonist. And like movies and television, video games provide a physical representation of the horror.

What makes video games much more horrifying than the other mediums is that you control the actions of the protagonist. It's no longer a story the viewer is watching, it's the viewer's story.

Moreover, video games made in the first-person perspective place the player into the protagonist's perceptions. The player sees what they see, making the unknown even more terrifying. These kinds of games may also restrict the protagonist's ability to fight back, making it just a run for their life.

I hope you take these insights as Halloween approaches and heighten your horror fiction excursions.

From Your Site Articles

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Entertainment

25 Beatles Lyrics: Your Go-To Guide for Every Situation

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

SUNY Binghamton

94220

Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less

best beatles lyrics

Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College

132435

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

waitlisted

Recommended for you

What's Scarier: Literature, Movies, Or Video Games?

Horror fiction plays a huge role in entertainment, but how people experience it has different effects.

Literature

Movies & Television

Video Games

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Best of Lifestyle

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments

Subscribe to our
Newsletter