JOURNAL ARTICLE

Being in a Horror Movie.

  • Published In: Journal of Aesthetics & Art Criticism, 2023, v. 81, n. 3. P. 293 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Falconer, Pete 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the common criticism that horror movie characters behave foolishly, arguing that such critiques overlook the genre's inherent tension between the audience's perspective and that of the characters. It highlights how horror often portrays characters with ordinary expectations confronting extraordinary, malevolent threats, leading to their frequent surprise and misfortune, which can appear as deliberate narrative manipulation. Drawing on Todorov's concept of "pan-determinism," the article suggests a darker variant operates in horror, where characters' experiences sometimes enable survival, especially in films that parallel real-life persecution and abuse. The analysis emphasizes how understanding horror from both external and internal viewpoints can illuminate key genre conventions and theoretical interpretations.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Aesthetics & Art Criticism. 2023/09, Vol. 81, Issue 3, p293
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0021-8529
  • DOI:10.1093/jaac/kpad023
  • Accession Number:174783988
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Aesthetics & Art Criticism is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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