Aesthetics of Horror

"Why Do People Love Horror Movies? They Enjoy Being Scared"

"This novel approach to emotion reveals that people experience both negative and positive emotions simultaneously -- people may actually enjoy being scared, not just relief when the threat is removed." This statement about the contradictory concept of horror movies relates to Carroll's article. The article is a scientific perspective that describes how the reasoning for people's enjoyment of horror movies has evolved over time. At first, the theories were that people enjoyed the fear, or that people put up with the fear in order to experience the relief at the end. These theories have been challenged by the idea that people can experience positive and negative emotions simultaneously. Scientists have come to the conclusion that people are "happy to be unhappy."


This article is an abstract way of looking at people's interpretations of horror films and is one that I cannot fully understand. It is hard for me to understand the simultaneous feeling of both positive and negative emotions but it provides accurate reasoning for why people enjoy horror films. Carroll explains in her article that, "It engages its audience by being involved in processes of disclosure, discovery, proof, explanation, hypothesis and confirmation" (279). I think both articles provide valid points for why and how horror movies can attract audiences despite their sometimes disgusting and disturbing footage. Both of these articles have given me a great and deeper understanding of horror movies and their paradoxical affect on people.


University of Chicago Press Journals (2007, July 31). Why Do People Love Horror Movies? They Enjoy Being Scared. ScienceDaily.




"Why People Love Horror?"

This article is not as scientific and more of a personal interpretation and analysis of the age long question, why do people like horror? This article describes how many people avoid horror and pain in their real life, but demonstrates how many people will jump at the chance to watch other people experiencing horrific events, "People love to be afraid…it’s human nature to look forward to being scared…from the comfort of your sofa." I think the author makes a valid point that I agree with, people enjoy the rush and stimulating feeling of fear, but from their couch. Many people do not enjoy experiencing the fear and horror first hand and that is why they get such a rush from watching it.

This is an interpretation of human nature that is not based on science but rather our humanistic traits. The author recognizes that there are many reasons as to why people enjoy horror movies. While some like watching them for the curiosity, others like the rush and some just enjoy the blood and gore that is found in the disturbing films. I think that this analysis demonstrates the interpretation involved in films and art in general. Carroll explains that many people enjoy the sense of fear because they can also experience the sense of relief and enjoyment, which makes horror movies a paradoxical event, but this article also reveals that people enjoy watching horror movies because they do not want to experience it first hand.



Scoyoc, A. V. (2006, November 14). Why People Love Horror (article) by Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc on AuthorsDen. Retrieved May 10, 2009, from http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=47163&id=25283