Chit Chat Philosophy

2 It’s almost Halloween, and I’ve got a question for you. Why is horror so appealing?

1 Horror agitates our instinct unlike any other genre. Not only does it create a visceral fight-or-flight response, but it can also touch on our most existential dread.

2 Are you suggesting horror and philosophy are interchangeable?

1 Well, there is something spooky about metaphysical questions. But I think the allure to horror is because it can be scary to the mind and the body all at once.

2 What is the purpose of agitating our instinct?

1 It is an added dimension to the experience. One primary allure of art is the emotional response it evokes. Horror is able to evoke that same emotion as well as a physical component (along with existential dread). 

2 Does horror really evoke the same emotion as a painting might?

1 Well, I’d say there are many emotions one can feel when looking at art. Sadness, pleasure, awe, and when it comes to horror, fear.

2 Are all emotions equal?

1 I don’t think so. Fear is definitely one of the strongest emotions.

2 How so?

1 I think fear touches an aspect of us that other emotions don’t. Perhaps it’s linked to death in some way. Or the unknown. Fear is capable of forcing us to think about uncomfortable realities and respond in both physical and emotional ways.

2 Is it true that sadness, awe, and other emotions can evoke the physical response of crying while simultaneously producing profound emotional responses?

1 Yes, other emotions are capable of activating physiological responses. But surely there is a difference between crying and fight-or-flight.

2 How did you come to this conclusion?

1 Fight-or-flight is deeply rooted in our fear of death. When you’re cornered, you fight. Why? Because you want to survive. This response is primal and connects us with our most basal nature. Crying can be evocative, certainly, but it is not rooted in survival.

2 Is existential dread truly as terrifying as you suggest?

1 Some questions really are frightening. Anything that coerces us to face death, for example. Or the nature of the unknowable. There is a reason some people keep a night-light on after consuming scary media. It’s the lingering thoughts that stick with you.

2 According to your definition, people are drawn to horror because of the multifaceted response it can have on us. Why do we crave this experience?

1 To bathe in primal fear is to feel alive.

2 And that’s good because…?

1 It’s overstimulating. Heightens our awareness. Allows us to regress – if only for a short while – into something far more ancient than our modern world generally allows. I think this unique experience is what many people crave and is a feeling that only the rush of fear can bestow upon us.

2 Would a primordial human enjoy horror the same as a modern day human?

1 To the primordial being, fight-or-flight is their way of life. There’s nothing unique or novel about experiences which evoke those responses. As such, I don’t believe ancient humans would derive the same kind of enjoyment that we might. Horror likely would not be novel enough to capture their imagination.

2 If bathing in primal fear is to feel alive, does that mean modernity has killed us?

1 We may have given up certain visceral emotions as a society, but in exchange we are awarded relative safety. Horror brings us the novelty of connecting with the ancients, in a context that is reminiscent of true danger. Modernity brings us the technology to keep a night light on afterwards.