Zinoman's Article 'The Critique Of Pure Horror'

Evelyn Rodriguez

Kenneth Brewer

Exploration of the Humanities

Short Writing #2

After reading Zinoman’s article “The Critique of Pure Horror”, the article discussed multiple theories of the aesthetics as to why the audience likes horror films. With that being said the one theory that seems to be the most persuasive in explaining why audiences continue to watch horror films, time and time again. Would have to be the theory that Carroll proposed to as being “that the pleasure of horror [films] is due not to whatever psychic substratum the monster represents, but rather the peculiar curiosity it inspires [within the person.]” (Zinoman) This theory stood out to me because it explains that horror films are a way to feed the human curiosity that everyone has. Horror films give the audience a rush of adrenaline and curiosity. After all just like Zinoman says in his article, “[A] dults [tend to] forget [just] how terrifying being a small child can be…[after all] [i]f getting scared is one of our first pleasures, then maybe horror

Next, the one theory that I believe appeals most to the audience to watch the film “ The Babadook ” or films like it, is because like Zinoman’s article said “ horror [tends to] tap into [the] positive emotions that are otherwise repressed [internally.]” The entire film is about dealing with grieving of Amelia’s husband that she could not have because she had to take care of Samuel. The Babadook is a representation of that mental instability of pain and suffering that Amelia has