Philosophy Of Horror

Sarah Kiser ENG 359 9/29/09 Critique of “The Philosophy of Horror” Noel Carroll’s “The Philosophy of Horror or Paradoxes of the Heart” brings about galore(postnominal) problems turn establishing his definition of the art- offense genre. While packaging the genre into a clear-cut definition with little room for exception, he fails to take in some(prenominal) common elements or examples that audiences often categorize as shame. This is not to interpret all of Carroll’s philosophy is scatty; he questions why we fear what we know is fiction and makes proficient points. As a whole, Carroll’s philosophy seems to attempt to be besides cut and dry, which clearly does not work for such a bizarre genre. One noticeable flaw in Carroll’s philosophy is the fact that he omits eachthing he cannot render a definition for. Simply stated, Carroll believes horror is entity based. His “definition of horror involves crucia l reference to an entity, a monster, which then serves as the circumstance end of the emotion of art-horror” (Carroll 41). He defines a monster as “any being not believed to exist now harmonize to contemporaneous science” (27). Monsters argon “inconceivable, indescribable, and unmentionable” (20) as surfacespring as “ polluted and unclean” (23).

This requirement qualifies many books and films as belonging to the horror genre; Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Blob ar well known examples of monster-based whole caboodle. However, whole shebang that the general population wou ld encounter to be horror are omitted from ! Carroll’s theory because of the absence of Kiser 2 monsters. It is my virile sentiment that movies can be horrifying without the presence of monsters. If millions of flock consider something to be of the horror genre, who is one man to say it is, in fact, not? As Carroll says, monsters are in many works that are not horror; fairy tales and myths are dear of supernatural creatures. He does differentiate between...If you want to occupy a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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