The Horror of Ears According to Me

When reading or viewing Eastern or Asian horror based works, subliminal cultural differences come through when comparing them to “western” horror.  Although both seem to be aimed at our fears, the Asian horror seems to have a closer connection to the afterlife. Additionally, the Asian films seem to have a social message interwoven into the physical horror. The Asian film is not just a gore fest, it has a message to convey.

When I was reading the novel A Wild Sheep Chase, the horror theme was not immediately evident. The read was more along the lines of a standard Haruki Murakami book with its dry wit, use of absurd characters and situations, and references to Western Culture.  For example, he notes rock music and Alan Ginsberg (Howl) and a character that is unsatisfied with his life. Initially, I honestly found more connections to Douglas’ Hitchhiker’s Guide, a sci-fi comedy, because of its narrative structure and how it seemingly went off topic. However, the novel was really adding a new plot point or device.  Murakami was setting the reader up for the kill. Murakami is giving us subliminal messages with symbolism and even premonitions, specifically from the girlfriend. I also viewed Takashi Miike’s Audition which to say the least, was the most disturbing movie I have ever seen. From what I have noticed from the book and film, these Asian works both develop off of buildup. Both are non-linear, not following the Western structure. Both works also use a slight woman as a vehicle for evil in comparison to Western movies whose villain is usually a strong male.  Asian works are usually more of a cerebral horror not bowing down to pure murder and blood.

               There is also a difference in eastern and western in how they represent the supernatural. The ghost in Sheep is not to scare but works in as part of the symbolism and message. It is probably because of the Asian’s belief in reincarnation and an afterlife. They have a sense of tradition and honoring the elderly and dead. The Asian tale is haunting or disturbing versus the western which is terrifying.

The manipulation of the protagonist is evident in the Asian works, others driving them insane by bringing their ineptness to the forefront.  The Eastern tale is an inner horror made more unsettling because it could be inside you. In the Western Horror more demons attack from the outside in a solely physical rather than a mental way. The Eastern story revolves around the life of an everyday person who stays in his own persona but in western horror, there is something wrong with the evil person, burned or parents killed in front of him. The plot of the Asian horror is more intricate.

               Asian culture is stereotyped as being the most brilliant or educated. Their horror films continue with this quest in their attempts to socially educate through entertainment. Whereas the Western horror seems to be aimed at scaring its audience by exhibiting the most special effects.

           In Ann Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, the relationships are extremely complex to say the least. Her vampires have evolved from the Christopher Lee depiction of Dracula and the battle between good and evil. The old stories revolved around the seduction of the woman to achieve the goal of immortality. The classic vampire stories were mono-dimensional in contrast to the contemporary tales of Rice’s vampire which has layers. The good and evil theme remain constant in both but the relationship status has expanded. Not only do we have a relationship between Louis, Lestat and Claudia but the relationship is not contained within the triangle, each relationship has a condemned association with other parties revolving around pure desire.

It is evident throughout the book that Rice was raised in New Orleans which was a melting pot of religion, voodoo, intertwined with a tacit acceptance of different sexual orientations. Although the good/evil theme is within Rice’s book, the sexual tension and surrounding relationships seems to permeate the plot.  The book has overtones of heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and pedophilia. Ann Rice’s novel is coated with sensuality within the relationship between the characters even if there is no overt sexual act. Additionally, most of the relationships are shrouded with both love and hate. Furthermore, the relationship between two people is not limited to a single traditional mode. For example, the relationship between Louis and Claudia begins when he kills her. Louis is a fight or flight character and flees leaving her to die. Lestat turns her into a vampire which shrouds Louis in guilt. Louis acts as her father/teacher/protector from the guilt which is usually absent in a vampire. Claudia hates both Lestat and Louis for their role in her perpetual existence. Claudia’s physical form remains a five year old, nevertheless her intellect and true being continues to mature. This maturity prompts a lust from Louis who leaves to escape more guilt. Consequently, the relationship expands from a parent/child to a father/lover, familial love to pedophelia.

The relationship between Louis and Lestat is equally as complex. Again, a love/hate relationship exists. This is because of Louis’ battle with good/evil. Louis hates his role in life and drinks the blood of an animal instead of humans in order to survive. His many attempts of killing Lestat confirms the aspect of hate. He also denies his love for Claudia and seeks the love of Armand.

            A different relationship agenda of the vampire in society is depicted in the film Only Lovers Left Alive. The film is an experimental film that eschews the narrative structure. It centers around the vampire characters of Adam and Eve and their strong relationship, a monogamous relationship, that continues to exist over the centuries.  Their love lasted because both of the characters were intellectuals, had respect for each other and an undying loving. The main characters in Only Lovers left Alive were actually deeper and more human than the living because of the social aspect and closeness of their relationship. Nevertheless, a definite overtone of dark humor embodies this film despite the theme of a strong relationship at its core. At the film’s ending, their blood supplier in Lebanon dies. In order to survive they have to suck off an unsuspecting couple which reveals a relationship at odds to the universe. However, the human emotion to survive, of self-preservation, expands the connection to nature. The film shows the relationship at the core of characters in everyday life and a society that attempts to pull them apart.

Frankstein

Gothic aspects of Frankenstein:

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein has many elements of gothic literature. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of gothic literature is a dark, eerie setting that creates a feeling of foreboding. The next is a sense of horror or dread that revolves around an alienated or isolated protagonist. The protagonist is in some cases is a wanderer who is stalked by an evil villain. There are also supernatural elements in gothic novels.

 In Frankenstien the setting begins in the letters of Captain R Walton to his sister. He is stuck in the ice on his ship in the cold, wasteland of the North Pole looking for friendship. We are waiting for something bad to happen. A sense of isolation for the character is also evident and continues with both Frankenstein and, of course, his Monster.

Frankenstein’s parents adopt Elizabeth so he will have a future wife. We can tell Frankenstein must not be a social butterfly.  This aspect of the story is a kind of contrived incest which we can be seen in other gothic novels. With Frankenstein, the isolation continues in school and the isolation with his belief in alchemy and his attempts to “bestow animation upon lifeless matter”. An eerie feeling continues as Frankenstein tells his story of the decays of the body as he tries to revive the corpses and collects his bones and body parts.

The book raises the question at the beginning whether science is part of the gothic element. In some ways it reveals a fantasy aspect but it could also be seen as a supernatural element that was prevalent in the gothic novels. However, the monster was a man-made creation from the elements of nature.

As the book continues with Frankenstein’s return home and the creation of the monster. Isolation and rejection continues with the monster. Additionally, the feeling of dread is heightened as we witness the cycle of rejection, revenge and murder.  Revenge is another prominent gothic element and it is heavily evident in the relationship between Frankenstein and his monster. The death of Frankenstein’s brother is the monster’s revenge for rejection of his ugly appearance. The tearing apart of Elizabeth is due to Frankenstein’s killing of the monster’s mate. It is no surprise that both the monster and Frankenstein meet their demise.

The setting is really on the boat but describes multiple areas as Frankenstein and the monster go from one place to another. This also adds the element of the exotic which complements the gothic tone with such places as the Artic, the Alps, France, and England. When you think gothic, you think dark castles. Shelly also added a castle in the mix.