It's no secret but it's also something you might not guess about me. I have an extremely deep love for the dark and bizarre side of art. I always have.
Growing up I loved skimming through my parent's gigantic book of Edward Gorey drawings, I read every single R.L. Stine book I could get my hands on and I've always had a serious penchant for real life ghost stories.
The image of the Skeksis in The Dark Crystal will be forever burned in my brain. Also, the other Jim Henson creation, The Storyteller, that my brother was too afraid to watch? Well I nearly wept when I learned it was over after 9 episodes.
In my teenage years I loved watching 80s horror flicks like April Fools Day.
In college I discovered movies like Dead Alive, writers like Richard Matheson, directors like Tim Burton and John Waters. I know, you don't really think scary when you think John Waters, but show a group of friends Pink Flamingos for the first time and watch their expressions. I'd say you hit the bizarre/disgust nail on the head.
Now at 30, I continue to feed my love for the uniquely creepy with shows like Dexter, Rob Zombie flix and the stories of Lemony Snicket.
I love anything out of the ordinary. Anything willing to push you into that uncomfortable zone. Horror, fantasy and the just plain strange all come from one place that I try to find every single day, the imagination. That and a willingness to put something out there that will make others recoil in fear and/or disdain, is key to this particular form of creative vision.
I have never had the cajones to express myself this way to the public. To show a darker side. A bizarre side. An entirely made up side. It's not that I mind if someone looks at me with a 'poo-poo' stare, lord knows I've seen my fair share of those. And it's not that I'm offended easily, because I'm not. It's that I'm letting my own inhibitions hold me back.
Now that's a scary thought.
I guess it's time to dig deeper. Unearth the imaginary grave, if you will.
Growing up I loved skimming through my parent's gigantic book of Edward Gorey drawings, I read every single R.L. Stine book I could get my hands on and I've always had a serious penchant for real life ghost stories.
The image of the Skeksis in The Dark Crystal will be forever burned in my brain. Also, the other Jim Henson creation, The Storyteller, that my brother was too afraid to watch? Well I nearly wept when I learned it was over after 9 episodes.
In my teenage years I loved watching 80s horror flicks like April Fools Day.
In college I discovered movies like Dead Alive, writers like Richard Matheson, directors like Tim Burton and John Waters. I know, you don't really think scary when you think John Waters, but show a group of friends Pink Flamingos for the first time and watch their expressions. I'd say you hit the bizarre/disgust nail on the head.
Now at 30, I continue to feed my love for the uniquely creepy with shows like Dexter, Rob Zombie flix and the stories of Lemony Snicket.
I love anything out of the ordinary. Anything willing to push you into that uncomfortable zone. Horror, fantasy and the just plain strange all come from one place that I try to find every single day, the imagination. That and a willingness to put something out there that will make others recoil in fear and/or disdain, is key to this particular form of creative vision.
I have never had the cajones to express myself this way to the public. To show a darker side. A bizarre side. An entirely made up side. It's not that I mind if someone looks at me with a 'poo-poo' stare, lord knows I've seen my fair share of those. And it's not that I'm offended easily, because I'm not. It's that I'm letting my own inhibitions hold me back.
Now that's a scary thought.
I guess it's time to dig deeper. Unearth the imaginary grave, if you will.
Look out, world!
I've wondered where this comes from in you. As you mentioned, your brother who freely embraces and admits his oddness, is not really drawn to the grisly. Nor is either parent, though one is profoundly Daft. Scary? I have my eyes covered for the whole trip. So, I'm looking forward to reading about your twisty trail.
Oh, but you mentioned Corey. Yeah, exceptions to every rule. Same for my beloved Dexter. So explain that to me. I guess the macabre isn't so foriegn to me after all.
I also seem to remember you enjoying some Stephen King books. Which one was it that had you super scared? Tommyknockers?
The Stand. Excellent book. Also The Shining. And a few others. Maybe it's just zombies I don't really like. Or loud stuff, like people screaming about the approaching zombies. Hmmm...
One of the reasons I enjoy the short writing so much is I get to release that part of me.