Drew & Glen Talk About Anything: The Conservative Case Against Horror Movies
Added 2023-01-03 20:17:23 +0000 UTCHi all. This is an impromptu edition of TAA inspired by one of the question submitted for Ask Drew Anything. We are going into greater depth here because 1) Drew did not do a good job of answering this one the first time through and because 2) it was one of the better questions posed because it turns this podcast's thesis around on a genre we love.
Here's the original question:
Growing up as a fan of horror movies in the 80s, I used to scoff at moral guardians and their fears about horror's influence on kids and teenagers. But now, GEE has made me realize how much seemingly innocuous sitcoms helped to shape my view of the world, not always for the better, and that makes wonder about horror: Maybe those moral guardians were onto something after all? My question for you: Has horror media helped to shape your worldview in any way?
Comments
This was such an engaging conversation. One I'd been mulling over in my head for a while, so it was great hearing y'all process through it interpersonally. Appreciate y'all's insights. <3
Klopfenpop
2023-01-06 14:30:58 +0000 UTCWell, virtually all the slasher franchises did that. In all of them, the recurring killers became the stars. The humans being killed were basically interchangeable.
Drew Mackie
2023-01-04 22:30:14 +0000 UTCI think it's a matter of who you identify with. When LGBTQ were simply the one-dimensional butt of jokes or tragic figures, the audience identified with the main characters who laughed, pitied or scoffed at them. When we became somewhat more dimensional, the audience saw the main characters interactions and acceptance to heart. And finally when on occasion LGBTQ were shown as well-rounded individuals with full lives some audience members actually identified directly with them. Maybe they too may have been fired for no good reason, or have had their heart broken, or have had to fight for their kids to get into a good school, or struggled with parents who didn't approve of their spouse, etc. When it comes to horror movies I don't think most people identify much with the killers, and so the influence is much less than with gay acceptance in media. Now if horror movies slowly shift to being sympathetic to the killers...watch out!
knope2001
2023-01-04 22:00:44 +0000 UTCThis makes sense but also describing yourself as a "non murderer or torturer" is exactly what a murder/torturer would do.
Drew Mackie
2023-01-03 22:59:15 +0000 UTCI can definitely see where you’re coming from. For me, I feel like media that is intended to be more situational and mimic more realistic scenarios (sitcoms, dramas, romantic comedies, etc) definitely have an influence because they are intended to be relatable in a way? For me, as a non-murderer or torturer, or for that matter also not a super hero or mob boss, those stories aren’t relatable in any way to me on a personal level and, while still enjoyable, haven’t really influenced my actual behaviors in any way that I can gauge?
Meika Grimm
2023-01-03 20:28:15 +0000 UTC
