pamela's world | article critique

An Article Critique

In his article, "Why We Crave Horror Movies," Stephen King reasons that everyone is basically insane, making horror a much-needed escape from the daily tolls of civilization. Horror allows people to push aside social mannerisms temporarily to remain capable of living within society.

Based solely on King's extensive familiarity with the horror genre, many would find his discussion a compelling argument for universal "insanity." Kings adds interest to his work by using his usual style of writing that surprises and shocks readers with personal opinion and creative use of examples at the expense of critical facts and sources that would make the presented material valid.

King's article examines the psychology of horror, stating that by exposing ourselves to horror films we are nourishing our darkest impulses, thereby restoring our more civilized emotions. He believes that many do brave this "nightmare" to prove that they have no fear and to have fun by releasing their less civilized emotions in a safe manner.

He explains how society teaches children to repress darker impulses by awarding love and sharing with positive reinforcement, while reprimanding negative or antisocial mannerisms. Further, by repressing uncivilized traits, the need to let them out for occasional "exercise" develops. According to King, horror films' main purpose is to "feed" the morbid tendencies, allowing them to be controlled and buried where they cannot interfere with the progression of civilization.

This article's intent is to explain the age-old question of why horror films are enjoyable. King uses writing that evokes emotional response, such as "jokes" about dead babies, which at first glance are funny and as an afterthought fill the reader with disgust. He also uses parentheses to comment directly to the reader, making the article seem more like a conversation and less like an informative essay.

King makes a logical argument based on universally accepted ideas such as the assertion that being civilized has psychological repercussions. He does not credit his sources, such as Freud, even though the use of his theories is extensive. Although his argument is based on reputable sources, he does not use concrete facts, as they would detract from the fictional atmosphere of the article. Kings use of logic and conjecture is creative, however he makes his whole argument without direct factual evidence to support his claims.

King believes that individuals, at times, need to escape the civilized world, to feed the darkest impulses of their souls. By watching horror films, society gives these individuals a way to satiate that need without risk that they are uncivilized. Written like a best seller rather than an informative nonfiction, Stephen King's work continues to entertain, however does not provide enough information to be valid.

Works Cited

King, Stephen. "Why We Crave Horror Movies." Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. 7th Ed. New York: Longman, 2000. 784-786.