Paradox of Horror: A Violation of Reality

Why do we enjoy watching scary movies? Why do we wait in line for an hour just to get scared in a haunted house? Why do we spend hours a day reading horror novels, or watching "Ghost Hunters"? Because we love a thrill. We love the feeling of uncertainty. Sitting on the edge of our seat, waiting for what will happen next. Why do we enjoy seeing someone tied to a chair, receiving an ultimatum from Jigsaw in the Saw thrillers? It's all because of a little thing that Carroll likes to refer to as the "Paradox of Horror".

The Paradox of Horror is referred to as an attempt to rationalize the horrific, terrifying myths and fictions of todays literature as well as media. In my opinion, we enjoy being enthralled into stories that contain elements of death and immortality, because it is so far from what we would want to surround ourselves with. It's like looking at a car accident. We would never want it to happen to us, but we can't look away. Its an eerie thought, and such a peculiar thrill. We look for ways, day after day, to scare ourselves in some way. To test reality, in some sorts, is the best way to know you are living. When something is so close, yet couldn't physically harm us, we get a thrill, a rush of adrenaline. Something that we can get from movies, books, tv shows, and haunted houses. In different ways, this media can pull us in, and keep us until we break. We want a thrill, always looking for a way to keep yourself on the edge of your seat.

I personally love movies where people are literally ripped apart. I love the thrill of knowing something terrible is happening, but I am not hurt. I will stand in line in freezing temperatures just to walk through a haunted house and get scared. I love the thrill of knowing I can be scared, but its only for a moment. A moment that won't truly hurt me, but make my heart jump, and wake me up.

The Paradox of Horror is truly a violation of reality. We almost want these things to be real, but know that they never will be. We look at urban legends as something that could possibly be true, but hasn't been proven to us in real life. These things all give us thrills, in very different ways. We love it. And that is why Carroll proves humans to be "thrill seekers" of sorts. It's a way of life, a way to know that you are living.