I was sitting here thinking, as many haunted house owners do, what I and my crew can do to be an 'over the top' haunt this season. Last year, The Scream Extreme was awesome -- we heard blood-curdling screams that rattled the windows and the walls. But, what can we do to top that -- to terrorize and really invoke fear? To send them home shaking and continue that shaking when they think of us while lying in their beds. THAT'S a Haunter's dream! But, in order to make that dream a reality, we must examine that which we are trying to invoke. So, what exactly is fear?
Is it blood? Is it gore? Is it that clown who performed at your 8th birthday party or the spider that just crawled under your bed? Not really. Those are only the catalysts. Catalysts? What is she talking about...catalysts....woman, you crazy! Yes, I am. But, let's not get off the subject. I call them catalysts because they are the cause, the beginning, the accelerator your mind takes and runs with. It is the thoughts of where that blood came from, who caused this gore, why is that clown laughing all the time and how that spider feels when it's crawling up my back that causes what we call fear.
Past experiences can also be the reason for fears. For example, I cannot stand snakes and it goes beyond the "Eeew" stage. My skin literally crawls (no pun intended), my heart rate changes and I begin to shake in my boots. All of this stemmed from a childhood experience that I vaguely remember -- my sister was pushing me in a stroller down the street, saw a snake, screamed, ran off and left me there. I never knew the fear of snakes was implanted in my brain until several years later when I saw a snake while camping. I ran leaving my sisters behind and zipped up the tent so that not only would the snake be locked out, but my sisters, too. Yet...I was never bitten nor threatened by one. It is only the potential of what they might do that causes my fear.
Fear, fear, fear -- I've written that word nine times so far (well, ten if you count the post's title) and I have yet to give you an actual definition of the word. Let me do that now...
The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, 2nd Edition states fear as generally referring to feelings created by tangible, realistic dangers. It goes on to say, "Fear may be provoked by exposure to traumatic situations, observations of other people exhibiting fear, or the receipt of frightening information." Observations of other people exhibiting fear, hmmmm? Seeing my sister running from a snake and leaving me abandoned is a prime example -- one that I go on to repeat later. Thanks a lot, Sis!
If a section of "Fear" is enclosed within the bindings of the Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, then it's safe to surmise that fear is psychological, no? Duh! Well, then why is it that so many haunted houses create scenes that do not tap into the psyche?
Mr. Maniacal, in his book The Art of Fear: Theories of a Dark Entertainer writes, "Psychological horror....oh how I love the sound of that phrase as it rolls off the tongue! If you think about it, it opens up so many doors and possibilities. But, what exactly does psychological horror really mean to the haunted attraction industry? The best way to scare anyone is to use his or her mind as a weapon." He goes on to say, "Realism and the subconscious mind...this is the future of this industry. This is the direction we have to go in to survive."
Stay tuned tomorrow for the second part of this two part series on Fear where we learn the essence of fear, it's components and how to implement them into any haunted house, attraction or event.
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