Body horror or biological horror is a subgenre of horror that intentionally showcases grotesque or psychologically disturbing violations of the human body.[1] These violations may manifest through aberrant sex, mutations, mutilation, zombification, gratuitous violence, disease, or unnatural movements of the body. Body horror was a description originally applied to an emerging subgenre of North American horror films, but has roots in early Gothic literature and has expanded to include other media.[2]
According to the film scholar Linda Williams, body horror falls into one of three "gross" genres or "genres of excess" which also includes pornography and melodrama.[3] Williams writes that the success of these body genres "is often measured by the degree to which the audience sensation mimics what is seen on the screen".[3] For example, an audience may experience feelings of terror through horror, sympathy through melodrama, or sexual arousal through pornography.[4] Body horror specifically focuses on the limits and transformative capabilities of the human body.[5]
Body horror often overlaps with, but is distinct from, other horror subgenres. For example, while elements of mutilation may be present in body horror, other similar subgenres such as slasher, splatter, or monster horror may also share this trope, but differ in message and intent.[6] A common difference in the body horror genre is that violations or distortions of the body are rarely the result of immediate or initial violence. Instead, they are generally marked by a loss of conscious control over the body through mutation, disease, or other tropes involving uncontrolled transformation.[7] The genre can invoke intense feelings of physical and psychological disgust, or squick, and play upon anxieties of physical vulnerability.[8] In addition to common tropes used within the broader horror genre, some tropes specific to the body horror subgenre may include invasion, contagion, mutation, transformation, disease, mutilation, or other unnatural or violent distortions of the human body.
History
The term "body horror" was first used by Phillip Brophy in his 1983 article "Horrality: The Textuality of the Contemporary Horror Film."[9] He coined this term to describe an emerging subgenre which occurred during a short golden period for contemporary horror film.[10] Although Brophy coined the term to specifically describe a trend within cinema, film director Stuart Gordon notes that the body horror trope had existed before its adaptation to the screen, most notably within fictional writing.[11][5]
Literature
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) is an early example of the body horror subgenre within fictional writing. The success of gothic horror in the 19th century in combination with the birth of science fiction as a literary form is thought to be the origin of body horror as a literary genre.[2] According to Halberstam: "By focusing on the body as a locus of fear, Shelley's novel suggests that it is people (or at least bodies) who terrify people... the landscape of fear is replaced by sutured skin."[2]
Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is another early example of body horror literature. It shows Gregor Samsa transform into a large bug for unknown reasons. The work has influenced other body horrors like The Fly.
Film
Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg is considered a principal originator of body horror through early films such as Shivers and Rabid, and his remake of The Fly. However, body horror tropes existed within film prior to official recognition of the genre. Early examples of the body horror genre arose out of 1950s American horror cinema including The Blob and The Fly, both of which set the standard for the genre due to the films' primary focus on mutation and visceral special effects.[12] Many contemporary films of the horror genre (those produced after 1968), including body horror, are considered to be postmodern in contrast to classical horror.[13] Because of this, delineations between the genres are difficult to define, since postmodernism is concerned with blurring boundaries between categories.
The body horror genre is widely represented throughout Japanese horror and within contemporary media, such as anime.[14]Katsuhiro Otomo's 1988 film Akira is an early example of body horror within anime. The film uses the genre to explore the "notion of the adolescent body as a site of metamorphosis, a metamorphosis that can appear monstrous both to the figure undergoing it and to the outside world."[15]
Comics and graphic novels
Many manga authors, such as Junji Ito, specialize in writing within the horror genre and use body horror tropes in combination with narrative storytelling devices of Japanese horror.[16] Highly influenced by the literary works of H. P. Lovecraft, Ito's manga depict obscene body horror through both aesthetic and narrative in order to invoke feelings of abject terror.[1] In contrast, Canadian cartoonist Michael DeForge incorporates recurring body horror aspects within his work through less graphic aesthetic and narrative styles.[17]
Influences
Films and media that fall under the body horror subgenre reflect a specific corporeal societal anxiety and may provide social commentary about history and influence contemporary culture.[18]
Controversy and censorship
Since the 18th century, the horror genre has been popular among readers but dismissed as controversial by some critics who saw the genre and its thematic elements threatening or dangerous to society.[19]
Because of the use of graphic and gratuitous violence or themes that may be considered taboo, horror media that fall within the body horror genre are often censored or banned across a variety of countries.[20] For example, the Saw and Human Centipede franchises have been referred to as "torture porn" and widely criticized to include overly "exploitative, gratuitous portrayals of destructive sexual perversion."
^ abCruz, R. A. L. (2012). "Mutations and Metamorphoses: Body Horror is Biological Horror". Journal of Popular Film and Television. 40 (4): 160–168. doi:10.1080/01956051.2012.654521. S2CID 194091897.
^ abcHalberstam, J. (1995). Skin shows: Gothic horror and the technology of monsters. Duke University Press.
^ abWilliams, L. (1991). "Film Bodies: Gender, Genre, and Excess". Film Quarterly. 44 (4): 2–13. doi:10.2307/1212758. JSTOR 1212758.
^González-Montero, Sebastian A. (2007). "PORNOGRAPHY AND EROTISM". Estudios de Filosofía. 36: 223–245 – via scielo.
^ abCardin, Matt. (2017). Horror Literature Through History: an Encyclopedia of the Stories That Speak to Our Deepest Fears [2 Volumes]. Santa Barbara, California : Greenwood.
^Reyes, X. A. (2016). Horror Film and Affect: Towards a Corporeal Model of Viewership (Vol. 47), p. 16. Routledge.
^Hutchings, Peter. (2009). The A–Z of Horror Cinema. A–Z Guides 100. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
^"The Future of Body Horror: Can Our Art Keep up with Our Suffering?". The Rumpus.net. 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
^Brophy, P. (1983). . Art & Text, Melbourne, 1983. 3 (Having read the referenced article, the term 'body horror' isn't used). Archived from the original on 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
^Brophy, Philip. "die body crap cut me up smiling". Philipbrophy.com. Retrieved from http://www.philipbrophy.com/projects/rstff/Horrality_H.html
^Kane, Paul and Marie O'Regan (2012). The Mammoth Book of Body Horror. Philadelphia: Running Press.
^"A Quick History of Body Horror in Cinema". Gehenna & Hinnom Books. 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
^Pinedo, I (1996). "Recreational terror: Postmodern elements of the contemporary horror film". Journal of Film and Video. 48 (1–2): 17–31. JSTOR 20688091.
^Gateward, F. (2002). Bubblegum and heavy metal. Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice: Cinemas of Girlhood, (29)269, p. 283.
^Napier, S. J. (2001). Akira and Ranma 1/2: The Monstrous Adolescent. In Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke (pp. 39–62). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
^Bush, L. (2001). Asian Horror Encyclopedia: Asian Horror Culture in Literature, Manga, and Folklore. iUniverse.
^Jones, T. (2014). "Aw Dude, Gross": The Mundane Body Horror of Michael DeForge.
^Dewan, Shaila K. (2000-10-14). "Do Horror Films Filter The Horrors of History?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
^Cooper, L. A. (2010). Gothic Realities: The Impact of Horror Fiction on Modern Culture. McFarland.
^"Banned and Brutal: 14 Beyond-Controversial Horror Movies". Rolling Stone.
January 08, 2023
body, horror, biological, horror, subgenre, horror, that, intentionally, showcases, grotesque, psychologically, disturbing, violations, human, body, these, violations, manifest, through, aberrant, mutations, mutilation, zombification, gratuitous, violence, dis. Body horror or biological horror is a subgenre of horror that intentionally showcases grotesque or psychologically disturbing violations of the human body 1 These violations may manifest through aberrant sex mutations mutilation zombification gratuitous violence disease or unnatural movements of the body Body horror was a description originally applied to an emerging subgenre of North American horror films but has roots in early Gothic literature and has expanded to include other media 2 A person in zombie makeup Contents 1 Characteristics 2 History 2 1 Literature 2 2 Film 2 3 Comics and graphic novels 3 Influences 4 Controversy and censorship 5 See also 6 ReferencesCharacteristics EditAccording to the film scholar Linda Williams body horror falls into one of three gross genres or genres of excess which also includes pornography and melodrama 3 Williams writes that the success of these body genres is often measured by the degree to which the audience sensation mimics what is seen on the screen 3 For example an audience may experience feelings of terror through horror sympathy through melodrama or sexual arousal through pornography 4 Body horror specifically focuses on the limits and transformative capabilities of the human body 5 Body horror often overlaps with but is distinct from other horror subgenres For example while elements of mutilation may be present in body horror other similar subgenres such as slasher splatter or monster horror may also share this trope but differ in message and intent 6 A common difference in the body horror genre is that violations or distortions of the body are rarely the result of immediate or initial violence Instead they are generally marked by a loss of conscious control over the body through mutation disease or other tropes involving uncontrolled transformation 7 The genre can invoke intense feelings of physical and psychological disgust or squick and play upon anxieties of physical vulnerability 8 In addition to common tropes used within the broader horror genre some tropes specific to the body horror subgenre may include invasion contagion mutation transformation disease mutilation or other unnatural or violent distortions of the human body History EditThe term body horror was first used by Phillip Brophy in his 1983 article Horrality The Textuality of the Contemporary Horror Film 9 He coined this term to describe an emerging subgenre which occurred during a short golden period for contemporary horror film 10 Although Brophy coined the term to specifically describe a trend within cinema film director Stuart Gordon notes that the body horror trope had existed before its adaptation to the screen most notably within fictional writing 11 5 Literature Edit Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1818 is an early example of the body horror subgenre within fictional writing The success of gothic horror in the 19th century in combination with the birth of science fiction as a literary form is thought to be the origin of body horror as a literary genre 2 According to Halberstam By focusing on the body as a locus of fear Shelley s novel suggests that it is people or at least bodies who terrify people the landscape of fear is replaced by sutured skin 2 Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis is another early example of body horror literature It shows Gregor Samsa transform into a large bug for unknown reasons The work has influenced other body horrors like The Fly Film Edit Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg is considered a principal originator of body horror through early films such as Shivers and Rabid and his remake of The Fly However body horror tropes existed within film prior to official recognition of the genre Early examples of the body horror genre arose out of 1950s American horror cinema including The Blob and The Fly both of which set the standard for the genre due to the films primary focus on mutation and visceral special effects 12 Many contemporary films of the horror genre those produced after 1968 including body horror are considered to be postmodern in contrast to classical horror 13 Because of this delineations between the genres are difficult to define since postmodernism is concerned with blurring boundaries between categories The body horror genre is widely represented throughout Japanese horror and within contemporary media such as anime 14 Katsuhiro Otomo s 1988 film Akira is an early example of body horror within anime The film uses the genre to explore the notion of the adolescent body as a site of metamorphosis a metamorphosis that can appear monstrous both to the figure undergoing it and to the outside world 15 Comics and graphic novels Edit Many manga authors such as Junji Ito specialize in writing within the horror genre and use body horror tropes in combination with narrative storytelling devices of Japanese horror 16 Highly influenced by the literary works of H P Lovecraft Ito s manga depict obscene body horror through both aesthetic and narrative in order to invoke feelings of abject terror 1 In contrast Canadian cartoonist Michael DeForge incorporates recurring body horror aspects within his work through less graphic aesthetic and narrative styles 17 Influences EditFilms and media that fall under the body horror subgenre reflect a specific corporeal societal anxiety and may provide social commentary about history and influence contemporary culture 18 Controversy and censorship EditSince the 18th century the horror genre has been popular among readers but dismissed as controversial by some critics who saw the genre and its thematic elements threatening or dangerous to society 19 Because of the use of graphic and gratuitous violence or themes that may be considered taboo horror media that fall within the body horror genre are often censored or banned across a variety of countries 20 For example the Saw and Human Centipede franchises have been referred to as torture porn and widely criticized to include overly exploitative gratuitous portrayals of destructive sexual perversion See also EditList of body horror media New French Extremity Body horror Barbara Creed Psychological horror Splatterpunk Abjection Grotesque bodyReferences Edit a b Cruz R A L 2012 Mutations and Metamorphoses Body Horror is Biological Horror Journal of Popular Film and Television 40 4 160 168 doi 10 1080 01956051 2012 654521 S2CID 194091897 a b c Halberstam J 1995 Skin shows Gothic horror and the technology of monsters Duke University Press a b Williams L 1991 Film Bodies Gender Genre and Excess Film Quarterly 44 4 2 13 doi 10 2307 1212758 JSTOR 1212758 Gonzalez Montero Sebastian A 2007 PORNOGRAPHY AND EROTISM Estudios de Filosofia 36 223 245 via scielo a b Cardin Matt 2017 Horror Literature Through History an Encyclopedia of the Stories That Speak to Our Deepest Fears 2 Volumes Santa Barbara California Greenwood Reyes X A 2016 Horror Film and Affect Towards a Corporeal Model of Viewership Vol 47 p 16 Routledge Hutchings Peter 2009 The A Z of Horror Cinema A Z Guides 100 Lanham MD Scarecrow Press The Future of Body Horror Can Our Art Keep up with Our Suffering The Rumpus net 2017 01 26 Retrieved 2018 03 15 Brophy P 1983 Horrality The Textuality of the Contemporary Horror Film Art amp Text Melbourne 1983 3 Having read the referenced article the term body horror isn t used Archived from the original on 2018 09 10 Retrieved 2018 11 01 Brophy Philip die body crap cut me up smiling Philipbrophy com Retrieved from http www philipbrophy com projects rstff Horrality H html Kane Paul and Marie O Regan 2012 The Mammoth Book of Body Horror Philadelphia Running Press A Quick History of Body Horror in Cinema Gehenna amp Hinnom Books 2017 04 07 Retrieved 2018 03 12 Pinedo I 1996 Recreational terror Postmodern elements of the contemporary horror film Journal of Film and Video 48 1 2 17 31 JSTOR 20688091 Gateward F 2002 Bubblegum and heavy metal Sugar Spice and Everything Nice Cinemas of Girlhood 29 269 p 283 Napier S J 2001 Akira and Ranma 1 2 The Monstrous Adolescent In Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke pp 39 62 Palgrave Macmillan New York Bush L 2001 Asian Horror Encyclopedia Asian Horror Culture in Literature Manga and Folklore iUniverse Jones T 2014 Aw Dude Gross The Mundane Body Horror of Michael DeForge Dewan Shaila K 2000 10 14 Do Horror Films Filter The Horrors of History The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2018 03 15 Cooper L A 2010 Gothic Realities The Impact of Horror Fiction on Modern Culture McFarland Banned and Brutal 14 Beyond Controversial Horror Movies Rolling Stone Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Body horror amp oldid 1129182660, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
