I love Dracula, Frankenstein,
werewolves
and the fantasy creatures from the movies.
Since the beginnings of cinema
terror films have remained popular.
It has stay popular longer than many other genres.
Westerns, romance films,
film noir, musicals.
They all had their moment but then went out of style.
The release of a good horror film
will fill the cinema seats.
Why do we enjoy being scared so much?
Do we like what we do not like?
Do we feel horrified yet fascinated at the same time?
Isn't it a paradox?
And what is fear?
And bravery?
Is it hiding your fear or the absence of fear?
Today on Tales' Well
we will find out.
If you like mystery,
this is the place for you.
- How was the move?
- I brought everything over yesterday.
I don't have a lot of stuff.
- If you need anything
you can count on me,
I live across from you.
- Thanks!
- Hello! How are you?
Isn't it too late?
- I'm scared...
And how are you?
- Good, we finished the conference
and we're having a drink. What about you?
- I want you to come back! I'm scared!
- Scared? Oh please!
You know I come back on Monday.
- It is still far away. I feel lonely.
- How silly! Scared?
When you know that I can watch you with my phone
using the security camera.
-I can't take it any more!
- Calm down! I'll see you on Monday. Kisses.
- See you Monday. I love you.
- Me too.
- Uf!
- Did you like it?
- Excellent!
- Why are we so attracted to fear?
- Because we know it isn't real.
- True, seeing scary films
at the cinema or the tv scares us
but it isn't real fear.
We know we are in a secure environment.
That is why in amusement parks we go on roller coasters
knowing we will be scared.
But we enjoy it. Because we know it is safe.
It isn't the same as true fear.
Even if we call them both "fear"
it isn't the same.
It is strange. We like to be scared.
- Exactly.
I would add the experience of catharsis
which comes from ancient Greece.
used by Arteriole
The philosopher asked why do
we like tragedies so much?
Represented in the Athens theatre
with such drama and suffering.
It moved the spectators because they empathized with the protagonists.
Why does thinking about someone else's pain
make us feel better?
Isn't it contradictory?
Aristotle said that it helped cleanse us
of our negative emotions, through empathy
we were freed of them.
- Interesting.
¡Sigue, sigue!
- Terror films
also have this cleansing effect.
They free us from our negative emotions.
- But what is fear?
- According to our primary emotional structure
that all humans have.
There are five:
Fear, sadness,
disgust, rage,
and happiness.
Thanks to our basic emotions
humans have triumphed in evolutionary terms.
Fear prepares us to react
in a dangerous situation.
Animals have four types
of reactions:
attack, flee,
play dead or submission.
And we humans do the same thing.
- You're right.
Speaking about reacting to fear...
the other day I took the train without a ticket...
and they came to check tickets.
I played dead.
- What happened?
- ...It didn't work. I'd rather not talk about it...
What else can you tell me?
- These reactions are unique to animals.
Humans have one more:
bravery.
- To not be scared?
- No, no! A brave person is also scared.
But acts as if they aren't.
They make an effort to play down their fear.
And not make it bigger with their imagination.
- I understand.
There are many kinds of fears!
-The thing I'm the most afraid of is death.
- I panic when I have to walk on the streeet alone at night.
- I'm afraid of waking up with my brain
but my body doesn't and I am paralyzed.
- I'm scared of a lot of things.
But what I'm most afraid of is sickness
and death because it is a mystery.
- I'm scared I will go crazy
and nobody will tell me that I am crazy.
And I end up alone.
- I'm not scared of anything.
- Do you see? Each person has different
experience with fear.
But what about being scared of monsters?
Nobody said it!
Why are we scared of them?
- Our friends have been very brave
to talk about their fears...
- Yes, yes, but....
Isn't anybody afraid of monsters?
- Yes but monsters are fears that we materalize
which allow us to express our collective fears.
For example: Godzilla.
The Japanese monster
was created during World War II.
After the nuclear bombings during the war
the Japanese were so traumatized
about the subject that they spoke about it
using the monster as a metaphor.
- And zombies represent our fear
of being absorbed into society
and losing our individuality.
O the werewolf
represents our fear of losing control
of our instincts and basic impulses.
Such as our sexual desire or gluttony.
No?
- Correct!
Which fear does Frankenstein represent?
- Fear of technology.
- Exactly.
The author of the novel, Shelley
gave it the subtitle of "The Modern Prometheus"
- That's right! Legendary!
One of the great myths of Ancient Greece
says that there was a giant
who was named Prometheus
who went to the Gods of Olympus
interested in fire....
When they were busy
he stole a bit of their fire.
Prometheus, happy with his heroism
returned to Olympus
and shared the fire with the humans.+
Zeus got so angry
that he started a storm.
Which surprised Prometheus.
Zeus captured him
and as punishment
threw him against a cliff.
He chained him to the rock
and he sent a huge eagle
who from high above
flew down rapidly
closed in with a hunting call
and attacked Prometheus.
The eagle stabbed Prometheus
between his ribs with his sharp beak
causing him great pain
and then the bird ate his liver.
And this happened every day
because Prometheus' liver would grow back...
it was eternal suffering.
- Prometheus suffered which chained
for stealing fire from the Gods.
Fire represented technology
because at that time it was a big progress for man.
Thanks to fire they could warm themselves
cook, melt metal,
The 18th century brought electricity, among other advances.
Shelly observed the great strides being made
which also brought great pain
more intelligence, more suffering.
Shelly adapted the classic myth
to modern times
in the book Frankenstein.
And the prediction the author made was correct
since in the 20th century nuclear energy
was used in World War II.
-Which fear does Dracula represent?
- Dracula was written in the Victorian era.
a time when sex was taboo
and very repressive to women.
The idea of women cheating or enjoying sex
was impossible for some men
who imagined women to be asexual.
If they manifested desire
men believed the women had been possessed
of an irresistible supernatural force represented by the vampire.
Without a doubt
Dracula represented fear
of female sexuality and empowered women.
- Men have historically
been very afraid of women
and it was very dangerous for women...
It is time to recommend books
I chose this one:
Carmilla: a book about female vampires
with plenty of erotic, lesbian scenes.
I love it!
And you? What do you recommend for me?
- This is a great classic
The author was only 18 when it was written
It is filled with philosophy.
- And films?
- A film? Uf!
Nosferatu.
The mythical vampire with pointy ears.
It was created more than 100 years ago.
And it is still scary!
And you?
- I would recommend:
The Bride of Frankenstein
An entertaining movie
and fun. It is worth it.
- Today in Tales' Well
we have talked about fears
And we have learned that it is a valuable emotion
but we mustn't let our imaginations go wild.
We also learned that we make monsters
to talk about our social fears
through metaphor.
And we have recommended books and movies
for you to enjoy.
We hope you have enjoyed this.
Until next time!
- And don't listen to your fears.
Be brave!