COLLECTION 6

death in films that appealed to
the masses; horror shapes and
defines culture like only art
can, and because of their pretty
intimate relationship. It is
necessary to mention the early
Tim Burton imagery, heavily
loaded with Edgar Allan
Poe, German Expressionism
and a Gothic aesthetic, and
to remember how he changed
the art landscape for over a
decade. One can also observe
how the empty and silently
haunted-haunting atmosphere
of Japanese horror influences
so often creep into a brilliant
young photographer’s work.
Lately, it is horror films like
̔Carrie̓, ̔Prom Nights̓,̔ I
Spit on your Grave̓, ̔Poison
Ivy̓, horror films dealing with
teenage girl sexuality, and
young girls’ culture that help
shape an entire movement that
remains to be named. The glitter
and menacing atmosphere
of a teenage world as depicted
in some of these iconic films
are forming a great archive for
photographers willing to deal
with the trauma of entering
adulthood, the maddening burden
of expectation, the mental
inner massacre of being a
girl and symbols for female
sexuality.
There is really no reason why
we should be ashamed to
face up to the fact that horror
films are shaping our taste,
our culture and yes, our art as
well. Art because it is art and
horror because it is so easily
condemnable. These two, set
our imaginations ablaze and
play on our memories and
stories of common experience,
explore human nature and
collective reaction; bring up
issues we want to never have
to deal with, question and
expose. All this they both do
visually. It couldn’t be a more
perfect match.
By Amanda M. Jansson and
Emma E. K. Jones
Photos by Michaela Knizova