tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post5748878675749085395..comments2023-09-29T06:00:09.242-05:00Comments on Julie Pippert: Using My Words: What's with the psychological need for the supernatural?Julie Pipperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03169574697104642479noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-2497848597773200322007-08-18T15:13:00.000-05:002007-08-18T15:13:00.000-05:00I was going to post on this exact movie. Obviously...I was going to post on this exact movie. Obviously the subject matter is something that interests a lot of people. In general, I thought the movie was awesome. My husband saw it with my 11yr. old and then took me to see it the next day. My son knew it was book, unlike myself. He loves all fantasy/sci-fi. He said it was better then the latest Harry Potter movie. I like movies with a positive theme and that you can take older children to see. You brought up a good point about the era in which these movies become popular. I think there are certain times in life we need <BR/>" reinforcement of our own way of life". Movies, for the most part, are about escapism for me. I love movies. But when a movie totally takes me away and makes me think, well those are the ones that deserve real credit. It comes to no surprise that many of these movies tend to be books or plays first. Great subject.mpearlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16740533492452830670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-71027876389514679272007-08-18T11:32:00.000-05:002007-08-18T11:32:00.000-05:00Totally agree with Gwen and whoever else said viol...Totally agree with Gwen and whoever else said violence toward women is a new form of pornography.<BR/><BR/>And that's about all I have to say for now. :)kalirozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10413769558136831135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-715514452495377762007-08-18T07:33:00.000-05:002007-08-18T07:33:00.000-05:00I love the sci-fi/fantasy stuff and watch it purel...I love the sci-fi/fantasy stuff and watch it purely for entertainment. Anything that keeps me interested and/or laughing is good. And SLOUCHING MOM? I love the gory blood and guts stuff too. It isn't real so it doesn't bother me. My kids all enjoy this stuff too. When they were younger they used to beg to be allowed to stay up and watch something horrifying because "we like to get scared" They never had a single nightmare either.Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-21591974087582813012007-08-18T07:14:00.000-05:002007-08-18T07:14:00.000-05:00Gwen, yeah I agree. Okay on list:Neil Gaiman's boo...Gwen, yeah I agree. <BR/><BR/>Okay on list:<BR/><BR/>Neil Gaiman's book<BR/>Pan's Labyrinth<BR/><BR/>Chani, aces on citing Joseph Campbell. BIG fan of his. I wish my brain had linked that I was actually thinking of his myth theory when I wrote this.<BR/><BR/>I'm just a bit scattered.<BR/><BR/>I think this post could have been MUCH better. Maybe I should have waited LOL.Julie Pipperthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03169574697104642479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-45516411392814196182007-08-17T20:51:00.000-05:002007-08-17T20:51:00.000-05:00In the overall sense, Gwen has said much of what I...In the overall sense, Gwen has said much of what I would have said. <BR/><BR/>As Joseph Campbell said, it is a way of pondering the imponderable. <BR/><BR/>I never see those movies. Honestly, I'm not much of a movie watcher with the exception of several favorites I've gathered over the years. Fantasy has never been a genre that appeals to me at all. <BR/><BR/>It's not likely depression, though.. that attracts people to that kind of thing. It's numbness. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Peace, <BR/><BR/>~Chani<BR/>http://thailandgal.blogspot.comthailandchanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171731740204067889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-28379134028287888052007-08-17T16:48:00.000-05:002007-08-17T16:48:00.000-05:00I'm with Slouching Mom. I have this half baked th...I'm with Slouching Mom. I have this half baked theory that violence--against women--is the new pornography. We throw our hands over our eyes in horror over nudity, sex and swearing and yet react much less puritanically to the new genre of torture horror flick.<BR/><BR/>I am curious about this Neil Gaiman now. Must add to reading list.Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526629366170486737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-3253361181848741572007-08-17T16:44:00.000-05:002007-08-17T16:44:00.000-05:00Interesting. Really interesting.I've always been ...Interesting. Really interesting.<BR/><BR/>I've always been fascinated by myth. By supernatural. But never out of a need to escape, but as a way to better understand myself. Humanity. Myths are little more than man's attempt to make sense of the chaos that is his world.<BR/><BR/>I LOVE Stardust. The book. I read it many a summer ago when I was in love with a man who was in love with me. We burned to ashes, but I still have the book. (With the drawing he did on the inside cover.)<BR/><BR/>And what Gwen said ...<BR/><BR/>"Have you seen Pan's Labyrinth? It kind of addresses what you're talking about: it exposes the need for magical thinking in a world of horror yet also admits its powerlessness to do anything about it. It's good shit, man."<BR/><BR/>Amen, sistah.kalirozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10413769558136831135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-49749676033712672472007-08-17T15:17:00.000-05:002007-08-17T15:17:00.000-05:00Something else too, I've noticed, is that the horr...Something else too, I've noticed, is that the horror/supernatural genre has gotten way more gruesome. Blood and guts everywhere.<BR/><BR/>I prefer movies that scare subtly.Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05602868040771218507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-37985088223754448162007-08-17T13:59:00.000-05:002007-08-17T13:59:00.000-05:00one more questions. . .does this relate, do you gu...one more questions. . .does this relate, do you guys think, to the current popularity of games like second life (which has a fantasy element) or other sci-fi computer games? D & D has been around fr a while, but there does seem to be a lot more fantasy games now a days.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04662448292809451387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-80311750536622703872007-08-17T13:48:00.000-05:002007-08-17T13:48:00.000-05:00Excellent theory. I've never really thought of it ...Excellent theory. I've never really thought of it outside of the terms of capitalism. If it makes money, do it. Right now, it definitely is making money. It does make sense in terms of escapism and diving into fictional problems to avoid the flesh and blood type.Kylahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03311014761113076785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-68497661185950190612007-08-17T13:12:00.000-05:002007-08-17T13:12:00.000-05:00gwenn--pan's labyrinth was great and a very well p...gwenn--pan's labyrinth was great and a very well put together movie about the subject.<BR/><BR/>I have definitely noticed this trend on tv over the last 10 years. Really it started with Buffy, i think. But now everything from Lost to The Ghost Whisperer is about the mysterious and the supernatural.<BR/><BR/>i think overall, though, i am biased on the subject because i have always been a fan of supernatural/horror/fantasy subjects for books, movie, and tv. this has been since i was a very young child. maybe that says a lot about my need for something bigger than myself. or maybe it just says nothing; only that i like to be scared or indulge in unusual mysteries, or like special effects. Not sure.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04662448292809451387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-57228470205972862012007-08-17T12:08:00.000-05:002007-08-17T12:08:00.000-05:00I think a lot of the supernatural stuff is wish fu...I think a lot of the supernatural stuff is wish fulfillment: we wish that we lived in a world where we could be certain that good really will triumph over evil, even though most empirical evidence suggests that the contrary is true. These movies also reinforce the idea that life after death exists, that there is a greater purpose to suffering: these are now, and have always been, throughout history, enormously comforting ideas. I also think the inundation of which you speak is creative laziness. <BR/><BR/>Have you seen Pan's Labyrinth? It kind of addresses what you're talking about: it exposes the need for magical thinking in a world of horror yet also admits its powerlessness to do anything about it. It's good shit, man.Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526629366170486737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-33464015714842463842007-08-17T12:05:00.000-05:002007-08-17T12:05:00.000-05:00Hmm, I'd never really thought about it, but it mak...Hmm, I'd never really thought about it, but it makes sense psychologically to seek out escapism during times of turmoil.Lawyer Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819273107327846943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-25271048691316364192007-08-17T12:03:00.000-05:002007-08-17T12:03:00.000-05:00This is a fascinating topic.. and I have some scat...This is a fascinating topic.. and I have some scattered thoughts. Will this post be up for the weekend? <BR/><BR/><BR/>Peace, <BR/><BR/>~Chani<BR/>http://thailandgal.blogspot.comthailandchanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171731740204067889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-83885817338743415972007-08-17T10:17:00.000-05:002007-08-17T10:17:00.000-05:00Oh Aliki, did you? YEAH find that post and get the...Oh Aliki, did you? YEAH find that post and get the link.<BR/><BR/>I'll add in a reference (but if it seems like I forgot it's just because I am leaving shortly).<BR/><BR/>What did you think about it as a tool for trying to reinforce affirmation of our ways and as an insight into others and their ways?<BR/><BR/>Okay okay I'll be patient and wait for the link LOL.<BR/><BR/>(And FTR, I'll feel like eight kinds of idiot if I read it, and replied to it!)Julie Pipperthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03169574697104642479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-60695038461349270742007-08-17T10:14:00.000-05:002007-08-17T10:14:00.000-05:00I wrote about this some time ago, mainly about TV ...I wrote about this some time ago, mainly about TV (Heroes, etc.) I'll try and find the post. I had the same thought--that post 9/11 life has created in us a desire for the supernatural, a desire to hide behind fantasy as a way to empower ourselves during a time when we feel particularly at risk, or vulnerable.Aliki2006https://www.blogger.com/profile/15763865834765963343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-14400433689507896992007-08-17T10:13:00.000-05:002007-08-17T10:13:00.000-05:00It might just be my usual channels suddenly all le...It might just be my usual channels suddenly all leaned into the sci fi/fantasy/supernatural direction but it feels like the lead.<BR/><BR/>Someone better than me at this moment will hopefully know stats...I don't. I admit it. I wish I could help because that's interesting, M-L.<BR/><BR/>Even if it isn't as lopsided as it seems to me, there is still a mainstream popular support of fantasy films about supernatural right now to the smash hit level. And I think that's significant. So I agree, Liv.<BR/><BR/>The mythology class sounds interesting too. Good point about portrayal.<BR/><BR/>Umm the movie. I thought it was good. I kept waiting to roll my eyes and be disappointed but I actually found myself invested in the story and characters. I admit my expectations were low, but I did enjoy it...felt it was time and money well-spent. That's pretty high praise from me these days as both are in short supply.<BR/><BR/>I didn't read the book, though. I'd be intrigued to hear something from someone who read and saw Stardust.<BR/><BR/>it's sunny and nice here...we're possibly going to a water park.Julie Pipperthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03169574697104642479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-74781218659546374562007-08-17T09:24:00.000-05:002007-08-17T09:24:00.000-05:00Other than the success of LOTR leading to the inun...Other than the success of LOTR leading to the inundation of similar movies, I'm not sure what else is leading the supernatural charge. Of course, as a lifelong sci-fi/fantasy fan, I'm probably a little disinclined to analyze the trend when it is currently trending towards my interests! ;)<BR/><BR/>I had a mythology class in college and while it didn't specifically address this question, it did touch on how society perceives myth. The professor's belief was that how a culture/society portrayed mythic stories was a clue into the nature of that society. For example, a society which might portray, in visual art or verse, Prometheus in a negative way might be a more authoritative one. (I'm not explaining it very well.) So, I think there is definitely something in the idea that psychologically, the wealth of supernatural movies/television shows/books might be reflecting something in our communal psyche right now.<BR/><BR/>I'd love to see some numbers on all this--what percentage of movies right now are sci-fi/fantasy themed. (I'm sure some production company has them)<BR/><BR/>********************<BR/><BR/>I just read Stardust earlier this summer not realizing it would be out soon as a movie. I liked the book but Neil Gaiman has an interesting writing style that I think would be hard to translate onto the screen. What did you think of the movie itself?<BR/><BR/>********************<BR/><BR/>What's the weather status?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270726693980247861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-60055403705256153812007-08-17T08:27:00.000-05:002007-08-17T08:27:00.000-05:00"we seek approval and reinforcement of our own way..."we seek approval and reinforcement of our own way of life."<BR/><BR/>yes, particularly when there is so much dissent, and a high level of background noise. <BR/><BR/>i am not a fantasy/supernatural/ sci-fi fan at any level, but i do recognize the genre for its help in finding a little escape time.Livhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09154719979114564561noreply@blogger.com