What I do know is when someone says something I've been trying to express in a much prettier way than I. Let me introduce you to David at Diary of an Arts Pastor, "A diary of ruminations and happenings of an arts pastor who never wanted to be a pastor and never thought he could be an artist."
He says in his Christianity Today article, "The horror story is not an escape from life, in all its wildness and terrible beauty; it is rather a way of walking through it, and as such a reminder that there is meaning, thanks be to God, in the middle of all the horror."
And on his blog, "The service that horror movies can provide is to rouse our deadened, hardened, consumer-addicted, self-indulgent hearts and force them to see, feel, taste, hear, and touch things that should cause us to be afraid, such as the consequences of our words and actions, our hubris and indifference, our dabbling with idolatry and our lusts for power, fame and money. In the face of the dark or unknown or future we should feel humility and a proper dependence upon God. In a sense we should fear, or revere, them as bigger than ourselves. But never should we fear them ultimately."
I'm thinking of approaching David for an interview. I love the way this guy expresses things that I can't. I know in my heart, but for some reason, it doesn't get from my heart out of my mouth with such grace. I can nod in agreement and continue the discussion, and I'm fine with that.
My hope is that I can add something to our culture with my participation in Coach's Midnight Diner. I want this to break the mold, shun the stereotype, and I want people to understand that when people like me, people who love Jesus--when we write horror it is not a disgrace to God but an offering.
4 comments:
Yeah, I love his blog and how he puts things and examines them. I feel like I learn something every time he posts.
Less horrible with a spiritual theme?
Isn't it more horrible because it's an eternal horror?
Well, I would think it would be more horrible because it's an eternal horror, but Christian publishing wants to label everything, tone it down and pretend the real horrors don't exist. At least that's my impression.
I've not seen a CBA released horror novel.
Michelle, I've often thought of "Christian Horror" as an extension of Rudolf Otto's mysterium tremendum, something "holy" or "wholly other" that disconcerts and disturbs to the point of fear or, at least, awe. It needn't be evil or wicked, as much as dreadfully otherwordly. I have the same hopes for CMD.
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