Ok, first I would like to comment on Clute: in agreement with most of you, I too, think that his 4-part model is pretty accurate/useful for most "fantastic" texts (I say most, because there is always that one that strays...). Again, I agree with some of you that have aforementioned that they found It's A Wonderful Life to be an odd example to use after a discussion on horror texts, but hey, I guess it worked Clute. Unfortunately, I'm now kind of scared I will look at the movie at a 4-part model of fantastic horror...
I think that this model is easiest to see in longer texts, like screenplays and novels, but I think it is also reflected in our short stories in sort of an expedited style. It is so very evident in The Haunting, but as I'm sure most of you haven't read it before now, I won't spoil it. Let's just say it's a nearly perfect example (remember that I called this out before anyone when we get to that discussion...) I also think that the easiest way to identify this model is through "the sighting." I'm glad there is a formal word for it, because in some of my notes I have used the phrase "foreshadowing? kinda?" when you see that first sign that this is going a horror way, not a feel-good fairy tale way.
And, to go ahead and get ya'll all geared up for my leading of a class discussion tomorrow, here's what I find to be most note-worthy about "The Yellow Wall Paper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman:
-the statement it makes about women being submissive: at the very beginning, we are not sure if she is "ill" or if her oppressive husband and brother are making her think she is
-"the sighting": the angles of the wall paper pattern "commit suicide" (it can be said that most of the metaphors used to describe the pattern are gruesome, morbid, etc.)
-the importance of the PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE. I would argue this is one necessary part of the horror/fantastic model that Clute left out. I think it is entirely critical to show psychological affects on the characters in order to make the story effective. Without the psychological collapse of our narrator, we would not consider this story "horrific;" it would merely be a story about really bad wall paper.
More in class, I could go on and on about this stuff, but I think it will be more fun to see what ya'll have to say :)
SEE YOU AT SPRING GET ON BOARD DAY!!!!!!!
3 comments:
Yep. This is a smart post :) Psychological state. Gahhh I wish I had thought of that first. It is HUGE in all horror texts/movies. And I agree that The Haunting fits the 4 part model. I'm almost done with it, but even so I can still tell that it all fits just right.
I really think that this story could be a horror story for men about women's repression. If you confine women to the home they're gonna go crazy. LOL!!
Wait... is "LOL" appropriate when posting about class material? hmmm... I'm not sure.
ANYWAYS I think Mrs. Gilman was trying to make a statement. John was very controlling not letting her sleep in the bedroom she wanted, that part really made me mad. He was way too controlling of her and she became part of the house. The ugly wallpaper can be representative of how she feels. She feels torn and old and ugly, because of the lack of appreciation he shows her. Plus I think she might be dealing with postpartum depression. There is a lot about their baby as well as babies and children in general involved. Also The author herself suffered from postpartum psychosis. She was also a feminist.
Gilman's short essay "Why I Wrote the Yellow Wallpaper" is here.
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