I have been listening to creepypastas while I sketch recently and to be honest, not always with the best timing. I tend to be one of those people who, whatever they watched, heard, or read become prominent in their dreams. Anyway, so I'm basically listening to scary stories while sketching before bed then I thought about something. Something that seems like it could or should make sense withing
most contexts of the scary stories.
Just to back up here, I don't care for much horror things. My main issue, is that many times the choice of the protagonist doesn't matter. This is usually to drive home the idea of the hopelessness of the situation, but in my mind it kind of kills the conflict and drama that the story had. The thing that I latch onto with horror stories (or I guess most stories) is the hope, and the struggle of the characters to make it out of their situation. If, however, the choice of the protagonist doesn't matter, then... does the struggle or drama matter? To me... it rarely feels as if it does.
Now many horror can be put into 2 categories based on protagonist relationship/environment:
1) Consequence
The category of consequence relates to most revenge horror films, where the protagonist was the one who wrongly started something. The protagonist may or may not know what they did wrong but by the end everyone knows. The protagonist may or may not also try to make amends for it in some way, unfortunately that doesn't guarantee that they will be living through the whole thing.
2) Invited/Trapped
This category is simple as the evil thing or murders, are the aggressors and the protagonist are their to survive. Sometimes the protagonist will be stalked and will have to face them head on in order to overcome.
I think that no matter what category, there should always be a way. Just as deep darkness makes even a dim bulb a beacon, so can the sun conjure the blackest of shadows.
Anyway, back to creepypastas and horror stories. I remember thinking that because the more negative feeling, the stronger the thing or horror gets, then what you would need for defense is a strong positive object. I feel like I'm not explaining it properly... but basically the scarey thing is powered by fear, hate, and deep-rooted emotional ties (at least for haunted things). Therefore to protect yourself, religious idols... okay, salt... ummm, not so much. No, how about a universal primal, instinctual object that has always protected you? How about a blanket?
Whenever I scare myself, I still pull the blanket over my head and I feel safe. One of the best, most comforting feelings is wrapping yourself in a blanket like a cocoon. From the cradle, the blanket is there, and I think that makes it one of the most powerful positive items ever made. Though... I understand why scary stories don't have a protagonist run around with a blanket cape, but with regard to negative and positive emotional ties as catalyst to horrors and protectors.
I was all over the map there...
