One of my favorite elements of storytelling is the combination of horror and beauty. It shows up in books, movies, and art. And I don’t know why, but it captivates me.
If you don’t follow what I’m talking about, here are some examples that have a hauntingly beautiful feel to me:
- The Virgin Suicides (movie)
- Follow Me to Ground (book)
- Spirited Away (movie)
- Pan’s Labyrinth (movie)
- Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (book or show)
- Lily and the Octopus (book)
- The Night Circus (book)
- Poems and Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
- Guernica (painting)
- Lego art by Nathan Sawaya
These are just some of the many examples of storytelling that for me have this distinctive element. I’ve been wondering lately… what makes these stories fit this description?
I think there is an element of sadness and/or tragedy that comes through in these works. And that sadness is combined with horror and/or violence in a way that leaves a lingering feeling of beauty.
What do you think? Maybe not everyone gets that same impression from these things, but I do. Not gonna lie, the hauntingly beautiful is one of those ideas that I am instantly drawn to.
Happy reading and writing today and every day!
Still Working on My Novel 