Showing posts with label contest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contest. Show all posts
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Friday, December 4, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009: And the Winner Is...
Well, here we are. The polls are closed, and the votes have been tallied. Along the way, I hope many of you have been able to discover a bunch of great blogs, by some very talented bloggers whom it has been my honor to shine a spotlight on for a couple of weeks. I want to thank each of the participants in the Ms. Horror Blogosphere contest, as well as all the readers who took the time to vote.
And now, it's my pleasure to announce the winner of Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009:
My congratulations go to BJ, for cultivating a fine blog that has grown such a strong following in under a year. The Ms. Horror Blogosphere award is in very good hands. As for her big prize, considering she's reviewed Hammer Glamour some months ago, I'm assuming she will be choosing The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks...
First Runner-Up:
Rhonny Reaper of Dollar Bin Horror
Second Runner-Up:
Tenebrous Kate of Love Train for the Tenebrous Empire
Third Runner-Up:
Alison Nastasi of Screamstress
Fourth Runner-Up:
Kitty LeClaw of Killer Kittens from Beyond the Grave
Once again, thanks to all the bloggers who agreed to participate in the contest. A round of cyber-applause for our other excellent participants:
And now, it's my pleasure to announce the winner of Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009:
My congratulations go to BJ, for cultivating a fine blog that has grown such a strong following in under a year. The Ms. Horror Blogosphere award is in very good hands. As for her big prize, considering she's reviewed Hammer Glamour some months ago, I'm assuming she will be choosing The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks...
Rhonny Reaper of Dollar Bin Horror
Tenebrous Kate of Love Train for the Tenebrous Empire
Alison Nastasi of Screamstress
Kitty LeClaw of Killer Kittens from Beyond the Grave
Once again, thanks to all the bloggers who agreed to participate in the contest. A round of cyber-applause for our other excellent participants:
- Aleata Illusion of GoreGoreDancer's Movie Reviews
- Andre Dumas of The Horror Digest
- B-Movie Becky of The Horror Effect
- Chris Hadden of Fascination with Fear
- The Divemistress of Zombots!
- Emily I. of The Deadly Doll's House of Horror Nonsense
- Heather Santrous of Mermaid Heather
- Jen of Zombies Are Magic!
- Maweanne of The Spooky Brew
- Monster Scholar of Monster Land
- Ms. Harker of Musings Across a Continuum
- Nicki Nix of Hey! Look Behind You!
- Nos of Confessions of a Gore Whore
- Sarah Jahier of Fatally Yours
- Tara Judah of Midnight Movie Review
- Wednesday's Child of In It for the Kills
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: An Explanation
Hey folks, B-Sol here with what I guess is an explanation of sorts, and one which I feel is important and necessary. Earlier today, The Vault of Horror's Ms. Horror Blogosphere competition was the subject of a very angry post by Heidi Martinuzzi of Pretty-Scary.net, which is basically the epicenter of the female online horror world. I was taken aback and saddened a bit by this, and thus the need to explain myself.
Firstly and most importantly, I wish to humbly offer my sincerest apologies to anyone who has taken offense at the contest or found it to be demeaning toward the contestants. Particularly the actual contestants, but also to readers in general, whether male or female--and also to those who declined participation, such as Bloofer Lady of the excellent blog Horror Crypt, a great writer who bowed out over some very valid concerns regarding this very issue.
In her post, "New Annoying and Unnecessary Women's Contest", Heidi described the competition as "a truly nauseating attempt at attention grabbing and women-judging." She goes on to write, among other things, that "despite being a contest amongst bloggers, who are writers and journalists, each entry requires a photo of the lady and a bio. Which begs the question - why aren't they just being judged on the quality of their blog and writing? Answer: because it is never too late to judge women based on their looks."
Again, I'm saddened that my idea could be construed in this way by anyone, and it's upsetting to think that this was the unwitting result on my part. This was the farthest from my intention--rather, my intention was to break up the boy's club that online horror writing can very often be, and to bring some attention to a very talented group women bloggers and the sites they run. Simply put, I was trying to give props to these women, not tear them down, and it's unfortunate that it would instead be taken in such a way. For this, once again, I apologize.
The bottom line is, that when it comes to online horror journalism from a female perspective, Pretty-Scary is basically the gold standard. And so to be judged so harshly from a source I so greatly respect, is quite a blow, I won't lie. To be honest, I very much considered inviting Heidi herself to participate in the competition, but decided against it since her site is on a completely different level, and quite beyond the concept of a "horror blogosphere" in my opinion. Heidi and Pretty-Scary, quite simply, are much bigger than my little contest.
I have tremendous admiration for Heidi and Pretty-Scary. Thus it's confusing to read, for example, on her Facebook page, when mentioning my contest: "While I hate promoting things I hate, I like to promote 'hate'"--when my own intention was never to promote any kind of hate at all, but rather to give attention and credit to talented female bloggers.
I feel the need to address some specific concerns here. Firstly, it seems that much has been made of some of the questions I chose to include in the interviews, specificially the "Bang, Marry, Kill" question and the "Whose baby would you most want to have" question. These kinds of questions were included to add a little levity, and prevent things from being taken a little too seriously. After all, the spirit of the competition is fun, first and foremost, and I wanted to lighten things up so as to avoid the whole thing getting too pretentious or heavy. After all, this is a blogger competition; we are not selecting a new Pope here.
Further, very similar counterpart questions would certainly have been included by me should the contest have been among male bloggers. In fact, I should point out that the winner of the contest has the option of hosting a Mr. Horror Blogosphere competition, and should she choose to do so, I encourage her to include those very questions.
Again, I apologize if such questions were construed as sexist. I was a bit worried at first that some might think this, and I fully respect that opinion. My intention was only light-hearted fun to take the piss out of the proceedings a bit, but I fully concede I may have been a bit naive in this regard.
Now let's talk about the whole "picture" issue. Yes, I asked participants to submit pictures of themselves to go with their interviews. Let me explain why. In putting this contest together, part of what I was trying to accomplish was to get each of these writers across as personalities, as people--quite literally, to put a face to the words. I did not ask the contestants to sex it up, or anything like that. All I did was ask for pictures they were comfortable using, and that's what I was sent. My intention was never to objectify these woman, and quite frankly it does them all a disservice to suggest that simply by their posting pictures of themselves with their entries, it suddenly becomes some kind of meat market.
More to this point, Heidi specifically calls out one of the contestants, Aleata Illusion, for suggesting that sexuality and aesthetics may possibly play a role in the perception of female bloggers more than male: "Aleata," she writes, "if you want anyone to take you seriously as a writer, it is a bad thing. If you want to be an Internet blog celebrity, which many people do, go right ahead. This will make it easier to separate the women from the girls when we get all that sorted out." The validity of Aleata's statement aside, I can't help but feel that there is more demeaning going on in this comment than anything going on in the actual contest. Again, I only wanted to build these writers up, not tear them down.
Does sexuality play a part here? Are aesthetics involved to one degree or another in the proceedings? I'd be a patronizing liar if I said no. Of course they are, to a certain degree. Although the contest is about the women as bloggers first and foremost, yes, some voters may be motivated partly by appearance, and yes, some participants, to varying degrees, took advantage of their feminine sexuality to help add to their advantage.
But isn't sexuality part of who are as human beings? And if women--or men--choose to play a bit with it, to have some fun with it, isn't that their prerogative? Especially within this crazy genre we all love so much, in which sexuality plays such an undeniable role (hence the double meaning of the name "Pretty-Scary" itself)? But alas, these are questions that feminism itself has been struggling with for generations, and I have no illusions of being able to settle them here.
While my apology is sincere for those who have taken offense, I do not find the Ms. Horror Blogosphere competition to be sexist or demeaning. Nor do I find Pretty-Scary.net's Scary Stud of the Year competition to be sexist or demeaning. It's all in good fun, and helps bring attention to some talented individuals in the field.
The Scary Studs concept spotlights a different man in horror every month or so. At the end of the year, one of the men is selected as the "Scary Stud of the Year". The participants come from all areas of horror, and although mainly focusing on those directly involved in the movie business, there are occasionally others like Shock Till You Drop writer Ryan "Rotten" Turek, the October 2008 Scary Stud.
Turek's entry comes with photos, including this one, accompanied by the caption, "It's all the heavy axe-wielding that gives his shoulders their excellent tone and musculature."
Of Ryan, Heidi writes, "He’s super sexy and knows a bunch of stuff about horror films... Ryan proves that with a 'can do' attitude, any horror reporter can make the women swoon!... Whether he’s hosting a panel at a Fangoria Convention... or hanging out at local Los Angeles hot spots... he does it being Tall, Dark, and Handsome. Check out our awesome new Mr. October: Ryan Rotten Turek, who graces our site with his awesomely studly and genuinely enjoyable presence."
Ryan is asked questions like, "What is your sexiest quality? Describe in detail..."; "What's your workout routine? I.E. How did you get such nice arms?"; "People often speculate on your hair care activities. How long does it take you to do your hair, and in detail, can you describe for us what you do and any product you may use?"; "Say something totally nondescript and diplomatic about other major horror websites... with an underlying tension about how you really think your site is better than everyone else’s"; "When female horror fans see you, would you say there is more of a 'weeping' effect, or a 'screaming' effect because of how much they love you?" and "What's the sexiest thing a woman has ever done for you?" At the conclusion, she encourages readers to "Give Ryan some sugar, baby" at Shock Till You Drop, or his MySpace page.
Again, it's all in good fun, and it helps give some exposure to a talented online horror writer. I do not take offense at this or any of the other entries for Scary Stud of the Year. I can only hope that the Mr. Horror Blogosphere competition, should it take place, will be anywhere near as cool.
In closing, I'd like to hear what you fine folks think of all this. Was this whole thing a colossal misstep on the part of ol' B-Sol? Are you getting a kick out of discovering a bunch of great horror blogs, or getting sickened to your stomach? I sincerely hope it's the former, as that was all it was intended to accomplish. Making it a contest only adds to the interest and draws even more potential readers to these sites, which was the idea all along. I hope it continues to happen, and again apologize for any offense caused.
Firstly and most importantly, I wish to humbly offer my sincerest apologies to anyone who has taken offense at the contest or found it to be demeaning toward the contestants. Particularly the actual contestants, but also to readers in general, whether male or female--and also to those who declined participation, such as Bloofer Lady of the excellent blog Horror Crypt, a great writer who bowed out over some very valid concerns regarding this very issue.
In her post, "New Annoying and Unnecessary Women's Contest", Heidi described the competition as "a truly nauseating attempt at attention grabbing and women-judging." She goes on to write, among other things, that "despite being a contest amongst bloggers, who are writers and journalists, each entry requires a photo of the lady and a bio. Which begs the question - why aren't they just being judged on the quality of their blog and writing? Answer: because it is never too late to judge women based on their looks."
Again, I'm saddened that my idea could be construed in this way by anyone, and it's upsetting to think that this was the unwitting result on my part. This was the farthest from my intention--rather, my intention was to break up the boy's club that online horror writing can very often be, and to bring some attention to a very talented group women bloggers and the sites they run. Simply put, I was trying to give props to these women, not tear them down, and it's unfortunate that it would instead be taken in such a way. For this, once again, I apologize.
The bottom line is, that when it comes to online horror journalism from a female perspective, Pretty-Scary is basically the gold standard. And so to be judged so harshly from a source I so greatly respect, is quite a blow, I won't lie. To be honest, I very much considered inviting Heidi herself to participate in the competition, but decided against it since her site is on a completely different level, and quite beyond the concept of a "horror blogosphere" in my opinion. Heidi and Pretty-Scary, quite simply, are much bigger than my little contest.
I have tremendous admiration for Heidi and Pretty-Scary. Thus it's confusing to read, for example, on her Facebook page, when mentioning my contest: "While I hate promoting things I hate, I like to promote 'hate'"--when my own intention was never to promote any kind of hate at all, but rather to give attention and credit to talented female bloggers.
I feel the need to address some specific concerns here. Firstly, it seems that much has been made of some of the questions I chose to include in the interviews, specificially the "Bang, Marry, Kill" question and the "Whose baby would you most want to have" question. These kinds of questions were included to add a little levity, and prevent things from being taken a little too seriously. After all, the spirit of the competition is fun, first and foremost, and I wanted to lighten things up so as to avoid the whole thing getting too pretentious or heavy. After all, this is a blogger competition; we are not selecting a new Pope here.
Further, very similar counterpart questions would certainly have been included by me should the contest have been among male bloggers. In fact, I should point out that the winner of the contest has the option of hosting a Mr. Horror Blogosphere competition, and should she choose to do so, I encourage her to include those very questions.
Again, I apologize if such questions were construed as sexist. I was a bit worried at first that some might think this, and I fully respect that opinion. My intention was only light-hearted fun to take the piss out of the proceedings a bit, but I fully concede I may have been a bit naive in this regard.
Now let's talk about the whole "picture" issue. Yes, I asked participants to submit pictures of themselves to go with their interviews. Let me explain why. In putting this contest together, part of what I was trying to accomplish was to get each of these writers across as personalities, as people--quite literally, to put a face to the words. I did not ask the contestants to sex it up, or anything like that. All I did was ask for pictures they were comfortable using, and that's what I was sent. My intention was never to objectify these woman, and quite frankly it does them all a disservice to suggest that simply by their posting pictures of themselves with their entries, it suddenly becomes some kind of meat market.
More to this point, Heidi specifically calls out one of the contestants, Aleata Illusion, for suggesting that sexuality and aesthetics may possibly play a role in the perception of female bloggers more than male: "Aleata," she writes, "if you want anyone to take you seriously as a writer, it is a bad thing. If you want to be an Internet blog celebrity, which many people do, go right ahead. This will make it easier to separate the women from the girls when we get all that sorted out." The validity of Aleata's statement aside, I can't help but feel that there is more demeaning going on in this comment than anything going on in the actual contest. Again, I only wanted to build these writers up, not tear them down.
Does sexuality play a part here? Are aesthetics involved to one degree or another in the proceedings? I'd be a patronizing liar if I said no. Of course they are, to a certain degree. Although the contest is about the women as bloggers first and foremost, yes, some voters may be motivated partly by appearance, and yes, some participants, to varying degrees, took advantage of their feminine sexuality to help add to their advantage.
But isn't sexuality part of who are as human beings? And if women--or men--choose to play a bit with it, to have some fun with it, isn't that their prerogative? Especially within this crazy genre we all love so much, in which sexuality plays such an undeniable role (hence the double meaning of the name "Pretty-Scary" itself)? But alas, these are questions that feminism itself has been struggling with for generations, and I have no illusions of being able to settle them here.
While my apology is sincere for those who have taken offense, I do not find the Ms. Horror Blogosphere competition to be sexist or demeaning. Nor do I find Pretty-Scary.net's Scary Stud of the Year competition to be sexist or demeaning. It's all in good fun, and helps bring attention to some talented individuals in the field.
The Scary Studs concept spotlights a different man in horror every month or so. At the end of the year, one of the men is selected as the "Scary Stud of the Year". The participants come from all areas of horror, and although mainly focusing on those directly involved in the movie business, there are occasionally others like Shock Till You Drop writer Ryan "Rotten" Turek, the October 2008 Scary Stud.
Of Ryan, Heidi writes, "He’s super sexy and knows a bunch of stuff about horror films... Ryan proves that with a 'can do' attitude, any horror reporter can make the women swoon!... Whether he’s hosting a panel at a Fangoria Convention... or hanging out at local Los Angeles hot spots... he does it being Tall, Dark, and Handsome. Check out our awesome new Mr. October: Ryan Rotten Turek, who graces our site with his awesomely studly and genuinely enjoyable presence."
Ryan is asked questions like, "What is your sexiest quality? Describe in detail..."; "What's your workout routine? I.E. How did you get such nice arms?"; "People often speculate on your hair care activities. How long does it take you to do your hair, and in detail, can you describe for us what you do and any product you may use?"; "Say something totally nondescript and diplomatic about other major horror websites... with an underlying tension about how you really think your site is better than everyone else’s"; "When female horror fans see you, would you say there is more of a 'weeping' effect, or a 'screaming' effect because of how much they love you?" and "What's the sexiest thing a woman has ever done for you?" At the conclusion, she encourages readers to "Give Ryan some sugar, baby" at Shock Till You Drop, or his MySpace page.
Again, it's all in good fun, and it helps give some exposure to a talented online horror writer. I do not take offense at this or any of the other entries for Scary Stud of the Year. I can only hope that the Mr. Horror Blogosphere competition, should it take place, will be anywhere near as cool.
In closing, I'd like to hear what you fine folks think of all this. Was this whole thing a colossal misstep on the part of ol' B-Sol? Are you getting a kick out of discovering a bunch of great horror blogs, or getting sickened to your stomach? I sincerely hope it's the former, as that was all it was intended to accomplish. Making it a contest only adds to the interest and draws even more potential readers to these sites, which was the idea all along. I hope it continues to happen, and again apologize for any offense caused.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009: Let the Voting Begin!!
After weeks of spotlighting the candidates, the time is finally here. Voting is now officially open for Ms. Horror Blogosphere! Please find the ballot containing all the nominees at the very top of the right-hand sidebar.
The voting period will be ten days, ending on Friday, December 4. Voters are limited to one vote apiece. The top five vote-getters will then advance to the next level of the contest. A new vote will then be held, lasting five days, after which the official winner of Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009 will be announced.
For anyone who may be interested in directing voters to the poll from their own site, feel free to grab the official voting banner above the poll, and link it to The Vault of Horror (http://thevaultofhorror.net).
Also, I have an extra added incentive to announce. The winner of the contest not only gets bragging rights and the right to display the nifty Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009 on her site--she will also get to choose an honest-to-goodnes prize. It will be her choice between the excellent coffee-table book Hammer Glamour, or the Max Brooks graphic novel The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks.
Thanks again to all our very talented entrants, as well as to all you voters out there. Once again, here are the links to each of the nominated blogs are below. You can find the spotlight interview for each of the nominated bloggers by scrolling down to previous Vault posts...
The voting period will be ten days, ending on Friday, December 4. Voters are limited to one vote apiece. The top five vote-getters will then advance to the next level of the contest. A new vote will then be held, lasting five days, after which the official winner of Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009 will be announced.
For anyone who may be interested in directing voters to the poll from their own site, feel free to grab the official voting banner above the poll, and link it to The Vault of Horror (http://thevaultofhorror.net).
Also, I have an extra added incentive to announce. The winner of the contest not only gets bragging rights and the right to display the nifty Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009 on her site--she will also get to choose an honest-to-goodnes prize. It will be her choice between the excellent coffee-table book Hammer Glamour, or the Max Brooks graphic novel The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks.
Thanks again to all our very talented entrants, as well as to all you voters out there. Once again, here are the links to each of the nominated blogs are below. You can find the spotlight interview for each of the nominated bloggers by scrolling down to previous Vault posts...
- Aleata Illusion: GoreGoreDancer's Movie Reviews
- Alison Nastasi: The Screamstress
- Andre Dumas: The Horror Digest
- B-Movie Becky: The Horror Effect
- BJ-C: Day of the Woman
- Chris Hadden: Fascination with Fear
- The Divemistress: Zombots!
- Emily I.: The Deadly Doll's House of Horror Nonsense
- Heather Santrous: Mermaid Heather
- Jennifer Golden: Zombies Are Magic!
- Kitty LeClaw: Killer Kittens from Beyond the Grave
- Maweanne: The Spooky Brew
- Monster Scholar: Monster Land
- Ms. Harker: Musings Across a Continuum
- Nicki Nix: Hey! Look Behind You!
- Nos: Confessions of a Gore Whore
- Rhonny Reaper: Dollar Bin Horror
- Sarah Jahier: Fatally Yours
- Tara Judah: Midnight Movie Review
- Tenebrous Kate: Love Train for the Tenebrous Empire
- Wednesday's Child: In It for the Kills
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #21
Blog: Zombies Are Magic!
I'm a mild-mannered working girl (not that kind) from Palo Alto, California. I have loved horror since I was a little girl. My parents were horror fans, and I would throw a fit if they didn't let me watch whatever nasty VHS they had brought home for the weekend. I grew up on Hellraiser, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, and any zombie film my parents could get their hands on. Being a class-A scaredy cat I also had numerous dreams about these monsters I grew up with, especially Romero's Zombies (hence the name of my blog: Zombies are Magic--because they are). Two discoveries let my inner horror geek blossom as an adult: Universal Monster Movies and the work of H.P. Lovecraft. Since then, I have started to embrace the monsters that once (and still do) haunt my dreams. When I grow up I want to be a horror writer, but for now I am content writing reviews for films like Cannibal Holocaust.
My husband is very supportive, even though he doesn't care for horror himself. Others are more surprised than freaked out, probably because I look like a librarian.
Why is it that there seems to be more female horror fans than ever before? Are more women watching horror, or are more women admitting to watching horror?
Women have always loved horror, but now that more of us are "out of the closet" so to speak, we are letting our horror freak flags fly. Horror lets people experience emotions that we normally wouldn't. It's exciting, and for me that is the appeal.
How would you best describe your blog?
Profanity-laden.
Only if you insist it be. I think it would be hard to tell if my blog was written by a man or woman if it wasn't for the cat pictures or constant apologies to my husband.
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be? Not including Bruce Campbell/Ash…
David Cronenberg, Clive Barker, Sam Raimi, Joe Hill, Neil Gaiman, Dr. Frankenstein as played by Colin Clive... Obviously I have never thought about this before....
Why do all of you like Campbell so much, anyway?
Pretty simple. It's the chin.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #20
Blog: Killer Kittens from Beyond the Grave
"A cat as black as blackest coal is out upon her midnight stroll. Her steps are soft, her walk is slow, her eyes are gold, they flash and glow. And so I run, and so I duck. I do not need her black-cat luck."
KKFBTG is a sexy scream dream of horror hotness, chock-full of tasteful T&A and gore, movies, comics, poetry and more... a juicy blog for anyone possessing a serious taste for all things pussy gato.
What initially drew you to the horror genre?
I love the feeling of being scared. The rush of adrenaline, the pounding of the heart, the quickening of the breath--all of these are sensations which I have a profound level of appreciation for. I have never been particularly sporty, so I guess I need to get the blood pumping, somehow! I've always loved watching scary movies, and devoured books on the paranormal when I probably should have been reading Nancy Drew novels. It came as a complete surprise to me that not everyone shared my affinity for the things that go "bump!" in the night. I always took great pride in being the sort of kid who could outlast all her friends in a late-night horror movie marathon.
Are significant others generally freaked out or psyched by your horror proclivities?
I tend to discriminate against people (significant others included) who aren't into horror, thus robbing them of the opportunity to discriminate against me because I am!
I guess you could say that I'm very "out" about my interests in the spooky stuff. My apartment is nowhere near child safe. It's not even parent safe! Oh, all the unholy things my poor, Catholic parents have to see when they come for a visit! I have found that it's not just my Mom and Dad who are a little freaked out by my horror sensibilities, but the general public, as well. The Repair Guy always has to make a rude comment before fixing the furnace...
As a rule, I don't think that guys really like it when a girl is scarier than they are. Draw your own conclusions.
I love writing, and I love horror, so joining the "Blogosfear" was a good, natural fit for me. It's definitely a step up from the horror/mystery novel I wrote out in longhand when I was 12! I churned out notebook after notebook of a scary story that I pretty much made up as I went along. A group of my friends were reading it as I wrote, so it was really great to get feedback while still in the writing/development process. In that respect, blogging is very similar. It's the readership and feedback that bloggers crave. Otherwise, we'd all just keep our own, private diaries.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
In terms of me becoming a depraved gore junkie, I have to give my parents full credit. Having no idea what they were getting themselves into, they fostered my love of horror from an early age. I vividly recall watching the movie CARRIE with my Mother, who thought it was strange that the jolting final scene didn't send me sobbing into her bosom. Over the next couple of weeks, she brought home all sorts of harrowing titles, in the hopes of achieving a "normal" reaction from her young daughter. By the time we watched THE EXORCIST, it was too late to turn back. I was hooked on horror.
(For the record, The Exorcist scared the living daylights out of me. I slept with a crucifix under my pillow for weeks, and couldn't look up at a second storey window without feeling like I was going to puke.)
My blog's subheading is: "A kitten's perspective on horror in film, music, art and literature," and I think my blog provides precisely that--my perspective (meow!) Admittedly, I'm not keen enough to be hip to what's happening in horror headlines most of the time. For the most part, I think my blog is like an esoteric ride down a slightly more demonic version of Willy Wonka's chocolate river. I rarely plan posts in advance. I write 'em up as I watch 'em, and I call 'em as I see 'em.
I apologize to the English language for the final sentence of the above paragraph.
Bang, Marry or Kill: Freddy, Jason, Michael. Please explain your answer.
I'm only answering this question because it's a bona fide FREDDY VS. JASON-style trivia question! I'd bang Freddy, because viciously tormenting people through their dreams is HOT. I'd marry Jason, because, of the three of them, I think he has the softest heart. I would kill Michael Myers, because it's been a really long time since someone made a good HALLOWEEN movie, and it's a shame, because it was once a proud continuing saga.
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #19
Blog: Monster Land
I’m an aspiring Ph.D. student in English with a penchant for monsters and horror films. I wanted to be Anne Baxter as Nefertiri in the Ten Commandments when I grew up, but when that didn’t work out I turned to studying literature. I teach composition to college freshmen, and in my spare time I watch horror movies, blog, lurk and write seminar papers.
I’ve always been drawn to monsters ever since I was little and Where the Wild Things Are was one of my favorite books as a child. I began identifying with monsters in high school when the rigor of social pressure made me feel like an outcast. It wasn’t until later that I realized monsters are powerful in their difference. No one can stop Frankenstein, and the Phantom of the Opera will have his revenge. Monsters and horror helped me to see my own difference as a strength, and it’s something that has empowered me ever since.
Are significant others generally freaked out or psyched by your horror proclivities?
I am blessed with a husband who gets me and supports my fanaticism for the genre. After we started dating, he took a class with me on monsters in literature, which earned him brownie points from the beginning. We have an agreement: If he watches horror movies with me, I’ll watch kung fu movies with him.
I was doing research for a bibliography paper on Frankenstein when I stumbled across Pierre Fournier’s blog Frankensteinia. Before then, I thought blogs were for lonely people who wanted to update the world on what their cat had coughed up that morning. It wasn’t until I saw Frankensteinia that I realized a blog could be a medium for something more serious than the vagaries of day-to-day human existence. I blog about horror because it forces me to watch horror films and have an opinion about them. Also, there are few horror blogs that look at the genre from a critical and/or academic standpoint. Some that come to mind are I Love Horror, The Gore Gore Girl and the Tomb of the Headless Werewolf. I saw a niche where I could contribute my own point of view, and jumped at the chance.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My best friend Stacy. We met when I was a senior in high school and she was in college during a production of Major Barbara. We were backstage and she was reading a copy of Poppy Z. Brite’s Lost Souls. The director of the play took an interest, and asked to see what she was reading. Stacy handed over the book, calm as anything, at a time when I was ashamed to be seen reading Laurell K. Hamilton in public. The director was promptly horrified at the detailed description of some guy’s throat being torn out, to which Stacy replied nonchalantly “Yeah, they’re vampires. It’s what they do.” She was so fearless, and that inspired me to be out in the open about my love of monsters.
How would you best describe your blog?
My blog is a critical examination of monsters with a feminist slant. I am by no means a feminazi, but I can’t ignore how being a woman affects my reading of horror texts. I’m primarily interested in how monsters function as an expression of society’s fears. Horror is a unique genre, because it embodies a return of what is consciously repressed in mainstream culture, from the sci-fi horror films of the 1950’s that represent fears of communism during the Red Scare, to the horrors of Vietnam represented in the monstrous family of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Bang, Marry or Kill: Freddy, Jason, Michael. Please explain your answer.
I would have to marry Freddy because he has the most personality of the bunch. I appreciate his flair for the theatrical, and I could see myself having long conversations with him about Freud and the meaning of dreams. I would kill Jason because he’s been brought back from the dead one too many times and he has mommy issues. That leaves Michael. He’s the strong silent type, and I think I could help him overcome his psycho-sexual issues with a little sexual healing.
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #18
Blog: Midnight Movie Reviews
I'm a film librarian at 20th Century Flicks in Bristol, UK and also a columnist (known as Videodrone) for DVD Snapshot, as well as a reviewer for The 405. I holds a BA in English Literature & Language with Film Studies, and a Masters degree in Contemporary Cinema Cultures (both from King's College London). Prior to entering the world of academia, I tried my hand at acting and have appeared in a small number of shorts, features and television.- Photo (c) Kelly Humphries -
What initially drew you to the horror genre? Though this may sound strange, it probably begins with gangster films. As a child I wasn't allowed to watch horror films and, as a direct result of my parents' paranoia, was too scared to watch them with my friends at sleepover parties. But as my love for film grew, I developed a small passion for American gangster films. After a while I decided that if I could enjoy watching that level of violence in the gangster genre without compromising my ability to disavow, then horror really couldn't be all too different.
Are significant others generally freaked out or psyched by your horror proclivities? No, I don't think so. I'm of the opinion that viewing is an active cognitive process, and as my significant other knows, it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm personally interested in acting out any of the things I take pleasure in watching.
I don't actually think that it's specific to women. I think the overarching change is that the horror genre is enjoying a revival right now. Horror has a strange and complex history, and there have certainly been times when horror fit into a cult cinema category. But as the mainstream broadens its conditions and envelops much of what once was cult, people feel more at ease in enjoying, or perhaps just admitting to enjoying, what it has to offer. Similarly, as genres change and adapt to their audiences over time, crossing into genre hybridity, as we see with the emergence of many horror/comedies, horror/thrillers, horror/dramas and so on, it is only natural that horror would enjoy a wider and more popular reception--though I do think this is relevant to both male and female viewers.
What made you decide to blog? I was so enraged when I saw Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire at the cinema earlier this year that I felt the need to write it down. I had a lot of time on my hands, so I thought I might as well start up a blog and see what happened with it.
How does it feel to be a female horror blogger in a world where it seems necessary to have a beard to write about horror movies? Do you find that you’re not taken as seriously? I have no interest in writing for people who are concerned about my gender, or any other personal identity politics, for that matter. Assessment of written material should always be based on that which is written first and foremost, so if people don't take me seriously because of my genitals or lack of facial hair, then I can't say I'd be interested in how they might respond to my work anyway.
Is image more important for female horror bloggers than male? If so, why? I don't think image is at all an important factor in blogging, though I imagine a great deal of other people do. Personally, I think the content is what matters.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #17
Blog: Musings Across a Continuum
Who is Ms Harker? By day a professional bleeding heart, by night (and lets face it, that's the only time that counts) a blooming blogger and horror enthusiast. How did this come to be? I have my Dad to thank for my macabre leanings. We used to sit up at night and watch Twin Peaks together. He indulged my love for all things Palmer, buying me Laura's diary and the soundtrack. We had running jokes about the owls not being what they seem! He convinced me one night--I think I was about fourteen--to stay up with him to watch the Exorcist. And although I barely slept for a week afterwards, I had caught the horror bug. From there, I devoured the Anne Rice books and sought out vampires and ghosts where I could find them. However, I do have a particular weakness for Asian horror, and of course those of the fanged persuasion, as long as they don't god damn sparkle in the sunlight!
It was a combination of David Lynch and Anne Rice. I was fascinated by Lynch's ability to highlight the obscurity of daily life but also explore the darkness and sensuality of the 'other' and of evil. Anne Rice's novels introduced me to the more gothic, supernatural side of horror. Although not as hardcore as, say, your Stephen Kings and Clive Barkers of the literary genre, the lure of the supernatural and the dynamics of Rice's characters and their covens are responsible for my being the fangbanger I am today!
Why is it that there seems to be more female horror fans than ever before? Are more women watching horror, or are more women admitting to watching horror?
Interesting question. I could get all hairy legged feminist on you (by the way, I wax regularly) and say that women are increasingly doing a lot of things that are not typically seen as 'female' roles due to breaking through a variety of glass ceilings, shredding our heads in the process and emerging in bloody glory, pieces of skull showing, shaking off the penile oppression we have suffered for years. But I won't. I have many female friends who have enjoyed horror from an early age and still do. Perhaps it's a generational thing. Maybe its the phenomenon of blogging that has allowed women to have a voice on what has typically been a male domain. You have to admit that production companies are onto it--things like Twilight (disgustingly), The Vampire Diaries and True Blood are not pitched at the fellas!
If we are talking graphic novels, it would have to be fellow Aussie Ben Templesmith. If we are talking writing, I still have a huge respect for Anne Rice despite her going into the light, shall we say. However, the obvious legend of all things fanged is Bram Stoker's Dracula, of which I have one normal copy and one illustrated by the aforementioned Ben Templesmith! With films, it's a tie between David Lynch and Tim Burton. All have created images and worlds of darkness, of the obscure or the supernatural; all in ways that have influenced what I read, watch and even how I write.
How would you best describe your blog?
My blog looks at whatever tickles my fancy or has me reaching for my smelling salts in the horror genre. It has at times a little bit of sass, a little bit of raunch, and sometimes it bites. Its a horror blog with a little bit of slap and tickle!
Is image more important for female horror bloggers than male? If so, why?
Is image more important for female horror bloggers than male? If so, why?
I think it is. However, if you don't have the content, the horror knowledge and a well rounded argument to back up that ample bosom (placed in a tightly strung corset), then no matter how good your rack is, I don't think the horror community will pay attention for long. Sex and horror have always been intertwined, so I don't feel any need to justify the use of feminine wiles or sensuality, and would welcome those bloggers of the male gender to do the same, as long as it's done tastefully and with class. Maybe trim the beard though... a little man-scaping never hurt anyone did it?
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be?
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be?
See, now this is a conundrum. I think there are two figures I would be caught between, or would like to be caught between--Johnny Depp and Eric Northman.
Even writing that, I need to take a minute!
However, I don't really want a half-ling baby, so it would have to be Johnny Depp. Handsome, suave and a bit of a kook, what's not to like?
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #16
Blog: Mermaid Heather
I'm 22 and fresh out of college. Ever since I took a chemistry class in high school, and discovered I was good at it, I have wanted to use it in forensic science. I don't know if this is an extension of my love for horror movies or not. I do watch some films from this view point at times. Six months out of college, I have managed to find a job in a forensics lab at last. This has made me cut back on my blog some, but I am sure I will find the time again once I get into the swing of things. I have always been big into swimming--I know that "mermaid" is a cheesy nickname, but I have been called that for a long time now. It is often said I am the happiest when in the water, so I'm told I should have been a mermaid in life.
I can blame my dad. When I was little, I was too afraid to watch scary movies. I would try sometimes, but always chicken out at some point in the movie. I remember trying to watch The Shining on TV one day, but every time I thought something scary was about to happen, I would leave the room. Then one day, I think when I was around the age of 10, my dad wanted to watch a movie with me. He would not tell me anything about the movie, except that it was called Halloween. From the title alone, I had a feeling it was going to be scary, but I went with my dad to watch it anyway. I managed to sit through the whole movie for once, and we had a talk about it after that. Even though I would still get scared by horror movies, I was no longer afraid to watch them.
Why is it that there seems to be more female horror fans than ever before? Are more women watching horror, or are more women admitting to watching horror?
I think we have always been out there, but we are starting to let guys know that they aren't the only ones that like the genre. That being said, I have never heard a guy refuse to watch a horror movie. I still run across some women that will say they can't watch horror movies because they gives them nightmares. So there is still something of a gap there.
My blog actually started as a class project. In my freshman year of college, we were told to make a blog and write about anything we wanted. The purpose was to see how well we could write. I made "mermaid heather" right away, thinking that I would be writing about swimming. Swimming has always been my first love, so seemed like the best thing to write about. After I made the blog though, I got to thinking about it. I decided that writing about swimming would be rather boring. I had been reading the "Final Girl" blog before this, and I thought that horror was something that I loved as well. I figured I would try my hand at it, which didn't start off so well, and see where it took me. I have been doing it ever since, heading into five years now.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
I don't aspire to become an actress or anything like that, but if I had to pick one to look up to, I would have to choose Christina Ricci. She is just an awesome actress no matter which genre she is in. I think Stacie, the woman behind "Final Girl", has inspired a lot of us, including myself.
Bang, Marry or Kill: Freddy, Jason, Michael. Please explain your answer.
Such an odd question. I think I would have to kill Freddy. He'd rather be in my dreams, so rather hard to have a sex life. I would have to kill Jason as well--he never sticks around except to kill. It also depends on which Jason, too. If we are talking the zombie Jason, then eww. Michael, on the other hand, will sometimes stand around being the silent type. I like that in a guy sometimes. The mask gives him an air of mystery, also. Mystery can be a lot of fun, so I can see myself wanting to marry him.
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be?
This is an easy question for me. I usually talk more about the women in the films I watch, instead of the guys. But there has been one guy though that really stands out to me, Shane Brolly. Shane plays Kraven in the Underworld films. I have thought of other actors as sexy before, but I have to say that Shane is the only one I would sleep with at the drop of a hat. He is just so sexy.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #15
Blog: Fatally Yours
Sarah took the horror world by storm back in 2005, when she debuted Fatally-Yours.com. It is now the go-to site for all things horror, covering everything from independent to mainstream horror films; from music and books to horror products and clothing companies, as well as featuring interviews with the big names and up-and-comers in horror.
Sarah prides herself on giving honest reviews for the genre she so loves. Everything is done “for the love of horror” (the motto and tagline of Fatally-Yours.com) and in an effort to truly represent all the great (and not-so-great) horror that is out there!
Sarah is also proud to represent a growing number of women who have taken up horror’s banner, and isn’t afraid to fight for the genre she is so obsessed about!
Most people find it very unique and interesting, but I’ve definitely had my fair share of “you do what?!” conversations. I just have to explain to them that watching horror is such a cathartic experience where fear is felt in a safe environment, much like a rollercoaster. Through a controlled environment, you can get an adrenaline rush and run a gamut of emotions, but still know you are safe! My significant other has been very supportive of me and loves that I love horror and can school him any day!
Why is it that there seems to be more female horror fans than ever before? Are more women watching horror, or are more women admitting to watching horror?
Interesting question, but I think there have always been a large number of women who love horror, I just don’t think they were really given any attention by movie studios or the media in general. And now, of course, women have the ability to share their love of the genre online. I’ve seen such a wonderful increase in women writers writing about the genre we all love, which I think is just amazing!
All the women horror bloggers that came before me, especially Heidi Martinuzzi of Pretty-Scary.net. She really emphasized that women in horror have been overlooked for a long time, and her site is all about showcasing the women in the genre. She is an amazing woman, and gave me an opportunity to write for Pretty-Scary, which gave me a lot of experience for running and writing for Fatally-Yours.
Is image more important for female horror bloggers than male? If so, why?
In a perfect world, a woman’s writing would speak for itself and image wouldn’t matter, but unfortunately, in our world, sex still sells. The image of female journalists matter to a certain extent, because it seems like the majority of horror fans are still male. But I suppose it all boils down to how a particular female writer wants to be viewed.
As for myself, I didn’t start Fatally-Yours with the intention to get famous, I just wanted an outlet where I could write about my passion, the horror genre. So I don’t place a big emphasis on image. Other writers place a large deal of emphasis on their image, but I think it all comes down to the writing and if it’s any good. If it’s good, people will keep coming back no matter your image! If it’s bad… well, then you won’t get much credibility. I definitely think your writing should come way ahead of your image.
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be? Not including Bruce Campbell/Ash...
This is a tricky subject, because I definitely don’t want kids… the whole body horror of Cronenberg’s The Brood and Paul Solet’s Grace definitely scared me off of being a mommy! But hypothetically, if I HAD to choose someone, I would probably pick Leslie Vernon from Behind the Mask. It’s a recent pick, but think about it – he’s charming, smart, handsome, young, in shape and extremely intelligent. Of course, he’d always be out there going after virgins, but at least my baby would have good genes!
Why do all of you like Campbell so much, anyway?
Do you have to ask? It’s all because of his boomstick, of course!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #14
Blog: The Spooky Brew
I grew up in the small town of Milford, Connecticut. I went to school in Florida for film. This is where I worked at Halloween Horror Nights doing costuming. When I was 21, I moved out to California, where I now live under the stairs in a special makeup effects studio where I work sometimes. I live with Tom Devlin and Lola Wallace of 1313FX and Plan 10 pictures. I feel right at home. Occasionally, I help out at the Troma Entertainment table at conventions.
What initially drew you to the horror genre?
When my mom used to play Zombies Ate my Neighbors on my SNES. She would play it for hours on end. The music would haunt my dreams, which eventually led to me having some horrible zombie dreams. So I guess I can blame my mom for my obsession with the horror genre.
Honestly, if they were freaked out by horror movies I wouldn’t date them. I try to stay away from guys that don’t like horror in genre. I’ve never really met anyone who was freaked out. Most of the time guys are excited about my horror obsession.
Why is it that there seems to be more female horror fans than ever before? Are more women watching horror, or are more women admitting to watching horror?
I have met a few people that are surprised I love horror movies. I guess I have always been around girls that like horror things. I haven’t noticed an increase in female horror fans. I don’t really think about it.
Being an unemployed poor college graduate in California started it all. I remember watching really crappy horror movies out there and wanting to review them. The reason I made The Spooky Brew was to put out my opinion about certain things, and to also put out some useful news in the horror genre.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspirations come from the people in my life right now. My roommates give me a ton of inspiration. I was about to move out of California months ago because I had nowhere to live, and they gave me a home. I love talking about horror movies with them, and different ideas. They share the same passions I have. I’ve never felt so at home somewhere.
Is image more important for female horror bloggers than male? If so, why?
Image shouldn’t matter, but I feel like it is more important. Men are visual creatures.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #12
Blog: In It for the Kills
Wednesday's Child thought as a kid that because all the authors whose books she loved included a bio with a long list of random interesting jobs, that it was the random funky jobs that made them good writers. So she decided she wanted to be a writer when she grew up; this event is projected to occur in 2011. Her top five horror movies are The Shining, The Changeling, A Tale of Two Sisters, Poltergeist and Let Sleeping Corpses Lie. She is somewhat disappointed that her only child does not like horror movies, but finds comfort in his ability to make up scary stories.
It would have to be the books on ghosts that were all up in my elementary school library. By age six, I was looking at pics of the Brown Lady and reading about Borley Rectory. I got addicted to the jolt of scaring the hell out of myself! Considering I live in a town where it is devil worshiping to celebrate Halloween, I don't know why those books were there. Incidentally, I worked in a library in that school district in 2001 and the books were still there.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
David Sedaris. He reminds me that it is possible to make a career out of writing essays about your own life and your wacky family members without drifting off to Lewis Grizzard Land.
We're allowed by society to feel aggression and anger now more than previous generations of women, and allowed to be nerds. So it follows that we would learn to use watching horror as an outlet for those feelings of aggression, and that we would get more and more into subjects like horror that have a community of smart people attached.
How does it feel to be a female horror blogger in a world where it seems necessary to have a beard to write about horror movies? Do you find that you’re not taken as seriously?
I don't get any hate mail, does that mean they're pulling the punches cause I'm a girl? Seriously, I would like there to be more back and forth in my comments. I've noticed that my commenters are all super nice, which is like bizarro world for an online writer.
Is image more important for female horror bloggers than male? If so, why?
I'm not sure. The person I consider to be the most successful female horror blogger has what looks like a picture of a well-known actress on her blog and no picture of herself. So maybe it's not that important. Nobody cares what female authors of actual paper books look like. On the other hand, looking at all the young ladies you've featured so far, I'm sorry I don't do any cosplay. I could send you a picture where my head is photoshopped onto Prince's body during his purple phase, but that's the best I can do.
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be?
Glad you asked. I've been telling people for ten years I wanted to have a baby by "Joe Bob Briggs," so maybe now I'm getting the platform to make it happen. Hi Joe Bob. I know where there's a drive-in around here.
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be?
Glad you asked. I've been telling people for ten years I wanted to have a baby by "Joe Bob Briggs," so maybe now I'm getting the platform to make it happen. Hi Joe Bob. I know where there's a drive-in around here.
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #11
Blog: GoreGoreDancer's Movie Reviews
Let me introduce myself. I'm Aleata Illusion, I'm 23 and I reside in the small and boring town of Wooster, Ohio (for now). I write movie reviews, make movies, collect movies--basically everything in my life revolves around movies. Writing consumes a good portion of my time. If I'm not busy writing for my blog or any other online things, I'm writing short stories, scripts, poems and even my life story, currently in progress. I'm just an artistic and opinionated individual who loves all things horror!
Are significant others generally freaked out or psyched by your horror proclivities?
Usually psyched. I tend to date guys that are a lot like me, so my weird obsession with horror seems pretty normal to them. My boyfriend puts up with it fairly well. He enjoys horror too, so it's not a big deal. I'll ramble on about horror movies/directors/actors, etc., whether anyone is listening or not.
I think there's always been a bigger percentage of females who are afraid to watch horror flicks and would rather be watching Sex in the City. But i think as horror hit a more mainstream level (with all the remakes/Final Destination/Saw), more females have been opening up to them. Needless to say, there has always been a chunk of us who have been devoted horror slaves.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
Lucio Fulci! I've always wanted to be a writer/director, but Fulci's work has inspired me beyond belief. The first of his movies i saw was The Seven Doors of Death (a.k.a. The Beyond), and it was love at first sight.
How does it feel to be a female horror blogger in a world where it seems necessary to have a beard to write about horror movies? Do you find that you’re not taken as seriously?
The people who take the time to read my blog are all horror fans, or movie fans in general. They don't judge me by the fact that I'm female, but by what I'm writing. If there are people out there that don't want to take me seriously that's fine, they can fuck off. I'm interested in the opinions of the horror/movie fans who take time to leave me feedback and nice comments.
Well, I wouldn't say that it is in general, but we are way more noticeable. If a guy sees a really smokin' chick, he's going to be interested in reading her blog automatically. That gives it a bit of a sexist aspect, but it's not always a bad thing to be able to grab someone's attention that way. So I guess in ways, image is important. If it helps draw in the crowd, that's always good.
Bang, Marry or Kill: Freddy, Jason, Michael. Please explain your answer.
I'm not too big of a fan of "Hollywood monsters". I'm more an indie horror chick, but okay, let's see here. I would definitely kill Jason and Michael, no questions asked. I'm not into the big, mindless retard thing. Then i would marry, kill and bang Freddy--exactly in that order. It would be necrophilia anyways, because he is technically already dead, living in teenager dreamland!
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #10
Blog: Day of the Woman
There's a girl I know who is trained in opera, a world champion baton twirler, an English and Theatre major, a published author, a beauty pageant winner, a volunteer at domestic violence shelters, the director of an annual Halloween tri-city food drive, is only 19 years old, and has a hunger for all things spooky and gruesome. I guess you could say I'm something of a contradiction. I've never fully fit the mold of anything, and that's something I take great pride in. I'm one of the youngest horror bloggers out there, but I like to think I can hold my own with the best of them. Mainly because, regardless of my age, I'm a raging fangirl at heart, and that's what really matters. Outside of my sarcastic commentary on DotW, I am now a writer for Horror Society and Bloody-Disgusting.
I’ve yet to find a boyfriend who shares my hunger for horror! I wouldn’t say that they’re freaked out, but it does raise a few eyebrows when we go to Blockbuster and I go straight for the horror section and completely blow past anything starring Kate Hudson or Jennifer Garner. All the guys I date put up with my nerdy fangirl obsession, but none of them have ever shared it… Now you know why I’m single!
How would you best describe your blog?
I intertwine wit, sass, femininity, intelligence and a teaspoon of sarcasm for good measure. The horror industry is totally male-dominated, from its directors to its slashers, and even its bloggers... and I think that needs to change. My lifetime obsession with horror has turned me into one of the coolest fangirls you're likely to meet.
How does it feel to be a female horror blogger in a world where it seems necessary to have a beard to write about horror movies? Do you find that you’re not taken as seriously?
You forgot how all us horror women wear black-rimmed glasses! It’s not a matter of not being taken as seriously, it’s a matter of having to fight twice as hard to be taken seriously. I’ve had people write on their own blogs about posts I've done, only to be flooded with comments like, “Since when are women allowed to talk about horror anyway?” I feel that while my blog may be more respected than some of the more prominent male bloggers, I know I had to fight twice as hard to get there.
I wish I could say no, but then I’d be lying. I don’t know how many male bloggers are flooded with emails asking them to do their vlogs topless. Sex sells, and people do like to look at something pretty or have a visual idea of where this voice is coming from. This doesn’t mean you can get away with not knowing what you're talking about just because you're totally slamming. But it doesn't hurt if you have both covered.
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be? Not including Bruce Campbell/Ash…
George A. Romero. I think he’s seriously the most adorable man on the planet. He’s like your friend’s grandfather, the one who looks super old but would grab your ass if you walked past, and has no problem telling you crazy stories about back in his time. I've always wanted my child to get three things for their third birthday: Piano lessons, tap shoes and a copy of Night of the Living Dead. And I don't think he'd have a problem with that.
Why do all of you like Campbell so much, anyway?
Bruce Campbell is the PERFECT man. His body makes my knees weak, he’s charming, he’s intelligent, he makes me tingly, and he would kill for me. I have absolutely no shame in admitting I had a poster of him on my ceiling at age 12.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Ms. Horror Blogosphere: Entry #9
Blog: Love Train for the Tenebrous Empire
I was born spooky and have evolved into a happy state of advanced creepiness. In spite of my best efforts, I still haven't been able to land a gig as a mad scientist, masked supercriminal or vampire hunter, so I work a desk job. I try my best to make it a very nefarious desk job. I’m also a professional trained fine artist and a not-at-all-professionally-trained author of everything from incredibly lousy fiction to software user manuals to art and film criticism, which is why you’re reading this bio right now.
My dad does a MEAN Bela Lugosi impersonation, and at the formative age of five years old, took me into a shop selling goth rock records and clothing. Realizing that I could JUST DO THAT—just dress like a vampire every day and have giant posters of Max Schreck and paint my fingernails black—was an extraordinary revelation.
By the age of ten, I was quite the little armchair occultist, having exhausted my local library of all its books on ghosts, werewolves and magic, creating a potent recipe for a devoted horror fan. Well… once I conquered my notoriously weak stomach for on-screen grue, anyway. I guess I REALLY got over that.
Are significant others generally freaked out or psyched by your horror proclivities?
I wouldn’t bother with someone who was! First dates with me can be a little like litmus tests—one of the reasons Baron XIII and I have been together for nearly a decade is because he actually enjoyed “Spermula” on our second date. Nothing says KEEPER like the ability to enjoy sexy Seventies aliens living off the Vital Fluids of dissipated Eurotrash!
Let’s face it—there just aren’t that many people in the world who are interested in '70s-vintage, low-budget, high-kookiness exploitation films, so blogging is a great way to make connections with other fans and learn about new-to-me films. Plus, I can talk about incredibly not-safe-for-colleagues stuff like Nunsploitation and Nazisploitation films to people who will a) willingly listen and b) not report me to HR.
How would you best describe your blog?
The Love Train tagline says it all: lurid, weird, fantastique. The offbeat, kinky and downright inscrutable stuff is what I like best about horror. And… don’t tell anybody, but by being deliberately nebulous in my blog description, it lets me post crap like letters from men’s magazines and paintings of sexy mummies and my unquenchable lust for giant sunglasses, and still be on-topic. Think of it as the Potpourri category in the “Jeopardy” episode that is the horror blogosphere.
How does it feel to be a female horror blogger in a world where it seems necessary to have a beard to write about horror movies? Do you find that you’re not taken as seriously?
“Serious” is a frightening word to me, especially as it pertains to movies that were created primarily for their entertainment value! But no, I don’t feel taken any less seriously as a result of being a woman. If I did, I’d be forced to resort to Terry’s tactics in that '80s comedy Just One of the Guys, and get all undercover brother! My passion for horror cinema is just THAT STRONG.
Bang, Marry or Kill: Freddy, Jason, Michael. Please explain your answer.
Erm… may I put this into terms more relevant to me…? Good—I thought you’d be all right with that! Bang, Marry or Kill: Ilsa She Wolf of the SS, Hammer Horror’s Countess Mircalla Karnstein, or Trash from Return of the Living Dead. Much as it pains me, I think I’d have to dispose of the luscious-and-vicious Ilsa due to what I’ll politely refer to as Serious Ideological Disagreements. Trash from RoTLD is the ultimate deathrock babe (B-Sol, I can completely empathize with your crush here!), but her constant talk of death would wear thin after a couple of hours. She is exactly the kind if girl (read: sexy and crazy) that can fleetingly steal my heart, so I’ll choose her for the Bang role. For long-term companionship, I’d pick Countess Karnstein. She’s forever-young (I can overlook a few hundred dead, bloodless virgins in the interests of LOVE), she comes from money and she owns a castle. A CASTLE, people—THAT is showing class right thar’.
If you could have the baby of one figure in the world of horror, real or fictional, who would it be?
My distaste for reproduction makes my playing mother to an Alien-franchise chest-burster the most likely way that “Tenebrous Kate” and “giving birth” will ever wind up together in a sentence unconnected by the word NOT (in all caps—just like that).
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