Thread: Gothic Horror - for Halloween

Once again, the pagan party is upon us again. Celebrating ghouls, ghosts, goblins, witches, warlocks and embracing the evil spirits that for the other 364 days of the year terrify us. Halloween may be a uniquely American/Western celebration but most cultures have their own form of the ceremony. Today's festivities that include Trick or treating, jack o lanterns and donning menacing costumes were in part bought the the shores of the U.S by Irish immigrants in the 1800's.

All Hallows Eve evolved from the Ancient Celtic tradition of Samhain, which revolved around the harvest cycle and was practiced under the belief that each October 31st the unearthly walls of the deceased were shattered causing the dead to bring harm to the living and their stocks. In the modern crime riddled, morally questionable era we live in Halloween has become a novelty, not a ritual to protect the innocent from evil spirits.

Images of grotesque horror have always been a staple of the art world, challenging religious faith, death writes and perceived fear of the supernatural and mysterious. There is no better day to share these sometimes shocking, always atmospheric creative expressions of a dark, Gothic world flowing with dangerous imagery. Happy Halloween and enjoy the pictures.


Deterioration of Mind Over Matter by Otto Rapp - frightening picture of a decomposing human scull firmly ensconced on some devilish birdcage in which the raw gore of man's physical being lies lifeless at the base. The parting flesh of the scull is secured by a safety pin. This is truly an image that could have been utilized in the former issues of Tales From The Crypt.



Classic Demonic Visions



J Ross Bach Surreal terror



The Examination

Thanks Robert, Halloween grows bigger every year over here in Australia but I really had no idea of its origins. My wife and I were just talking about it a couple of hours ago actually, she was going to Google it when we turned the computer on, but I got to SRP first and killed 2 birds with one stone.
Very interesting, thanks
Grant.

Samhain pronounce Sow-win is the day when the veil between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest, allowing, for that one day of the year, for the dead to once again walk in the mortal world. It is a day to make offerings to your family's ancesters and to pay your respects to the world of the Fay.
It is also a time of revelry and feasting.
The whole witches on broomsticks thing was an invention of bigotted and fearful christians of the times, to put the fear of their god into christian children, against those who practised the old faith. Thankfully times have changed and there is more acceptance in the world now then there was back then. Although it wasn't until the last decade, in my own state of residence, that witch-craft laws were repealed.
Having said all that I think it's good that, in their own way, children still pay respect to the deceased ancestors, even if they don't know what, or why, they're doing it, except as a means of staying up and having fun.


Mick

PS it is actually Beltane here, as our seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern hemispere, and Pagan beliefs are based on the changing of the seasons

In the UK it's just another excuse for the stores to sell us tat. On this side of the Atlantic, until about 20 years ago, it passed largely unnoticed.
We now 'celebrate' all kinds of festivals these days, most of which are heavily promoted by supermarkets. Once it was just Christmas and Easter.

As Valentine our version of Halloween tradition started in shopping malls around 1990

strange how they make it when they declare chistmas in september

Too many things, these days are thrust upon us by commercial enterprise. It is our own fault though, for falling for the trap they call advertising. Other things that once held a special signifigance have become too commercialised, and this too is the fault of those of us who have be duped by the advertising, or those of us who have close family and friends who have been duped.


Mick

Hmm, "more acceptance in the world now than there was then"

Are you sure of that? In the world as a whole I'm not.

Thanks for the read, Robert. Although what I find more disturbing than those picture is the fact that Christmas items are popping up already - before Halloween is even over. Yes, the season of commercialism is upon us yet again

Ain't that the truth Ryan ? In a sick sort of way, it takes away from the spirit of the moment. It's all about securing the bottom line before quarterly profits hit the news .

Heck, if there isn't a holiday for something, we'll create it and sell stuff.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Thanks for the read, Robert. Although what I find more disturbing than those picture is the fact that Christmas items are popping up already - before Halloween is even over. Yes, the season of commercialism is upon us yet again

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Hmm, "more acceptance in the world now than there was then"

Are you sure of that? In the world as a whole I'm not.

You're probably right about that, what I meant was, we aren't holding Salem witchhunts these days and traditions of the old religions are looked at with amusement rather than fear...We're still forcefully invading islamic countrys though, so maybe the focus of the religious persecution has just changed...YMMV
Back to the subject at hand, as I seem to be hi-jacking this thread, I should have commented on the artwork posted by the OP. That has to have come from some sick minds I reckon. Good stuff though...in a worrying way.



Mick