evilSo a good friend of mine has raised the issue of the macabre in us. Why do we slow down to look at car accidents? Why do we like to hear about the gorey details of the crimes scene? Why do we watch murder mysteries? What is it in all of us that seeks out the gorey and ghoulish and why do we need it? Why are books about serial killers best sellers? What is it about sick minds that we find so appealing? Why do we watch movies that logically, should offend our sensibilities? Do we still have blood-lust?
Psychologists say it's because we no longer have natural enemies to run away from. That we are looking for that fear factor we have been missing for so many years. It's the same reason we ride roller-coasters and bungie jump, ride motorcycles and listen to G.Dubya, we need the thrill of possible death.
I think it's because we are acknowledging that we have a primal, bestial instinct inside us. We actually like the sight of blood, it stirs up our primal inner-beast. We are curious about why serial killers do what they do because in fact we are all a little curious about doing it too. We like the idea that we might be capable of doing terrible, bizarre things like them. Just look at the recent past; look at the actions of those who have been in positions of power and for whom the possibilty of capture was remote. Look at the the likes of the Kmher Rouge in Kampuchea or the Serbian Army in Bosnia. Look at the deeds of the rulers in certain African nations. We need not go all the way back to the 1940s to find excellent examples.
People when left to their own devices are cruel and bestial. In fact that insults beasts, as few of them are capable of the kind of cruelty we can inflict. Humans like to hurt things, we like to see things bleed and we like to feel powerful because of it.
I say we shouldn't revile that dark and hideous creature inside us, we should instead rejoice in the fact we still own that part of our dark past. We should celebrate our inner beasts and learn to apply their force in our daily lives. By that I don't mean that we should go about killing and maiming, just that we should learn to feel the strength it gives us and the confidence that our beasts can fill us with. It would make us all better people if we were less afraid and more able to face the world and each other with strength and confidence.
Or ... maybe that's just me.
