I like the mystery and working through the clues along with the protagonists. I like watching the heroes and heroines form their battle plans, knowing it won't go smoothly. I love the tension the authors build chapter by chapter, creating so much suspense I can't put the book down. I know people are going to die along the way when I read certain types of books. But I don't want to read the gory details. I find myself skipping over torture scenes and descriptions of gruesome murders.
Obviously, some people don't mind the blood and guts or we wouldn't have all those movies series that go on forever. I always tell my kids they'll stop liking movies that are so scary as soon as they have to live by themselves. But I look away from the violent fights or gruesome killings on the screen. I might like the story but I don't like to see that part or read that part.
How much violence is too much? I guess an author or filmmaker have to know their audience. I like books that use violence to create tension not to try and gross me out or make me ill. Where is the line between the two?
As an author, I use descriptions of fights and battles I'm comfortable with. If I tried to insert more violence and bloody descriptions, I don't think I could do a good job. Some authors paint such vivid pictures of death with their words I worry a little about how they can describe it so well. Just kidding. I don't think you have to be disturbed to write horror or about evil people.
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10 comments:
I can't watch anything with blood and gore. Forget horror, have never read or seen a movie by Steven King. (Well, except Delores Claiborne and I didn't know he wrote the book.)
I think it all depends on the individual. Some people like it, some don't.
For me, I skip over the sex scenes in books. I feel like a voyeur if I read them. And after having read so many romances in my life, the sex just gets old.
I think viewing a lot of blood and guts and/or sex can cause a person to become desensitized and lead to a lack of caring or empathy for another's pain. I also think showing/describing everything causes a person to loose the ability to imagine for themselves.
Not a fan of violence and horror. So when I'm reading it in a book I like, yes I'll scan those passages quickly. Same with explicit sex. I don't look for titillation in my reading. I'm not against some violence and sexual content when it's part of the plot or theme but it's the excess of either that puts me off.
I do skim over parts in some books. I keep the blood and gore limited, although its there. Nine murders in my first book. You have to have some. But I don;t go on and on about it. too much is a turn off.
I say write something that you would want to read. If you like reading violence...go for it. You will find an audience. The more truth you put into your writing, the better author you will be.
I have some gore at my crime scenes but I have my limits. No rape and no harming children or animals.
There is some fighting in my current WIP, but on the whole I don't like a lot of violence.
I think I have a higher tolerance for violence in books and movies than many, though I often think most of what I read and watch is over the top and unnecessary for the story.
I don't mind it in books or movies, but real life violence can go over the top, as in 'torture porn.' I like a great fantasy battle scene and would choose it over a thriller with graphic details.
I personally do not like violence my reading matter. I think that it can be de-humanising. I don't watch films that are violent. I liked the photo, very funny. A thought provoking post.
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