Baudrillard, horror, and the death of the gap

An interesting idea that briefly arose last class was through our discussion of Baudrillard’s question: “Does reality outstrip fiction?” An accompanying question was brought up as to whether, in response to our desensitization to violence by the spectacle of media, horror movies had become too realistic. With the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI), movies have gained the ability to make the unreal real (although, as Baudrillard would argue, the definition of those two terms has become increasingly unclear). However, with this new, hyper-realistic graphic imagery that is constantly in competition with itself, vying for our terror and positive ratings, have we lost something? This brings back Barthe’s idea of the “pleasure of the text.” In old horror movies, classics such as Rosemary’s Baby and Psycho, there is a certain element of anticipation. The true strength of the movies lies within where the garment gapes; the directors depend upon the gap to provoke feelings of suspense and then terror from the watcher. It’s an artful manipulation of what isn’t there—the graphic, hyper-realistic imagery isn’t necessary to evoke a response from the audience.

That’s not to say there aren’t still elements of suspense in good horror movies today; I would argue that cinema is both part of the cause and one of the victims of a more and more desensitized society. Because the audience has been exposed to “real” terror in the form of media imagery, the audience has come to expect horror movies that will surpass the terror they consume every day. Thus, movies (horror and action movies in particular) are no longer about the gap—they are about the spectacle. The death of things unsaid, of content in absence, seems to be a looming threat, at least in cinema, in a society that determines what is real by what is seen.

This feels like an incredibly cynical observation, and I think it’s also important to note that there are still great movies being produced that don’t rely upon spectacular graphics to give them substance. However, this is a theme that seems to be spreading throughout popular culture, television, and movies, especially in the genres of horror and action. I believe that, like Baudrillard, it’s important to interrogate how this reflects upon our society as a whole.