Questionnaire about Gothic Fiction

[SophieChristina]

Hey, so I don't really know if this is the right place to post this. But I am from Germany and I have to wright a seminar paper about Gothic Fiction. Due to this I want to do a Questionnaire and create a statistic on why people are so fascinated by gruesome objects in books, movies or games. I would really appreciate it if some of you would fill out this questionnaire


Questionnaire

Age:
Sex:
Education/Profession:
Marital Status:

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Are you interested in the horror - industry?

Do you prefer watching horror movies/reading horror books/playing violent games?

If so, what are the reasons for that?

What is your favourite horror movie/book?

Why exactly is it your favourite horror movie/book?

Which horror fictional figure fascinates you most?

What specific feature/aspect fascinates you about this figure?

How do you feel while reading/watching these books/movies?

Why do you believe you enjoy this genre if it scares or frightens you?

[Miss Absynthe]

I'm curious... what does a person's gender or marital status have to do with this?

[SophieChristina]

well im planing on interviewing different age groups. i thought maybe there would be a difference between women and men or younger generation or older ones. but if you don't want to fill it out of course you dont have to

[Miss Absynthe]

Do you realise that Gothic Fiction has little to do with the horror genre? And don't you think that your stats will be skewed by talking to people who belong to a gothic website?

What is the seminar for? Where are you from (and I'm not asking about your country of origin)... what organisation/educational facility is this for?

[HumanePain]

Originally Posted by SophieChristina

But I am from Germany and I have to wright a seminar paper about Gothic Fiction.

Good luck with writing the paper. Or do you have to write it in German?

[† ÐJ Ðårk †]

Goth <> horror. Probably it has more links with romanticism than with horror. IMHO.

[Miss Absynthe]

Originally Posted by HumanePain

Good luck with writing the paper. Or do you have to write it in German?

Every time I see someone correct a persons spelling or grammar on a forum I see a big sign that says "I'm a privileged arsehat who thinks that I am better than other people just because I can spell."

There are so many reasons that people make spelling errors - perhaps they have a disability, perhaps English isn't their first language, perhaps they are phonic spellers and they have trouble with the look of words.

Personally, I struggle with the written word a lot as a symptom of an illness I have - to the extent that I type everything in a Word doc first, spell check it and then paste it into the forum.

It's a pretty shitty thing to find self worth in the demeaning of other people.

[Saya]

I'll bite, its a lot better than the usual "I'm writing about the gothic subculture!"


Age: 24
Sex: Female
Education/Profession: Student (University)
Marital Status: Single

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Are you interested in the horror - industry? Is there a singular industry? Do you mean if I read Rue Morgue and am up on all the news? If so, no, most horror annoyingly relies on gore porn now, which I really don't like.

Do you prefer watching horror movies/reading horror books/playing violent games?
Prefer over what? Its one of my favourite genres, yes.

If so, what are the reasons for that?
Its not pleasant to be scared, but it is a rush. Its a love hate thing, I hate it when I'm too scared to sleep or can't put the book down, but it feels like an accomplishment when you stick to it and finish the book or movie or game.

What is your favourite horror movie/book?
Let The Right One In, the book but not the movie. I can't decide which is my favourite horror movie.

Why exactly is it your favourite horror movie/book?
I kinda think vampires have been ruined since Anne Rice, they became tragic figures, not monsters. I really like how the book balanced the more romantic aspect of vampires (Eli's friendship with Oskar), but there was a legitimately terrifying monster of a vampire as well.

Which horror fictional figure fascinates you most?
I feel like I could think of a better one, but I'm going to go with James from Silent Hill 2.

What specific feature/aspect fascinates you about this figure?
He seems pretty bland at first, but as the game goes on you find out that he's actually pretty fucked up, and its done so subtly and slowly until the big reveal in the end. And even though he did a really horrible thing, I still really like him.

How do you feel while reading/watching these books/movies?
Frightened, when I'm watching a good scary film. If its just gore porn, disgusted then bored.

Why do you believe you enjoy this genre if it scares or frightens you?
Again, the rush, and the feeling of accomplishment. I know lots of people who said "I can't play Silent Hill! Its too scary!" so there's pride in being the one to get through it.

[Gothic.net]

We tend not to be fond of outside market researchers and their mythical 'papers'