What the Hell is Visionary
Horror? (Pun intended)
By Yana Barbelo
In its first incarnation, my novel Umbra was a pile of
papers drifting aimlessly around my home, year after year, until it suddenly
occurred to me that this odd collection of scribbles and drawings had something
of a story to it. Excited like a kid on Christmas morning, I promptly typed it
up and sent it to a beloved friend. (One of the biggest mistakes of my life.
Don't you ever do it!)
Her reply was swift. She never read anything so appalling in
her life. It was pure darkness, and I was the emanation of hell. She would pray
for me. And should I ever decide to embrace the light of the One, she will be
there for me. Until then, she would stay away from a soul so dark as mine. Wow,
I thought. Didn't see that coming. I suppose a first review is like a first
kiss, a total gamble.
Years and hundreds of iterations later, reviews from a bigger
world started to arrive. "A monumentally original work of art" (my
favorite). "This book just seemed to go nowhere. It just went in
circles!!!!" (second favorite, 2-star on Goodreads). "A book worth
burning" (heartwarming!). But I
could not, for the life of mine, exorcise that very first one. Because
paradoxically, it was accurate. There was something deeply disturbing in my
telling, exhilarating for some, intolerable for others. I didn't know the name
for this kind of story until another reviewer wrote "a simmering work of
Visionary Horror." It dinged. That was it! Visionary Horror.
But what the hell was this Visionary Horror, and why I never
heard about it? I went on digging and soon arrived at the scarcely known but
massively insightful essay by C.G. Jung, "Psychology and Literature."
In it, he distinguishes two modes of literary creation - psychological and
visionary. The visionary mode is "a primordial experience that surpasses
man's understanding...". So far, so good. I gave up to ever fully
understand Umbra myself. Furthermore, "It arises from timeless depths; it
is foreign and cold, many-sided, demonic, and grotesque. A grimly ridiculous
sample of eternal chaos." If this is not a description of Horror I
don't know what it. "It bursts asunder our human standards of value and of
esthetic form... and allows a glimpse into the unfathomable abyss of what has
not yet become." Visionary.
Visionary Horror.
I was ecstatic. My baby got a home. And impressive, although
not very populous, pedigree. Greek Mythology and Old Testament, Dante's
"Divine Comedy" and Goethe's "Faust ." Classic tales. But
what about contemporaries? I asked almighty Google, and I got nothing but noise
in response. There were no Visionary Horror books on the world wide web. I
couldn't believe it.
I went back to Jung's essay. A relentless explorer of the
depths of the unconscious, he left us clues by which we could identify a
visionary work by the effects it has on us, readers.
We are astonished
Confused
Taken aback
Enchanted
Disgusted
Embarrassed
We may repudiate this kind of writing.
We demand an explanation.
We marvel.
Most of all, we perceive it as an experience, genuine,
wholesome, and strange. Through the artist's imagination, we glimpse an alien
enormity of his vision, and we are left to wonder.
When I applied these criteria, several novelists came to
mind. Cliver, selected works of Murakami, Yashiguro, John Crowley's
"Ka." I'm sure there are more, walking around in disguises - Dark
Fantasy, Magic Realism, New Weird. I would love to bring them together in a
list. But I can't read everything there is to read, can I? So I'm asking you,
reader. If any book of this sort comes to mind, kindly drop a title in the
comments.
Why is it important? Jung insisted that visionary art always
"contains what may truthfully be called a message to generations of
men." It seems to me that the discontent and poverty of meaning in our
lives are caused, at least in part, by the lack of such messages.
The visionary creation draws from the depth of the collective
unconscious. In a way, Visionary Horror is a collective dream, or nightmare, of
humanity. And just like individual dreams, it contains a tremendous amount of
energy, coiled like snakes behind each image, each word. If we are to harness
this energy, we need to pay attention, welcome the vision, let it unfold, and
inform us of things our waking mind can never conceive. Things that may be vitally important if we
are to survive in this beautiful but gravely injured world.
13 Comments
I love horror books, I can't wait to read it. And the cover is beautiful! Congrats to the author and thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHorror books are my favorite books to read and this one sounds great.
ReplyDeletethis looks llike a great read. excellent cover!
ReplyDeleteThe blurb sounds good. I like horror. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover
ReplyDeleteI love this cover and also love horror reads. Sounds like one I'll enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a scary read! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a book that would keep me on the edge of my seat!
ReplyDeleteI'm really intrigued after reading the description!
ReplyDeleteit is very interesting
ReplyDeleteThis is a book that I will definately need to read
ReplyDeleteWhat inspired you to write this?
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great. I love the cover.
ReplyDeletePlease try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.