Well, a short entry today pondering ‘Carnival of Souls’ and last night’s piece of filmgoing, ‘Yella’. They are related, both being spooky and subtle tales of the possibly supernatural, but I can’t tell you why because I’d blow key plot twists
So instead of anything specific, a very quick thought. Writers who are primarily realists can see a step into the supernatural as being very liberating – and that sense of liberation can be very destructive, as it leads to the abandonment of anything like narrative logic and therefore any sense of satisfying resolution.
That abandonment is even more frustrating if the writing that surrounds it is superb. It shows a failure of imagination on behalf of the writer – or rather, a failure to realise that the weird isn’t an end in itself; it’s just one more tool to support the communication of truth through narrative.
’tis indeed a fine, fine line.
You read any Murakami?
Alas no – been to a play based on some of his stuff, which was very cool, but never actually sat down with it. Worth checking out, I assume!
The Murakami nudge is hereby seconded. I especially like Norwegian Wood, but then I own all the Beatles albums……
Sounds cool, I’ll have to check him out! Especially as Norwegian Wood’s one of my favourite Beatles songs…