Who is afraid of the big bad Vampire

In a world in which terrorists can destroy the World Trade Center, bomb the London Underground, and Ebola or other plagues could destroy human life, who is afraid of the Undead! On a scale of one to ten, Hitler being a ten, Dracula is a two at best. So, why are fantasy and horror such popular genders when you can pick up the paper and read more gruesome and sick stories any day? Herein follows my own poor theory of why we crave the satisfaction of a good fantasy or horror story.

Humans are helpless in modern times. The stresses of modern society are close to unbearable. Even supposedly free citizens of a democracy are basically helpless. If the American president wants to start a war or bail out corrupt corporate heads or set up Homeland security to ensure that travelers can not protect themselves if attacked it happens. We come home after suffering through traffic jams, dealing with power mad officials and low level management at work. Did you ever notice that assistant managers are always incredibly stupid power freaks? You do know that Judges, state troopers and their girl friends never get traffic tickets? You do know that the middle class pays way more than its share of taxes while the ultra rich get all sort of tax breaks?

Come on home and turn on the Television. Watch a George Segal movie. He will kill all the bad guys for you. Watch programs glorifying the F.B.I. or the D. E. A. There is even a show about a woman who makes up fake I. D. for stoolies in the witness protection program. Do the programs today remind you of the book “1984”? Many of us are sick of this pap we are fed every day.

Finally, in the last few minutes before sleep read a fantasy novel. The characters within the book face challenges that can be met by courage. They are not helpless witnesses. Frodo takes the ring to Mordor and saves the world. Conan fights his way out of slavery to enjoy great adventures and beautiful women. Thulsa Doom, his adversary, at least controls his world by setting up a snake cult and turning his powers as the avatar of Set against the rulers of the world. In fact, Thulsa Doom is a more interesting and complex character than Conan. In “Paradise Lost” Satan is more fun than God.

Horror has a similar attraction, though I do not recommend reading or watching it just before bedtime. “Jason” comes back from the dead to terrorize the people at Camp Crystal Lake who let him drown. He is certainly evil, but he is not helpless. “Carrie” gets revenge by blasting everyone at the Prom. In real life, she would be in therapy for years trying to get over her mother and her bullying classmates. Better to die getting revenge.

Horror and fantasy bring out a little “Walter Mitty” in us all. We get to pretend there are villains we can attack and defeat. We get to pretend we do not have to keep on taking crap all our lives.

The End