Carnography
Encyclopedia
Carnography refers to excessive or extended scenes of carnage, violence
, and gore
in media such as film
, literature
, and image
s.
The term carnography — a portmanteau of the words carnage and pornography — was used as early as 1972 in Time magazine's review of David Morrell
's book First Blood, upon which the Rambo film series is based.
Rambo was later described as "carnography" as well.
The term refers to an obsession with the human body
that "suggests a connection between horror
and pornography
", often relating to hard-core horror film
s. Carnography is considered taboo
and a disreputable genre.
It has been described as "nastily impure work",
"splatter-obsessed hard core horror",
the "violent equivalent of pornography", and "watching flesh fly".
Like pornography, these gore-filled horror films have a "superfluous plot" in which characters are "initiated, only to be discarded", and the gore seems to be the only reason the film exists.
Pornography and carnography share the feature of close, intimate physical contact, whether it be to caress or to attack.
Carnography can also refer to sexuality or pornography where "appearance, motions, stimulation, and gratification of the genitalia are dealt with".
In these cases, the term carnography serves as a euphemism
for pornography.
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
, and gore
Graphic violence
Graphic violence is the depiction of especially vivid, brutal and realistic acts of violence in visual media such as literature, film, television, and video games...
in media such as film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, and image
Image
An image is an artifact, for example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject—usually a physical object or a person.-Characteristics:...
s.
The term carnography — a portmanteau of the words carnage and pornography — was used as early as 1972 in Time magazine's review of David Morrell
David Morrell
David Morrell is a Canadian-American novelist, best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become the successful Rambo film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. He has written 28 novels, and his work has been translated into 26 languages...
's book First Blood, upon which the Rambo film series is based.
Rambo was later described as "carnography" as well.
The term refers to an obsession with the human body
Human body
The human body is the entire structure of a human organism, and consists of a head, neck, torso, two arms and two legs.By the time the human reaches adulthood, the body consists of close to 100 trillion cells, the basic unit of life...
that "suggests a connection between horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
and pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
", often relating to hard-core horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
s. Carnography is considered taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
and a disreputable genre.
It has been described as "nastily impure work",
"splatter-obsessed hard core horror",
the "violent equivalent of pornography", and "watching flesh fly".
Like pornography, these gore-filled horror films have a "superfluous plot" in which characters are "initiated, only to be discarded", and the gore seems to be the only reason the film exists.
Pornography and carnography share the feature of close, intimate physical contact, whether it be to caress or to attack.
Carnography can also refer to sexuality or pornography where "appearance, motions, stimulation, and gratification of the genitalia are dealt with".
In these cases, the term carnography serves as a euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for pornography.