“For every equal in the universe, there is an opposite.” This phrase rings true in reality as we know it. A fine example is the existence of light, and its counterpart, darkness. For context, darkness is the absolute absence of light like the opposite of pure white is that of pitch black. But we’ll dive a little further into the concept, in both the scientific spectrum and the spiritual one.

Starting with the scientific aspects, when you think of darkness, you’re probably thinking of a pitch-black space where you can’t see anything: no defining features, no highlights, nothing. Adding to the lack of sight, in the dark, instead of feeling the warmth of light, your whole body is enveloped in a cold breeze in the air. Through numerous studies, it’s revealed that darkness is, at its core, a form of negative energy: whereas light energizes every living being, darkness ebbs that same energy, causing us to feel exhausted and eventually fall asleep. In a more emotional sense, negative energy revolves around feelings of discomfort or tension stemming from unpleasant settings, interactions with others, or morbid thoughts. With the mention of emotions in mind, we can begin to explore the spiritual side of the concept.

In numerous beliefs, darkness is said to have existed before creation. Though light illuminated the world, darkness still existed as a counterpart to light, but where light is revered, darkness is seen as a force of negativity. In those, beliefs, many have associated many people and entities with the concept of darkness. But one of the most influential aspects associated with darkness is, ironically, not demons, but these unknown entities simply dubbed “Shadow People.” The name being self-explanatory, they are entities of black mass comprised of pure darkness with no features to define them.

The origins of these entities are unknown and they have a habit of only appearing from the corner of our perception. Some spiritual texts indicate that the Shadow People are the illusive Jinn from Islamic mythology, trying to corrupt humanity by appearing as shadows. As you can see, darkness has played a significant role in existence, of which are not so kind. You’re probably thinking, “With such a complex nature to darkness, they can’t possibly translate it to film, right?” Well, my fellow reader, that’s another subject we’re about to dive into.

 In the 2013 film Shadow People, a radio talk show host unveils a dark secret revolving around the titular characters and the supposed numerous deaths in the 1980s. Moving away from the film side of things, the best use of darkness as a concept would have to be in the realm of video games, with one of the prime examples being the Disney | Square Enix video game Kingdom Hearts. The original game tells the story of a boy named Sora, who seeks to venture to other worlds with his best friends, Riku and Kairi. But on the day of their voyage, a storm envelopes their once-peaceful island, leading the trio to encounter the Heartless, the physical manifestations of the darkness in people’s hearts. As their name states, they are completely devoid of emotion and only seek to consume the hearts of others, becoming stronger the more they consume.

Realizing the threat they pose, Sora teams up with his new allies, Donald Duck and Goofy, to stop the Heartless from shrowding the world in darkness. On the more obscure side of things, there is one film that we think deserves a spotlight in this entry: Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. Originating from the original comic by Winsor McCay, Hemdale Animation Studios released this entry in 1989. Here, the titular character continues to have recurring nightmares, causing him to fall off his bed. But one particular dream takes him to the wondrous realm of Slumberland, a place of good dreams.

But while exploring underground, he finds a door that’s sealed with the marking of a dragon, reminiscent of the key given to him by King Morpheus. After opening the door for a quick peak, he unwittingly freed a being of pure darkness: the Nightmare King. After the latter kidnaps the king and takes him into his dominion of Nightmareland, it’s up to Nemo and the power of the Royal Scepter to save the king and in turn, his dreams. In conclusion, darkness as both a concept and an actual force can take many forms and, unfortunately, much of its concepts are one of negativity when, in actuality, it is a natural part of life.

Darkness is not inherently evil, it’s used by those who seek to envelope harm or spread that negativity. It’s all dependent on the user. Whether you’re a fan of the dark is inconsequential, so long as you respect that not everything is all doom and gloom. There are brighter sides of things, even in the deepest darkness…

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Works Cited

“DARKNESS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary.” Cambridge Dictionary, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/darkness. Accessed 21 January 2025.

“Exploring the Unexplained Phenomena of Shadow People.” Exploring the Unexplained Phenomena of Shadow People, Michelle Swope, 21 November 2023, https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3788890/shadows-of-ourselves-the-unexplained-phenomena-of-shadow-people-dead-time/. Accessed 21 January 2025.

Manchester, Melissa. “Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989).” IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104740/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_little%2520nemo. Accessed 21 January 2025.

Robinson, Jennifer. “Negative Energy: 4 Signs to Look For.” WebMD, 26 November 2024, https://www.webmd.com/balance/signs-negative-energy. Accessed 21 January 2025.

“Shadow People (2013).” IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764647/?ref_=tt_mlt_tt_i_1. Accessed 21 January 2025.