Antonio FatenAs complicated as Humanity is, it’s no secret that the emotions we harbor only add more to the convoluted cesspool we call life. We have our highs and lows but for some reason, one of the core emotions that gets us rattled up above any other is fear. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous. To condense this complicated neurological state, it’s a defense mechanism that’s designed to keep us safe. Even so, there’s just something about this emotion that leaves a lasting impact on us all.
Phobias
Everyone is afraid of something, regardless of shape and size. It could be that you’re afraid of spiders, being a parent for the first time, or looking for something that’s not there. Those kinds of fears are listed under the term “phobia,” which is a somewhat more formal version of “fear” and carries nearly an identical definition to fear, but more intense. Typically, a phobia manifests itself as an aversion. There are far too many phobias to list in this entry because, like all things in life, it’s complicated, but there have been some wonderful examples in media and entertainment that portray fear and phobia in their most authentic forms.
The Fear Factor
In 1990, in the film Arachnophobia, a South African killer spider hitches a ride to California and starts breeding; thus leaving a trail of death that puzzles and terrifies the main protagonist Dr. Ross Jennings, who moved to town with his family. As the title suggests, it touches the basis of people’s fear of spiders, and this one will give you nightmares, so watch at your own risk. Another film, in 2010 is titled Buried. The film centers around a U.S. truck driver in Iraq named Paul (staring Ryan Reynolds), who wakes up being buried alive in a coffin after being attacked. There, he races against time trying to find a way out with nothing but a lighter and his claustrophobia.
Another example comes from an unexpected place, a video game titled Five Nights At Freddy’s. We won’t delve into its convoluted lore, so we’ll mainly focus on the first game of the series. The story in the game revolves around a security guard who’s hired to guard a run-down pizzeria, along with the animatronic assets of the company. But, as you (the player progress in the nights that follow, you find that the animatronics roam around the place and try to kill you; thinking you’re an employee out of a springlock suit. This plays on automatonophobia, which is the fear of life-like creatures; case in point, the animatronics.
The game was so popular for its fear mechanics, that it led to numerous sequels, spin-offs, and novels; it even got a film adaptation in 2023. Having to deal with our fear is not a walk in the park by any means. The hurdles we’re constantly faced with are great in number. But fear is not something we can just hop over. No, it requires something more “ethereal” in the sense.
Strength of Courage
Not everyone can face their fear because of how traumatizing the experiences were, and honestly, that’s completely normal. As stated previously, fear is an eternal mechanism that is meant to keep us safe. We must make sure that it doesn’t lead us to being cooped up forever. Life is worth living, even when we take a few risks. From the lyrics of Hikaru Utada, “~Let me face, let me face, let me face my fears~”
Read More From The Able Show Contributors.
https://theableshow.com/fear-the-hidden-layers-of-the-mind
Works Cited:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099052
https://freddy-fazbears-pizza.fandom.com/wiki/Five_Nights_at_Freddy%27s