Elements of the Modern Ghost Story | Horror Explored

Instagram ➤ @danieljblackwood
Hi, I'm Daniel J. Blackwood, and welcome to Horror Explored. This is my video explaining the elements of the modern ghost story. This video serves as both a guide to help you write your own ghost stories (writing tips), and as an introduction to the work of M. R. James.
Thank you for watching Horror Explored.
If you enjoyed this video please remember to leave a like, comment and subscribe as it really helps the channel out.
Outro Music was written and produced by myself.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Part One: M.R James
01:06 The Pretence of Truth
01:51 Reticence
03:29 A Pleasing Terror
05:10 No Explanation of the Machinery
06:05 Part Two: The Human Condition
07:04 Social Issues
07:49 Summary
#GhostStories
#HorrorExplained
Quoted Works
'Some Remarks on Ghost Stories' by M. R. James.
TAGS
ghost stories
ghost videos
horror explained
how to write ghost stories
the babadook
a christmas carol
the haunting of hill house
horror youtube video
horror youtubers
horror video essay
gothic history
horror movie
horror explained

[@DanielJBlackwood]

I accidentally imported a picture of Teddy Roosevelt instead of M. R. James. There was originally going to be a section of the video about Roosevelt's love for James' work, but I decided not to use it as it didn't fit the subject. Oops!

[@JulesFaraday22]

Would you by any chance actually have any relations to Algernon Blackwood given how you both have the same surname?

[@DanielJBlackwood]

@@JulesFaraday22 the surname Blackwood is actually a pseudonym inspired by Algernon. The purpose was to maintain my anonymity as a writer, and honestly it sounds much better on paper than my actual surname.

[@themysteriousunknownrevealed]

I wasn't gonna say anything 🤐🧐

[@DavideMazzetti]

The problem is that these days, people want and expect to be spoon fed. If they're required to use their imagination and not have everything explained, then the work is deemed to be a bad one.

[@edwardhsieh6745]

Is there a link to the 'In the Dark' movie referenced in this video? There are quite a lot of shows and short films with the same name it seems.

[@DanielJBlackwood]

Apologies. Search for the KZbin channel "Louise Paxton" and watch every video from the beginning. At the time this video was published I had a breakdown of In the Dark on my channel, but it has since been removed.

[@edwardhsieh6745]

Thank you so much! I want to try to write a ghost story so looking at your video and following your recommended works is my form of studying.

[@DanielJBlackwood]

No problem at all! I'm glad this video provided some value for you. Thank you for watching.

[@sorenbanjomus]

GIRST story lol - great video tho

[@David-mg1yj]

Pity you didn't actually explore number 4. No gratuitous bloodshed or sex. My mind instantly went to The Shining (the film, rather than the book) which has both. Okay, nudity rather than sex. But one could argue that many great Ghost stories are actually about sex, sexual desire or sexual frustration. The Legend of Hell House, The Turn of Screw/The Innocents, Wuthering Heights and The Haunting, for instance, and in your own summary you quote MR James suggesting a "modicum of blood, shed with deliberation and carefully husbanded"... implying that bloodshed, rather like like sex, is not such a terrible thing within the context of a Ghost story.

[@danksterdan4400]

Yo i love your channel and i see potential in it. Would you do a video about the aesthetics and elements of small town horror? idk how to describe it well but it's like, A town in the middle of nowhere, strange things in the forest, townsfolk are either sketchy or unwelcoming. I love these kinds of elements. Thanks in advance!

[@DanielJBlackwood]

Thank you for the kind words! It sounds like something that could make for a cool video in the future, absolutely. Plus, it would be a solid excuse to revisit films such as The Blair Witch Project.

[@LinkmanWorld]

What about the pretense of only believing in good spirits until you come across a demon

[@DavideMazzetti]

Just subscribed. I love M R James' stories and his ideas on the ghost story and how it should be written. Please make more videos - this was really useful. Don't lket your channel die.

[@typacsk]

I love your recommendations! Your tastes seem to align closely with mine -- for anyone reading this who has exhausted all of those authors' work, Eleanor Scott and E.F. Benson wrote a lot of good ones as well ;) I'm currently involved with a writing group in a nearby city; it's been a lot of fun, but one place where I really don't see eye to eye with them is the expectation that my stories should be explained. I come down firmly on your side of that debate (although I will say that horror is often more effective when the author lays out clues for readers to piece together themselves).

[@SamuelOnAir]

Absolutely loved all three videos you've published so far. This channel is so underrated but I'm convinced you'll go far and I can't wait to see you get the recognition you deserve. Keep up the amazing work

[@cls34]

I think that MR James pic is really a pic of Teddy Roosevelt. Great video, though. I really like your stuff.

[@DanielJBlackwood]

That's correct! I wish there was another explanation as to why this image was used, but I imported the wrong image and didn't realise until the video was uploaded to KZbin, lol. I was hoping nobody would notice. I guess that's what I get for trying to rush videos. There was originally going to be a little section about Roosevelt's love of James' work, but I decided not to use it.

[@Fads]

I really enjoyed this! Didn't know the first thing about ghost stories going in but I learned a lot!!

[@victoryv116]

This is really very helpful video ..I just started writing stories and I have this sort of ideas regarding horror but couldn't put into to words so clearly ...thank you very much

[@dylanwolf]

Bad scares in modern films neatly summed up by Mark Kermode, "Quiet, quiet, quiet... Nun!"

[@zacharymahnke1065]

Thank you for these videos. Professionally made and very insightful. Can't wait to see what you have planned next.

[@e_mmmme]

New fan of the channel, loving this Exploring Horror videos!

[@DanielJBlackwood]

Thank you for watching! More on the way.

[@lucianoOliveira-qp4io]

Good job lad, keep going please.

[@brycekrispy2281]

This KZbin channel is deeply underrated. Good job.

[@DanielJBlackwood]

Thank you for the kind words, mate. Comments like this really help me to stay motivated. I appreciate it!

[@TheAmberKing]

Dope

[@DanielJBlackwood]

Thanks dude!

[@GetWriteOnIn]

Great video, and I love all the clips included!

[@TheBluenyt09]

Awzum! 😎👍

[@apeon1551]

Fantastic stuff, can't wait to see more!

[@DanielJBlackwood]

Thank you! More on the way!

[@CaliSunsetGaming]

Amazing work yet again bro. Could listen to you talk all night hahah

[@DanielJBlackwood]

Thanks, mate! Glad you enjoyed it. 😁

[@sarahaprincesa]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@jeroenf1848]

Awesome video, thank you!

[@benjaminheadlee8485]

That's Teddy Roosevelt, dude... lol

[@sophiehughes510]

Loving your videos! Keep up the good work 😊

[@maryfahey9021]

Can you link to the In The Dark film? I'd love to check it out but I can't seem to find it.

[@DanielJBlackwood]

If you search "Louise Paxton" on KZbin you'll find it.

[@freddypowell7292]

Good grief, how do you have so few subscribers, this stuff is so good.

[@DanielJBlackwood]

Thank you for the kind words! I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video. 🙂