I also admire how Lovecraft let people freely use his creations to let it truly be a mythology, as a fanfiction writer I appreciate when people actively embrace transformative works rather than shut them down. Not having a set canon makes it feel more like real mythology, since you get things like the drastic difference between Hastur in Haita the Shepherd versus all the other uses of that name from other authors.
That's another thing I enjoy about his philosophy concerning art! Since he wasn't in it for the money he didn't care about nickel-and-diming everything he wrote. I can understand why authors nowadays are more protective of their works but shared universes with multiple authors are still really fun projects to look into.
Shared universes and crossovers are fun and interesting, when done well, like in the Shadows Over Avalon anthology you referenced. I was always curious about how Excalibur would perform in battle against some Cthulu-mythos nasties. I was not disappointed.
It is difficult for a creator to trust their creation to others, but in this case (Cthulu mythos stories), it has certainly benefitted the readers. As was pointed out though, a good portion of the mythos is so vague and undefined that it does require a good deal of interpretation and imagination.
I would be very interested in a Wednesday post which delves into the influences of Poe and Hawthorne on Lovecraft that you examined in that term paper. Keep up these very interesting postings.
I really need to check out that Boris Karloff anthology film you suggested. I am intrigued to hear that you found it that “scary”, given its age.
I need a refresher on that Twilight Zone episode, as I vaguely remember it and just the sense of the unknown dread in the darkness. That is what struck me when I first read Lovecraft (well into adulthood) was how disturbing the Unknown and Incomprehensible could be.
I also admire how Lovecraft let people freely use his creations to let it truly be a mythology, as a fanfiction writer I appreciate when people actively embrace transformative works rather than shut them down. Not having a set canon makes it feel more like real mythology, since you get things like the drastic difference between Hastur in Haita the Shepherd versus all the other uses of that name from other authors.
That's another thing I enjoy about his philosophy concerning art! Since he wasn't in it for the money he didn't care about nickel-and-diming everything he wrote. I can understand why authors nowadays are more protective of their works but shared universes with multiple authors are still really fun projects to look into.
Shared universes and crossovers are fun and interesting, when done well, like in the Shadows Over Avalon anthology you referenced. I was always curious about how Excalibur would perform in battle against some Cthulu-mythos nasties. I was not disappointed.
It is difficult for a creator to trust their creation to others, but in this case (Cthulu mythos stories), it has certainly benefitted the readers. As was pointed out though, a good portion of the mythos is so vague and undefined that it does require a good deal of interpretation and imagination.
I would be very interested in a Wednesday post which delves into the influences of Poe and Hawthorne on Lovecraft that you examined in that term paper. Keep up these very interesting postings.
Might be worth looking into how Bierce influenced ol’ Lovey as well. I’m surprised he wasn’t included in the American Romanticism list.
My prof wasn't very into "weird fiction" during that class. Poe and Hawthorne were about as horror-related as we got.
I really need to check out that Boris Karloff anthology film you suggested. I am intrigued to hear that you found it that “scary”, given its age.
I need a refresher on that Twilight Zone episode, as I vaguely remember it and just the sense of the unknown dread in the darkness. That is what struck me when I first read Lovecraft (well into adulthood) was how disturbing the Unknown and Incomprehensible could be.
It's really good, the age just helps build the atmosphere for the very last film.
Like I said, it's one of my favorite episodes from the show, but I hadn't thought about how it could be connected with Lovecraft!
Have you read the 'Deep Cuts in a Lovecraftian Vein' blog? If not, get to it! - Aurelia
I've slept on it for too long! Definitely wan to soon though!
And thanks for the sub!
Deep Cuts is sooooo good. Cannot recommend it enough!!