SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
SPOTLIGHT
ARCHITECTURAL FEAR
Text By Douglas Schwartz
All content in this SPOTLIGHT © copyright the respective artists. All rights reserved.
When I was around the age of six or seven, there was a big old house near my post World War II neighborhood which the older
kids insisted was haunted. Naturally I believed them because they were eleven or twelve years old and were much wiser, or so I
thought, than I. Not until I too was eleven or twelve did I discover that living more years didn't necessarily mean becoming wiser.
That so-called "haunted house" in question very likely stood proudly alone in its early years before all the other houses in the area
were built, and while it may have looked scary to us kids...especially during the ghost and goblin season of Halloween...the house
wasn't haunted in the supernatural sense of the word. It was simply run-down and tired looking, having weathered its fair share of
storms throughout the passing years. In other words, that neglected old house gave the impression of being scary as a result of
its appearance. I like to refer to this phenomenon as architectural fear.
In keeping with this theme, I selected seven photographs of various houses and other buildings for this SPOTLIGHT. Some of
these structures are real and have been inhabited, while others are mere facades used in motion pictures and television
programs. One such house crossed over this divide, being both a real house as well as having been used in a film.
kids insisted was haunted. Naturally I believed them because they were eleven or twelve years old and were much wiser, or so I
thought, than I. Not until I too was eleven or twelve did I discover that living more years didn't necessarily mean becoming wiser.
That so-called "haunted house" in question very likely stood proudly alone in its early years before all the other houses in the area
were built, and while it may have looked scary to us kids...especially during the ghost and goblin season of Halloween...the house
wasn't haunted in the supernatural sense of the word. It was simply run-down and tired looking, having weathered its fair share of
storms throughout the passing years. In other words, that neglected old house gave the impression of being scary as a result of
its appearance. I like to refer to this phenomenon as architectural fear.
In keeping with this theme, I selected seven photographs of various houses and other buildings for this SPOTLIGHT. Some of
these structures are real and have been inhabited, while others are mere facades used in motion pictures and television
programs. One such house crossed over this divide, being both a real house as well as having been used in a film.
Beginning with Photograph #1…castles are always
a sure-fire way to scare the bejeebers out of people!
Theoretical homes to such dreadful characters as
Count Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, and far too
many wandering ghosts to shake a stick at, castles
seem to epitomize fear. This is likely because the
evil goings-on in castles, whether fact or fiction,
have been drummed into our collective psyche for
as many centuries as castles have stood, such as
the Kinnitty Castle in Ireland pictured here.
a sure-fire way to scare the bejeebers out of people!
Theoretical homes to such dreadful characters as
Count Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, and far too
many wandering ghosts to shake a stick at, castles
seem to epitomize fear. This is likely because the
evil goings-on in castles, whether fact or fiction,
have been drummed into our collective psyche for
as many centuries as castles have stood, such as
the Kinnitty Castle in Ireland pictured here.
The Winchester Mystery House...part of which is
shown in Photograph #2...is a mystery because
of the woman who continually added on to it until
her passing. Legend has it that the widow of the
Winchester firearms magnate feared she would
have bad luck, or even die, if construction stopped.
Some people believe that the sprawling mansion
is one of the most haunted places in the world.
shown in Photograph #2...is a mystery because
of the woman who continually added on to it until
her passing. Legend has it that the widow of the
Winchester firearms magnate feared she would
have bad luck, or even die, if construction stopped.
Some people believe that the sprawling mansion
is one of the most haunted places in the world.
The former Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts...
shown in Photograph #3...was a psychiatric hospital,
or as they often referred to such places at the time,
an insane asylum. If the Gothic appearance of the
large building isn't scary enough on its own, the
nineteenth century treatment of the patients which
took place there was very likely something to fear!
shown in Photograph #3...was a psychiatric hospital,
or as they often referred to such places at the time,
an insane asylum. If the Gothic appearance of the
large building isn't scary enough on its own, the
nineteenth century treatment of the patients which
took place there was very likely something to fear!
The former Pennhurst State School and Hospital
in Pennsylvania...shown in Photograph #4...was a
place for the "feeble minded and epileptic." Like the
previous Danvers State Hospital, pictures of
institutions such as these are visual throwbacks to
a horrible time when it was thought best to keep
people with medical problems locked away and
out-of-sight from the general population. Thankfully,
those days are gone!
in Pennsylvania...shown in Photograph #4...was a
place for the "feeble minded and epileptic." Like the
previous Danvers State Hospital, pictures of
institutions such as these are visual throwbacks to
a horrible time when it was thought best to keep
people with medical problems locked away and
out-of-sight from the general population. Thankfully,
those days are gone!
When it comes to architectural fear, two of the most
visually iconic houses used in motion pictures serve
as the epitome of such scary dwellings. I include their
photographs in this SPOTLIGHT as prime examples
of the genre. One is a real house. The other is an
illusion in the form of a Hollywood facade. Both
apparently possess, and I use that word deliberately,
what it takes to tap into our most primal emotion...
fear of the unknown.
First...Photograph #5 shows the facade used as an
exterior for the classic 1960 Alfred Hitchcock film,
Psycho. This ominously frightening structure, false
as it may be, has evoked genuine fear in many film
buffs...perhaps even more so than the motel shower.
The justification for that fear is due to the fact that
"mother" lives there.
visually iconic houses used in motion pictures serve
as the epitome of such scary dwellings. I include their
photographs in this SPOTLIGHT as prime examples
of the genre. One is a real house. The other is an
illusion in the form of a Hollywood facade. Both
apparently possess, and I use that word deliberately,
what it takes to tap into our most primal emotion...
fear of the unknown.
First...Photograph #5 shows the facade used as an
exterior for the classic 1960 Alfred Hitchcock film,
Psycho. This ominously frightening structure, false
as it may be, has evoked genuine fear in many film
buffs...perhaps even more so than the motel shower.
The justification for that fear is due to the fact that
"mother" lives there.
Second…Photograph #6 shows the exterior of the
real house used in the 1979 film, The Amityville
Horror. While I've heard at least one psychic medium
claim that no demonic possession ever existed in the
house, the six cold-blooded murders which actually
did take place there could have generated enough
bad karma to remain within its walls for many years...
perhaps even to this day.
real house used in the 1979 film, The Amityville
Horror. While I've heard at least one psychic medium
claim that no demonic possession ever existed in the
house, the six cold-blooded murders which actually
did take place there could have generated enough
bad karma to remain within its walls for many years...
perhaps even to this day.
On a much more humorous note...Photograph #7
in this SPOTLIGHT shows a house which many
people will immediately recognize as the facade
for the home in the 1960s television comedy series,
The Munsters I purposely saved this image for last
to show that even a scary looking house with an
address of 1313 Mockingbird Lane can be a place
filled with laughter, even if most of its residents
look like monsters!
in this SPOTLIGHT shows a house which many
people will immediately recognize as the facade
for the home in the 1960s television comedy series,
The Munsters I purposely saved this image for last
to show that even a scary looking house with an
address of 1313 Mockingbird Lane can be a place
filled with laughter, even if most of its residents
look like monsters!
When it comes to architecture, could it be the antiquity of a house or large building which evokes a sense of fear? I think not.
There are many happy old houses with flower-filled, sunlit yards. The Victorian house (another bit of Hollywood backlot illusion)
in the film, Meet Me in St. Louis, for example, lacked fear because everyone living there was happy, singing songs, and eating
very large slices of cake! On the other hand, a brand-new house with all the modern amenities can evoke all sorts of terror if the
conditions are right...such as the house having been constructed on land with a horrifying past.
So if it's not the age of a house which is the basis for fear, is it the style of architecture? Not so judging by the different types of
structures shown in this SPOTLIGHT. While a rustic log cabin can be charming to the eye, bringing to mind friendly people such
as the Starrett family in the novel and movie, Shane, a log cabin can also be a terrifying place if it is known, or suspected, that
horrible events have taken place within its log walls.
Therefore, I propose that just as darkness, in the scary sense of the word, is not always a result of the absence of light, the fear
aspect of architecture is not a result of the architecture itself, but rather the evil deeds which took place. And regardless of
whether those deeds are based on real events, or are as fake as a Hollywood facade, the fear factor is palpable just the same.
In keeping with that thought, would I willingly venture into a house which evokes a strong sense of fear? Let's just say that I'd
rather not. To put it another way...if I could somehow travel back in time and find myself standing in front of the "haunted house"
of my youth, there's a very good chance that I would turn and run away as quickly as possible. Especially if I was there on
Halloween when the ghosts inhabiting the house...at least in my creative imagination...are the most active and frightening!
There are many happy old houses with flower-filled, sunlit yards. The Victorian house (another bit of Hollywood backlot illusion)
in the film, Meet Me in St. Louis, for example, lacked fear because everyone living there was happy, singing songs, and eating
very large slices of cake! On the other hand, a brand-new house with all the modern amenities can evoke all sorts of terror if the
conditions are right...such as the house having been constructed on land with a horrifying past.
So if it's not the age of a house which is the basis for fear, is it the style of architecture? Not so judging by the different types of
structures shown in this SPOTLIGHT. While a rustic log cabin can be charming to the eye, bringing to mind friendly people such
as the Starrett family in the novel and movie, Shane, a log cabin can also be a terrifying place if it is known, or suspected, that
horrible events have taken place within its log walls.
Therefore, I propose that just as darkness, in the scary sense of the word, is not always a result of the absence of light, the fear
aspect of architecture is not a result of the architecture itself, but rather the evil deeds which took place. And regardless of
whether those deeds are based on real events, or are as fake as a Hollywood facade, the fear factor is palpable just the same.
In keeping with that thought, would I willingly venture into a house which evokes a strong sense of fear? Let's just say that I'd
rather not. To put it another way...if I could somehow travel back in time and find myself standing in front of the "haunted house"
of my youth, there's a very good chance that I would turn and run away as quickly as possible. Especially if I was there on
Halloween when the ghosts inhabiting the house...at least in my creative imagination...are the most active and frightening!
Photograph #1
Photograph #2
Photograph #3
Photograph #4
Photograph #5
Photograph #6
Photograph #7
