Julian Hanich's article, Toward a Poetics of Cinema Disgust deals with the techniques employed in cinema that seek to actively disgust, repulse, shock, sicken, startle, and generally administer feelings of "bodily disgust" amongst viewers. Commonly, "hints" are used throughout narratives in order to generate what Hanich refers to as "anticipatory disgust" in audience members. These hints may take the form of narration, subtitles and other visual cues such as framing or cutaways carrying an implicit meaning. Another popular technique is "sudden disgust", where directors will intentionally shock their audiences with surprise elements or actions within the film narrative in order to make their viewers jump or squirm in horror. Due to the use of these narrative "hints" films do not necessarily need to show something that is visually unappealing to the audience, as it can be merely implied as often the imagining of something repulsive will in turn disgust a films viewer. On the other hand, villains in films are most commonly portrayed as disfigured or unattractive in some way, compared with the visually appealing protagonist. Below I have included some clips that I believe demonstrate different forms of repulsion in films.
"The Fly" (1986)
Directed by David Kronenberg
Based on the short story by George Langelaan
Excerpt "The Elephant Man" (1980)
Directed by David Lynch
Based on the book "The Elephant Man & Other Reminisces" by Frederick Treves
Excerpt from "Pink Flamingoes" (1972)
Directed by John Waters
Written by John Waters
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