The Paranormal Appeal: Hollywood, and... Literature?
It can be said then, that Vesuvius Furnace and other similar experiences with the paranormal are fueled by the imagination, the media, and fear. A local North Carolina author and graduate of UNC, recommended to me by M. B. Avery, Daniel Barefoot has learned to capitalize on such driving forces of the paranormal. Barefoot writes travel guides, biographies and haunted tales focusing on North Carolina. In three books, Barefoot covers all 100 counties of North Carolina, detailing a ghost story for each. These books are titled: Seaside Spectres, Piedmont Phantoms, and Haints of the Hills (Lincoln County Historical Assn., 2009). It is interesting though, that Barefoot capitalizes on the economic prospect of the paranormal, while potentially dissuading the belief that ghost stories may be sensationalized from topographical features, which is what his three North Carolina titles focus on. Despite the contrast provided from this evidence, some mention of national or locally significant historical characters may be present in his books, citing a relation to the partially media related aspect of what would have been considered “historical celebrities,” and thus contributing to another factor of the existence of ghost stories. In close examination, however, while Barefoot’s books are incredibly popular and captivating, some credibility may be lacking if an attempt was led to prove such ghost stories true (Blair, 2011).
What then can be credited as the true source of the origin of ghost stories? It is clear a mixture of willingness to believe in the unknown, the aspect of fear, and history are important aspects of historical haunting. What then, does Hollywood use to create the multi-million dollar blockbusters time and time again? Special effects, hardly realistic plot lines, and money. These characteristics draw in consumers time and time again interested in a good scare that they know is based completely on a wacky idea that arose late one night in some writer’s mind. Citizens that attend Hollywood horror movies miss out on one of the greatest aspects of a ghost story, the history. It is clear then why M.B. and Dark Realm Research dislike the media frenzy resulting in a positive economic turnout for unrealistic stories from Hollywood, and it is likely Daniel Barefoot is not the greatest fan either. In ghost stories, history is very important, money is not everything, and depth of true or even potential knowledge is power.
What then can be credited as the true source of the origin of ghost stories? It is clear a mixture of willingness to believe in the unknown, the aspect of fear, and history are important aspects of historical haunting. What then, does Hollywood use to create the multi-million dollar blockbusters time and time again? Special effects, hardly realistic plot lines, and money. These characteristics draw in consumers time and time again interested in a good scare that they know is based completely on a wacky idea that arose late one night in some writer’s mind. Citizens that attend Hollywood horror movies miss out on one of the greatest aspects of a ghost story, the history. It is clear then why M.B. and Dark Realm Research dislike the media frenzy resulting in a positive economic turnout for unrealistic stories from Hollywood, and it is likely Daniel Barefoot is not the greatest fan either. In ghost stories, history is very important, money is not everything, and depth of true or even potential knowledge is power.
Daniel Barefoot's most recent and paranormally related books are pictured below, as well as the author. These books are available at public retailers, and, as a Carolina native, Barefoot partakes in quite a few book signings. He visited Lincoln county in 2009 to promote Spirits of '76. These books offer a statewide perspective on ghost stories, not just focused in Lincoln county. It is obvious Mr. Barefoot has done his research and is capitalizing off the fear that propels readers and investigators everyday.
(Blair, 2011)
(Zick, 2009) |
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