PHOTO SHOOT + ARTICLE
Fretting Fright: Boogeyman
By Elijah Grullon
Models
Jayden Clottey, Logan Johnson
Stylists
Jayden Clottey, Logan Johnson
Directors
Elijah Allen, Michael Alvarez, Erin Kang, Anu Patel
Photographer
Natalia Alvarez
Makeup Artist
Vienna Lee
Fretting Fright: Boogeyman
“When you’re scared and do it anyway, that's brave” – Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Only one thing scared 12-year-old Eli more than “what if.” “What if I don't win?” “What if I’m not ahead,” “what if it all crumbles…” Carousels of all possibilities; all the ways my dreams could fall apart. Little Eli knew just how fragile dreams are, and it scared him shitless. Still, the “if” doesn’t hold a candle to “when.” “When it’s all over,” “when it all comes crashing down…” though these thoughts come from the same fantasy of the same future, I would keep myself awake at night, clutching a bear-boy as solid hope. “If” isn't usually fear, but fuel. As children, we hardly know what's possible. “What if” is the magic we start adventures with. “What if” starts every ceaseless hypothetical. It’s powerful. I think fear is the same way. As children, we don’t see limits. The world is new and boundless, and in that infinity, terror is born.
Cost of Fear
Fear is an addiction; A subscription service. To feel the promised dread and despair, we have to subscribe to a version of the world that lets it feed. Fear only gains power once we truly believe in the reality we paint with those scary stories. Some stories are embodied by characters. The other mother from Coraline scared me because I put stock in her reality. Her seduction; her mango milkshakes. It was all so real to me. Coraline’s isolation rivaled my seclusion, and I understood how powerless I’d be at the feet of the other mother. I was scared, not because I would be a victim, but because I was so sure I’d go into her arms willingly. Of course, she isn’t real. I was only scared because I saw her as stronger than me. These champions of fear, these boogeymen, they get their power from those who fear them. Not that it’s a bad power; that's where life is.
Fear and Life
Fear can be dreadful, but then why do we rely on it for our narratives? As with Coraline mentioned earlier, cultural icons are born through fear. It is what adds life to the character and fills out their form. When our hero crawls back for the final battle, we understand why Coraline is afraid. She has witnessed a palpable danger. Her family is under threat. So why was 12-year-old Eli squirming at her struggle, safe from my bed?
Well, the terror of the Other Mother makes Coraline's entire journey more real. If we do not fear her obstacles, we cannot celebrate when they are overcome. It is much more rewarding to watch a protagonist battle through an infinitely small opportunity of winning than to trounce any wayward villain with ease. Our fear makes the villain stronger; their tools and possibilities are numerous. This fear makes it satisfying for the viewer when the monster decays.
Living with Fear
So, if fear brings life by igniting our imagination, can it have practical uses? For starters, anxiety is just about the most potent and practical fear we have at our disposal. With the world in flames, it can be hard to find use in the nagging assurance that it won’t matter if I brush my teeth tonight because World War III is about to make rubble out of Rushmore. Still, it holds to the same principle of strength in belief. It sounds odd, but once we choose what we are willing to be scared of, our lives improve.
Do It Scared
By fearing the right things, our minds are correctly focusing on our biggest enemies. If I did not fear that my teeth would decay, I wouldn’t brush. I’m eternally grateful for this motivating fear. The world runs on what we believe is true about it, and fear is how we make reality out of those beliefs.
