Things That Go Bump in the Night

I've been completely immersed in the series "Supernatural" over the last bit...ok, that's almost embarrassing to admit to but I just love those 2 main characters because, well, because they make me think of my own sons....not that my sons go around hunting down the minions of evil incarnate. It has something to do with the way the characters continuously razz the shit out of each other but underneath would give up their own life for the other. My boys are tight like that....and they are hunks too but I may be slightly biased. Anymomsymomentway, what this all has me musing about today is our complete fascination with all things creepy. Witness the huge Vampire blitz in movie, book and etc along with a goodly dose of those perpetual favs, the Zombie, both currently in the spotlight.
Why are we so taken with these completely imaginary beings - well, I guess that does depend on your viewpoint - however, there is a long history of we 'ordinary' folk being attracted to the scary. Do we love the adrenalin rush that being terrified out of our skins brings? I'm fascinated by what humans get attracted to for 'kicks'......high speed, edgy sports, scary shit, emotional blasting (those 'meet-the-mother-of-your-sister-who-is-really-your-grammy' T.V.) dignity loss in front of the world (reality shows) and stupid stupid stupid introduction to your body of illegally dangerous crap.
Are we that bored?
Defies description as to why we want or do a lot of this.......and I'm not in any way qualified to answer that.
The whole scary awful is kind of the eternal mythology of good vs evil.....we've been on that subject since human kind first told stories and made images. Most of us totter along with wobbily hope to make it through this life without 'BAD STUFF' happening but, of course, life does give you hard things to deal with....death, heartbreak, illness, old age - you name it, it all meets us at some point on the path. And then we realize just how fragile life really is and how it can change in the blink of an eye.
That's what is really scary....we just never have any idea of what is coming up.
Some of those scary things is what made me start painting....trying to deal with the overwhelming fear.
There's a rich vein; to utilize a somewhat applicable adage.
Ah, those demons................

The painting is: "The Nightmare" by Henri Fuseli - and it's pretty well known. Give this artist big points for capturing the truly creepy.