Fantasy, Horror, Panaesthetics and Antiaesthetics in the Views by Howard Phillips Lovecraft and His Works

The article aims at an insight into the issues of fantasy, horror, panaesthetics and antiaesthetics in the views and works by the early twentieth century American writer, Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Referring to some definitions formulated by various theoreticians, the author of this article firstly explains some basic terms such as: fantasy and horror. Afterwards, he takes a close look into the concepts of panaesthetics and antiaesthetics as well as some other related notions. The essay focuses both on presenting the profile of H.P. Lovecraft and his ideas in the fields of philosophy, arts and literature. Moreover, it intends to outline some advices he made on writing weird stories and building the atmosphere of fear. The author of the article attempts also to characterize H.P. Lovecraft’s literarily work in order to juxtapose the writer’s views and writing with the ideas behind the concepts of panaesthetics and antiaesthetics. Finally, the author tries to answer the question whether H.P. Lovecraft is to be seen more as a representative of a panaesthetic or rather antiaesthetic viewpoint.

ФАНТАСТИКА, УЖАСЫ, ПАНЭСТЕТИЗМ И АНТИЭСТЕТИЗМ ВО ВЗГЛЯДАХ И ПРОИЗВЕДЕНИЯХ ГОВАРДА ФИЛЛИПСА ЛАВКРАФТА

Ключевые слова: Фантастика, ужасы, панэстетизм, антиэстетизм, Говард Филлипс Лавкрафт

Статья представляет собой попытку взглянуть на проблемы фантастики, ужаса, панэстетизма и антиэстетизма во взглядах и творчестве американского писателя в жанре фантастики и ужасов Говарда Филлипса Лавкрафта, писавшего в начале ХХ века. Автор статьи объясняет такие термины, как фантастика и ужасы, цитируя определения различных теоретиков. Затем он вводит вопросы панэстетизма и антиэстетизма и связанных с ними концепций. В статье представлен портрет Г.Ф. Лавкрафта и его взгляды на философию, искусство и литературу, обращая особое внимание на литературу ужасов. Рассмотрены также рекомендации Г.Ф. Лавкрафта, как писать потрясающие истории и создавать в них атмосферу ужаса. Автор статьи пытается охарактеризовать литературное творчество Г.Ф. Лавкрафта, а затем противопоставляет взгляды и произведения писателя положениям панэстетизма и антиэстетизма. Эти размышления резюмируются попыткой ответить на вопрос о том, можно ли говорить о Лавкрафте как о панэстете или антиэстете.

The article aims at an insight into the issues of fantasy, horror, panaesthetics and antiaesthetics in the views and works by the early twentieth century American writer, Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Referring to some definitions formulated by various theoreticians, the author of this article firstly explains some basic terms such as: fantasy and horror. Afterwards, he takes a close look into the concepts of panaesthetics and antiaesthetics as well as some other related notions. The essay focuses both on presenting the profile of H.P. Lovecraft and his ideas in the fields of philosophy, arts and literature. Moreover, it intends to outline some advices he made on writing weird stories and building the atmosphere of fear. The author of the article attempts also to characterize H.P. Lovecraft’s literarily work in order to juxtapose the writer’s views and writing with the ideas behind the concepts of panaesthetics and antiaesthetics. Finally, the author tries to answer the question whether H.P. Lovecraft is to be seen more as a representative of a panaesthetic or rather antiaesthetic viewpoint.