#thisisitcollective

[viciousaround-blog]

Crazy

[sylvanaknaap]

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared

[anthropophagus]

[matthewroberts]

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared: 1

[three-cool-cats]

Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared

DOPE!!!

[peasantnews]

Media Review: Don't Hug Me I'm Scared - by THIS IS IT collective

By: Cindy Kim

What’s your favourite idea?

Mine is being psychologically analytical about my favourite creepy short-film, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared. First screened at various film festivals during 2012, this absurd gem by the the film/animation group, THIS IS IT collective, has prompted millions to think twice about being creative (and about gazing deeply into Big Bird’s soulless eyes).

Story-wise, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared is a clever social commentary on the limits imposed on our creative freedom. The singing notebook’s deceptively positive stance about creativity says it all: You must be creative - but not so creative that you deviate from the most authoritative definition of creativity. Yet, it is us - the general public, and not the artistic adjudicators - that directors Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling blame for this creative oppression. Though we all value liberty and creativity, the truth is that we are generally disturbed by, and scared of, the wild and unrestrained result of limitless creativity (raw human heart pies, anyone?).

But psychologically speaking, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared is most impressive in its ability to portray uncanniness. Somehow, the short film manages to be scary - for no reason at all. One could even argue that this award-winning short film is entirely innocent: their enthusiasm for raw-organ pastries aside, there is nothing conventionally monstrous and horrifying about the singing, dancing, Sesame-Street-esque characters. So what makes this viral YouTube hit so disturbing?

A good answer might be: you.

In the Freudian sense, uncanniness is the uncomfortable feeling that something is familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Freud claims that the feeling may arise from infantile complexes - or, more specifically, that we unconsciously project repressed desires of the id onto certain things, and thus, perceiving these things can make us anxious from being reminded of the said fears (unconsciously or not). Perhaps some childish rage you once held against your parents became the monsters under your bed. Perhaps your fear of isolation and estrangement underlies your fear of clowns and their mysterious, costume-wearing kin.

Of course, I’m not suggesting that you must necessarily have some deep and complex childhood fear regarding children’s shows. Neither am I suggesting that there must be a dark and familiar link between chaos, monsters, and the deaths of our dearest family members. No, not at all.

That would be too creative a thought.

[pastlight]

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared 2 - TIME

it takes longer to get to the breaking point where things get disturbing, but still is much more bizarre than the previous one

[hellacutebirthdaysuit]

watch this it's good trust me