In its broadest definition, supernatural fiction overlaps with examples ofweird fiction,horror fiction,vampire literature,ghost story, andfantasy. Elements of supernatural fiction can be found in writing from the genre ofscience fiction. Amongst academics, readers and collectors, however, supernatural fiction is often classed as a discrete genre defined by the elimination of "horror", "fantasy", and elements important to other genres.[1] The one genre supernatural fiction appears to embrace in its entirety is the traditionalghost story.[2]
The fantasy and supernatural fiction genres often overlap and may be confused for each other, though there exist some crucial differences between the two genres. Fantasy usually takes place in another world, where fantastical creatures ormagic are normal. In supernatural fiction, though, magic andmonsters are not the norm and the mystery of such things is usually closely intertwined in the plot. The supernatural genre highlightssupernatural creatures or happenings within the real world. Moreover, supernatural fiction also tends to focus onsuspense andmystery and less on action and adventure.
Occult detective fiction combines thetropes of supernatural fiction with those ofdetective fiction. Supernatural fiction and drama has supernatural elements blended into a story about the characters' internal conflict and/or a dramaticconflict between the protagonist, human and/or supernatural world, society and between groups.
The author ofThe Rise of Supernatural Fiction, 1762–1800 states that the origins of supernatural fiction come from Britain in the second half of the 18th century. Accounts of theCock Lane ghost were featured in the newspapers in 1762, and an interest inSpiritualism was also currently prevalent. There was a need for people to see real ghosts and experience them vicariously through the writings of fiction.[3]
S. L. Varnado argues inHaunted Presence: The Numinous in Gothic Fiction that the beginning of an interest in the supernatural comes from humanity's craving for the experience of thedivine, so that even the old mythological tales of the knights ofKing Arthur give the reader a sense of the presence of "holy" things. The author does then go on to trace this influence further into the future with theGothic literature movement.[4]
The famous horror writerH. P. Lovecraft cites man'sfear of the unknown as the origin of supernatural fiction in his essay "Supernatural Horror in Literature" (1927). He also goes on to describe the literary genre's roots in Gothic literature. The description inWuthering Heights (1847) of the natural surroundings in which the novel takes place and the eerie mood it evokes is cited as one of the first instances of supernatural horror's being evoked in literature.[5]
In the 20th century, supernatural fiction became associated withpsychological fiction. In this association, descriptions of events that occur are not explainable through the lenses of the natural world, leading to the conclusion that the supernatural is the only possible explanation for what has been described. A classic example of this would beThe Turn of the Screw (1898) byHenry James, which offers both a supernatural and a psychological interpretation of the events described. In this example, ambiguity adds to the effects of both the supernatural and the psychological.[6] A similar example isCharlotte Perkins Gilman's story "The Yellow Wallpaper".
Supernatural film is a film genre that encompasses themes related to gods, goddesses, ghosts, apparitions, spirits, miracles, and other extraordinary phenomena. These themes are often blended with other film genres, such ascomedy,science fiction,fantasy, andhorror. Historically, the primary goal of supernatural films was not to terrify audiences but to offer entertainment, often in whimsical or romantic contexts.[7]
The film genre is part of severalhybrid genres, including supernatural comedy films,supernatural horror films, supernatural religious films, and supernatural thriller films.[8]
Supernatural beings have also seen common uses in internetcreepypastas andurban legends; a well-known supernaturalInternet character is theSlenderman, a tall faceless being associated with the forest. Another well-known internet urban legend is theBackrooms, an endlessliminal space of moist carpet, humming fluorescent lights and monotone yellow wallpaper. The Backrooms are commonly depicted as being inhabited by supernatural monsters known as Entities.
