Hello lovely people! Bit of a weird one. I’m a survivor of CSA and emotional abuse. I *hate* media that tackle the subject by showing abuse and its aftermath in intense and bleak detail. I don’t find it validating. It just upsets me.
However, I love when a piece of media touches on the emotions evoked by abuse – through a lens of satire, allegory, dark humour etc.
I think this is my fave because it allows me to validate my feelings without forcing me to relive my own experiences.
Examples of media about abuse that I liked and that I think fit in this category:
1. Karlach and Astarion’s arcs in Baldur’s Gate 3, because their experiences are clear metaphors for abuse but what they experienced doesn’t resemble my own traumas in any way: vampires and Avernus aren’t real! Perfect
2. BoJack Horseman. It depicts emotional abuse but through a warped, comedic lens. E.g. Bojack’s mother abusing him and then saying “enough of me being a great mum!”
3. The Exorcist (the book only). I find it deeply moving how Chris Macneil and the priest never doubt that Reagan is sick and never blame her for what’s happening to her. Go figure.
4. Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay. Great satire on the sexualisation of teenage girls (among other topics)
Examples of media on this topic that I didn’t like:
1. A Little Life (I mean… obviously. Mislit is my worst nightmare lol)
2. Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison (extreme horror just isn’t for me)
3. Lolita (I actually like the almost hateful sharpness of the satire but on balance it’s just too sad)
4. Anything by Grady Hendrix (I didn’t like Final Girl Support Group OR My Best Friend’s Exorcism, unfortunately)
5. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (great book, but the abuse was much too graphic for me)
You can see from the list that I mostly read horror, but I’m open to recommendations from any genre. Comedy and fantasy recommendations in particular would be appreciated!!
Thank you for reading all the way to the end, and thanks in advance!!
by damiankarras