I aim to write my literature review on key structural elements of POV horror content, and have been experimenting with angles to approach this from. The initial research question was:
In what ways does the use of found footage and other “pre-recorded” formats enhance the realism and emotional connection of contemporary horror content?
And developed into:
The Viewer as Participant: How Do Found Footage and Pre-recorded Formats Create Emotional Investment in Contemporary Horror?
I shifted from examining how found footage creates realism to focusing on viewer participation because I realized my original scope was too narrow. Through developing Burlap Friends and studying interactive experiences like ARGs, I’ve seen that these formats don’t just make content feel real – they fundamentally change how audiences engage with horror.
Here I discuss the relevance to some literature I’ve been observing in relation to this topic, I plan on expanding this list and finding the multitude of connections I can observe and build upon within my essay.