Macabre

In works of art, macabre (US /məˈkɑːb/ mə-KAHB or UK /məˈkɑːbrə/; French: [makabʁ]) is the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere. Macabre works emphasize the details and symbols of death. The term also refers to works particularly gruesome in nature.

History

This quality is not often found in ancient Greek and Latin writers, though there are traces of it in Apuleius and the author of the Satyricon. The outstanding instances in English literature are John Webster, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mervyn Peake, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, and Cyril Tourneur. In American literature notable authors include Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, and Stephen King. The word has gained its significance from its use in French as la danse macabre for the allegorical representation of the ever-present and universal power of death, known in English as the Dance of Death and in German as Totentanz. The typical form which the allegory takes is that of a series of images in which Death appears, either as a dancing skeleton or as a shrunken shrouded corpse, to people representing every age and condition of life, and leads them all in a dance to the grave. Of the numerous examples painted or sculptured on the walls of cloisters or church yards through medieval Europe, few remain except in woodcuts and engravings.

Macabre (2009 film)

Macabre, international title for Rumah Dara (Indonesian title), in Russia titled Dara (rus. Дара) and in Singapore Darah, is a 2009 Indonesian horror-slasher film. The film tells about a group of people travelling by car to the airport, when along the road, they meet a beautiful woman named Maya who says she has been robbed and needs a ride home. The film is based on the short film Dara.

Before the film was screened in Indonesia, it was screened at several festivals in 2009. Rumah Dara then received a wide release in Indonesia on January 22, 2010. The movie has been planned for distribution in North America and Europe by Overlook Entertainment.

According to the official Twitter page for Rumah Dara, the film is banned in Malaysia because of excessive violence. The movie is the first Indonesian film to be banned there.

The story unfolds as the group of travelers attempts to escape from a house which is owned by a mysterious lady named Dara and her family. Later it is revealed that the family are killers and cannibals attempting to gain immortality. The group is attacked with several types of weapons.

Macabre (disambiguation)

Macabre is a quality of some artistic or literary works characterized by a grim or ghastly atmosphere or a heavy emphasis on gruesome portrayals of death.

Macabre may also refer to:

Literature:

Films:

In music:

See also

Embalming

Embalming is the art and science of preserving human remains by treating them (in its modern form with chemicals) to forestall decomposition. The intention is to keep them suitable for public display at a funeral, for religious reasons, or for medical and scientific purposes such as their use as anatomical specimens. The three goals of embalming are sanitization, presentation, and preservation (or restoration). Embalming has a very long and cross-cultural history, with many cultures giving the embalming processes a greater religious meaning.

Embalming is distinct from taxidermy. Embalming preserves the human body intact, whereas taxidermy is the recreation of an animal's form often using only the creature's skin mounted on an anatomical form.

History

The Chinchorro culture in the Atacama desert of present-day Chile and Peru are among the earliest cultures known to have performed artificial mummification as early as 5000-6000 BC. Perhaps the ancient culture that had developed embalming to the greatest extent was Egypt, where, as early as the first dynasty (3200 BC), specialized priests were in charge of embalming and mummification. The Ancient Egyptians believed that preservation of the mummy empowered the soul after death, the latter of which would return to the preserved corpse.

Embalmer (band)

Embalmer is an American death metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1990 after changing their name from Corpsegrinder, and active to this day.

Formation and Early Releases (1989-1992)

In 1989, Toby Wulff (Bass/Vocals), Roy Stewart (Drums), and Mark Davis (Guitar) formed the band, originally called Corpsegrinder. They released their first demo, "Into The Oven" independently in 1991, by that time under the name Embalmer.During this time "Into The Oven" was noticed by the underground worldwide, and they began to distribute the demo through tape trade. After this release, the band underwent many a couple line-up changes. At the end of the recording of Into the Oven Scott Cunningham (Guitar) stepped in to play 2nd guitar but was quickly replaced with Duane Morris (Guitar). But late 1992 saw the departure of Toby Wulff and Duane Morris.

Rotting Remains to Hiatus (1993-1997)

In 1993 they independently released the demo "Rotting Remains", with Roy and Mark of the original group, and Rick Fleming (Vocals), Brian Holmberg (Bass), and Jocko Jermann (Guitar) joining them. In 1994 the demo caught the attention of Relapse Records and they began distributing it through their catalog worldwide. Late 1994 Brian Holmberg left the band, to be replaced by first the short Return of Toby Wulff, and then Dave Phillips (Bass), and in 1995 released the EP "There Was Blood Everywhere" on 7" vinyl under Relapse Records, containing four tracks. Two years later they released a compilation album under the same name, which re-released "Rotting Remains" and "There Was Blood Everywhere" on one album. Dave Phillips left and was replaced by Greg Jucuum (Bass) in early 1996 and then in late 1997 Rick Fleming left and was briefly replaced by Frank Walls (Vocals) Shortly following, they went on hiatus, and would not return for eight years.