Why Are Nursery Rhymes So F***ing Creepy?

Summary

This video explores the eerie connection between nursery rhymes and horror, questioning why seemingly innocent children's songs can be so unsettling. It delves into theories about the dark origins of rhymes like 'London Bridge' and 'Ring Around the Rosie,' suggesting they may have been influenced by historical events or cultural fears. The video also examines how the Victorian era's shift in the perception of children, along with the rise of Gothic literature, contributed to the association of nursery rhymes with horror in modern media. Sponsored by 80,000 Hours, a non-profit offering career advice for positive global impact.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video is sponsored by 80,000 Hours, a non-profit focused on helping individuals find fulfilling careers that positively impact the world.
• 📽️ Fritz Lang's 1931 film 'M' is noted for being one of the first to use a nursery rhyme in a horror context, setting a precedent for the genre.
• 🧒 The script explores the juxtaposition of nursery rhymes with horror elements in films, such as 'The Birds', 'Evil Dead', and 'Nightmare on Elm Street'.
• 👻 The 'creepy nursery rhyme' trope is deeply ingrained in culture, often used effectively due to its unexpected contrast with innocence.
• 📚 Folklorist Alice Bertha Gomme proposed a dark theory about the origins of 'London Bridge', suggesting it might be about child sacrifice.
• 🤔 The script questions the creepiness of nursery rhymes, considering their original purpose to be sung by and for children.
• 📖 The script mentions myths about 'Ring Around the Rosie' and 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary', suggesting they might be about the plague and torture, respectively.
• 🔍 However, it clarifies that there is no concrete evidence supporting these dark origins, and that such myths may be spurious.
• 🎶 Nursery rhymes evolve from oral tradition, with lyrics changing over time to reflect cultural values, which can lead to lost meanings.
• 📚 The late 18th century saw nursery rhymes being printed in books, which solidified their lyrics and tied them to a specific cultural worldview.
• 🧩 The human mind tends to fill in unknowns with horror, which may explain why nursery rhymes with obscure cultural references can be unsettling.
• 👶 The modern view of children as pure and innocent is a relatively recent concept, which has heightened the impact of horror associated with their corruption.
• 🎬 Horror in nursery rhymes and children's imagery reflects deep societal fears about the corruption of innocence and the disruption of the natural order.
• 🏗️ Interestingly, the script ends with a mention of bodies found beneath London Bridge, hinting that there might be some truth to the dark origins of nursery rhymes.

Q & A

What is the significance of the year 1931 in the context of the video script?

In 1931, Fritz Lang, a legendary silent film director, made his first movie with sound, a dark thriller called 'M'. This film is notable for being one of the earliest examples of a horror film that uses a nursery rhyme.

How does Alfred Hitchcock use nursery rhymes in his film 'The Birds'?

Alfred Hitchcock juxtaposes children singing a Scottish folk song with the ominous gathering of birds, creating a chilling contrast that enhances the horror element of the film.

What is the connection between nursery rhymes and horror in the context of 'Evil Dead'?

In 'Evil Dead', a possessed woman sings a creepy song to the tune of 'Ring Around the Rosie', which adds to the horror of the film by using a familiar nursery rhyme in a disturbing context.

What is the 'creepy nursery rhyme' trope and why is it effective?

The 'creepy nursery rhyme' trope involves using nursery rhymes, which are typically associated with innocence and childhood, in horror contexts. It is effective because it subverts the expected innocence, creating a sense of unease and fear.

What theory did folklorist Alice Bertha Gomme propose about the origins of the children's rhyme 'London Bridge'?

Alice Bertha Gomme proposed a dark theory that the seemingly innocent children's song 'London Bridge' is actually about the ritual sacrifice of children under the bridge, based on folklore that bridges would collapse unless a human sacrifice was buried in the foundations.

What is the myth associated with the nursery rhyme 'Ring Around the Rosie'?

The myth associated with 'Ring Around the Rosie' claims that it is actually about the Black Death, with the lyrics supposedly referring to the symptoms and spread of the plague.

Why do nursery rhymes have meanings that are lost to us today?

Nursery rhymes have lost meanings because they were born out of the oral tradition and evolved organically. As they were written down and printed in books, particularly during the Victorian era, they became fixed, but many of the cultural references they contained have since been lost.

How did the Victorian era contribute to the固化 of nursery rhymes?

The Victorian era saw cheaper and more available printing, as well as a cultural shift towards viewing children as innocent and pure. This led to the popularization of nursery rhyme books, which in turn locked in the words to the rhymes, preserving them in a particular cultural context.

What role do cultural associations play in the perception of horror in nursery rhymes?

Cultural associations, such as the Victorian era's association with Gothic horror and spiritualism, influence the perception of horror in nursery rhymes. The human mind tends to fill in the unknown with horror, especially when nursery rhymes are removed from their innocent context and associated with dark themes.

Why are children and nursery rhymes effective in horror media?

Children and nursery rhymes are effective in horror media because they represent innocence and societal values. When this innocence is threatened or corrupted, it reflects deep societal fears and creates a chilling effect.

What modern perspective on children contrasts with historical views and contributes to the horror of nursery rhymes?

The modern perspective views children as pure and innocent, a stark contrast to historical views where children were treated more like small adults. This shift in cultural values makes the idea of childhood being corrupted or threatened particularly disturbing in the context of horror.

What real-life discovery supports the theory of a dark origin for some nursery rhymes?

In 2007, during building work for a tourist attraction, bodies were uncovered beneath London Bridge, suggesting that there may be some truth to the dark origin stories of nursery rhymes, such as the one proposed by Alice Bertha Gomme.