Spoopy House, an HTML5 Zine
This is a HTML5 zine made for InspireJam. This is just me sharing some of the spoopy and spooky things I enjoy. If you can relate either add a comment or make your own zine about spoopy and spooky things.
The biggest inspiration is the Yesterweb Zine: Hall-O-Zine Edition. Its a love letter to HTML, old web design and old Halloween/spooky sites and themes.
Truth be told this entire zine is a mixture of things I love and things that inspire me mixed in a HTML5 cauldron. I also ran out of time to put all the things I wanted, so expect a part two shortly!
I can't remember if it was Twitter or tumblr, but I remember a conversation about how everyone has minor magic like 'the gift of gab' or 'green thumb'. I really liked this concept so I thought about myself and others about the strange gifts we have that we may not immediately think of as magic, but probably we should and that seems magical to others. To think better of ourselves in a world that demands perfection.
Regarding me...
Now what about you? Make a zine, journal entry, tweet or secret diary entry about it. Or share in the comments!
Time period created: 2004 and 2006 by Eric Heisserer.
The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant native to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States in North Carolina and South Carolina. It catches its prey—chiefly insects and arachnids—with a trapping structure formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves, which is triggered by tiny hairs (called "trigger hairs" or "sensitive hairs") on their inner surfaces.
-Wikipedia
The name of this online story/creepypasta is the inspiration of this zine's name. Dionaea House starts as one man's investigation into the final years and death of a friend and spans many different perspectives from different places on the internet (mostly blogs) and different folk's experiences with the Dionaea House mystery.
I remember reading some of the livejournal blogs first and becoming enthralled with the story and the idea of unfiction. I began to look around for all of the related items as they are on different blogs/websites. I felt like a detective even if it was a story. I also became curious about the idea of linear stories but experienced in a non-linear way.
There is a final post from 2006 promising a massive expansion of the house's lore, but the story stops as Heisserer wants to make a move with Dionaea house. Which could have been great, except a movie never materialized and Heisserer has understandably moved onto other work.
But still, the young kid in me can't help wondering what the finale would have been like.
I went throught the rabbit hole to see if it holds up, and at least it did for me. If you don't mind it not having a true ending, I recommend you check it out. Its all freely availabile online and if you want a guide, here is a comprehensive one at TV Tropes.
Here are some spoopy stickers.
From the Transparent Stickers tumblr. These cannot be used for profit, just for fun.
Honestly the entire Bogleech site is full of great spooky and spoopy reviews, but of particular interest is Wojcik's reviews of Ugly stickers that came with bubble gum. Images included. Gross but well done.
Misc.
Like many kids my age, I grew up on movies like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. And online series like Marble Hornets. I suppose this ties into Dionaea House as I've always enjoyed the framing of stumbling onto a story and following a mystery. Here are some of my unorganized and incomplete thoughts on the subject.
My Favorite: The West Report - Word of warning, this doesn't have an ending. That said it was captivating while it was releasing episodes on Youtube and even got a shoutout from NightMind. If you are willing to take a peak, its obvious why. Its really well done and there are bits that outdo larger budget horror movies. In fact, when I was watching Blair Witch 2016 I couldn't help but feel like The West Report did certain things better.
UnNostalgia: The Blair Witch Project - I really loved this film as a kid. I remember being so scared and my mind trying to workout the ending. I missed out on the original mockumentaries and the new one. However I did google around and found that there was an expanded universe, which I couldn't access because I didn't have the money for the books, comics and games. So I was eager to watch the second film, which I thought would explain the mystery. I remember the monumental disappointment when I watched the film at home. Its not a true sequel but a filmmaker using the name to make whatever movie he wanted.
But at the same time, I did go back and watch the film as an adult. It was one of those, I wanted to recreate some part of my childhood but I really can't moments. I couldn't get past the trio yelling about the map and did not finish the movie.
That said its not completely ruined for me. Even if I logically know a lot of the expanded universe may not be 100% correct, may just be ways to make more money off of something successful, I still have a part of me that gets excited about the mystery aspect. Now I have the money to buy the books and some of them are epistolary style!!! I love that. Its also cool to see others still speculating decades later, you can see the evidence of that quickly on Youtube.
Evolution: Her Story - I wonder how much this fits here. I guess its my zine, so I can do what I want. That said its not a totally random addition either. This is psychological/crime solving FMV experience that people still debate whether its an interactive movie or game. I don't really care, its amazing no matter the label you use.
You are an unnamed individual who accesses police records regarding a woman who admits to murder. You search the database, watch the clips and form your own conclusions. Although the clips do have a linear timestamp order, your expereince isn't. Seifert's acting also really kicks this up a notch and really contributes to an unsettling experience.
I say this is an evolution of Found Footage in that its a one stop experience with everything being in the game, but you still have to search around and form your own conclusions with the clues presented. And because each person will search for and key in on different things, the order one discovers things can create a unique dramatic experience for each person.
Whether you remember these or not, they are fun to make. Many thanks to Dollzmania which archives and collects doll makers. This section would not be possible without their hard work.
| Made with Prep Goth Doll Maker at EasyDoll | Made with Amara's Goth Dollmaker |
 
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Thanks for reading and keep it
