Colin F. Barnes: Author
So it seems my reputation of being a bit of misery has preceded me, and two lovely ladies: Dark & Mysterious Anne Michaud, and Secretly Dark Goth Krista Walsh, as part of this blogy award merry go round, have nominated me as one of their ‘minions of misery’ – I’m suitably charmed and humbled.
The awarded of such a prestigious title is conferred the responsibility of three things: Tell a dark secret; Recommend a Dark Film, and recommend a Dark Book. So, not to let my sponsors down, here are my entries for this fun little idea:
1. Dark Film: This is surprisingly difficult to do. There are so many. I already mentioned EraserHead in my ’5 Great Things’ post and would have nominated that, so instead, I shall nominate one of the greatest horror films of all time: The Exorcist!
Release in 1973, it went to scare the bejesus out of most who saw it. It was a groundbreaking combination of psychological suspense, and satanic gore. Such classic scenes as the spider walk, and ‘that’ thing she did with the cross. Diabolically wonderful.
2. Dark Book: Again, this is very difficult for me to do as I’ve so many favourites. But for the purposes of this Gothy award, I’m going to go for a lovely dark slice of existentialism in Albert Camus’ L’Étranger (The Stranger). Camus was a French journalist and philosopher of the 20th century. He wrote a number of anti-nazi articles during the second world war, and wrote a number of seminal titles such as: The Plaque, and The Stranger.
To quote wikipedia, In The Stranger: Albert Camus characterizes his justification of the absurd through the experiences of a protagonist who simply does not conform to the system. His inherent honesty disturbs the status quo; Meursault’s inability to lie cannot seamlessly integrate him within society. This, in turn, threatens the simple fabric of human mannerisms expected in a structurally ordered society.
3. Dark Secret: Anne (one of my nominators) used one that I could have: I don’t want kids. I could add to that I don’t believe in marriage and I’m an atheist. However, none of those are secrets. So one of my dark secrets is that I used to be pierced in three places: my eyebrow, my tongue, and… that’s saved for another secret reveal. 
My three nominations are:
- Ren Warom (originator of the name of the award)
- Amy O Rizzo (who is secretly very dark behind all that baking and craft work)
- Belinda Frisch (Who we all know has a dark side)
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Oh, you’re such a tease Colin! I demand to know where that other piercing was!!!
Muhahaha!
Ms. Addams does have a point. I wouldn’t consider that a dark secret if you don’t include the “dark” part
Good choice for The Exorcist though. Hard to get much darker.
Indeed, it’s such a classic. It’s hard to think of a horror film that had as big an impact on the genre than that.
Did the third piercing take its name from a Royal?
Awesome choices there, Sir J. Especially the Camus (applauds) – though by Gothy The Exorcist is an excellent movie (the book also rocks).
Merci for picking my wee self to gothify it up on me blog. I has a guest story going up next but I shall write this marvellous award up for afterwards – that’s me sorted for a week (yay!) and in the time I have to scheme my answers I shall ponder a suitably doomish trio to nominate for the continuance of the Misery. May the gloom roll onward!
You is welcome Ren
It could have been my ‘secret’ but I do have a soft spot for ol’Camus and his band of merry existentialists 
I look forward to your dark and gloomy choices.
Oh The Exorcist …just mentioning it is like instant scare. I’m not going to sleep tonight thinking about it. First you made me afraid of toothbrushes and now this.
Excellent choices, my dear. And I love learning your dark secrets. Makes complete sense why the Minotaur was your avi for a bit.
This is the first time I’ve been nominated for my darkness. Thank you! I will plot something immediately.
oh noes, didn’t mean to scare you *muahhhaa* Thanks Amy, I kind of miss the old Minotaur, might have to bring him back.
I look forward to the choices by your dark self
You darkness knows know bounds. And what do you mean had? Why did you not keep them?
Oh – The Exorcist! Great choice. Add Rosemary’s Baby and Psycho to that list, and it’s no wonder you don’t want to have kids.
[...] Colin Barnes [...]
[...] Barnes was the previous MoMA winner who tagged me. You can read his dark musings here and claim that I'm "secretly very dark behind all that baking and craft [...]