In Episode 109 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast, hosts Daniel Breyer and Jeremy Streich dive into the age-old question: Why are we so drawn to violence in fiction? From brutal video games and horror movies to literary masterpieces like Blood Meridian, the conversation tackles how violence functions as both entertainment and existential reflection.
Along the way, they discuss Quentin Tarantino’s blood-soaked stylization, video games’ desensitizing effects, and whether humanity’s obsession with violence is innate or socially conditioned.
The episode kicks off with Jeremy admitting his fascination with violent video games and movies. From Grand Theft Auto to Call of Duty, he points out that violence has become a staple of mainstream entertainment.
“Humans love, many humans love gratuitous violence, gratuitous sex, gratuitous everything. It’s about feeling something—even if it’s disgust or fear.”
Daniel offers a counterpoint, suggesting that our interest in violence might stem from a deeper psychological need to confront our own mortality. By engaging with fictional violence, we process the inevitability of death in a controlled, detached way.
“We go into book worlds to escape reality, but when a character dies, it jolts us back into the truth that we’re all going to die.”
Jeremy connects the discussion to Ernest Becker’s The Denial of Death, which argues that much of human behavior is motivated by our fear of mortality. By watching or reading violent stories, we symbolically confront death without actually experiencing it.
“It’s a way of experiencing death by proxy. The fear, the thrill, the disgust—it’s all part of the same package.”
The conversation shifts to how violence has been central to storytelling for centuries. From Greek tragedies to modern thrillers, violent acts often serve as the climax of a narrative.
Daniel argues that violence is often used to create stakes and intensity, but it’s also a reflection of how humans deal with power, control, and survival.
“It’s not just the blood and gore—it’s what those moments reveal about humanity.”
The hosts discuss how Quentin Tarantino’s films often use violence as both spectacle and satire. Movies like Django Unchained and Pulp Fiction are lauded for their style, but they also highlight the absurdity of violence itself.
“Tarantino’s saying, ‘This is all a joke. You’re going to die. Everyone’s going to die. Might as well laugh at it,’” Daniel notes.
Jeremy admits he’s a fan of horror films, not because they scare him, but because they make him feel something visceral. He contrasts this with his dislike of more realistic portrayals of suffering, like terminal illness in literary fiction.
“Watching someone die of cancer in a book or movie is way scarier to me than some killer chasing teenagers. Because one feels real, and the other is just entertainment.”
The irony, the hosts note, is that many people turn to violent entertainment as a form of escapism. Whether through books, movies, or video games, fictional violence provides an emotional release—a way to experience adrenaline, fear, or even catharsis.
Jeremy adds:
“Maybe it’s just about feeling something. In a world where we’ve become so good at numbing ourselves, violence reminds us we’re still alive.”
The discussion returns to Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, which presents violence not as entertainment, but as a fundamental aspect of human nature. Unlike Tarantino’s stylized violence, McCarthy’s brutality is bleak, relentless, and devoid of meaning.
“McCarthy’s genius is in showing us that violence is part of existence. It’s not good or bad—it just is,” Daniel reflects.
As the episode concludes, the hosts agree that humanity’s fascination with violence is unlikely to fade. Whether it’s through video games, horror movies, or classic literature, people will continue to grapple with the dark side of their nature.
“If you’re not asking why we’re so drawn to violence, you’re missing a fundamental part of what it means to be human,” Jeremy concludes.
For a deeper discussion on violence in storytelling and why we’re so captivated by it, tune in to Episode 109 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast.
