WHY I LOVE THE UNCANNY VALLEY


EMDR, Shelley Lake, 2019

Loving the uncanny valley is actually more common than people think, especially among fans of horror, surreal art, or speculative fiction. Here’s why you might be drawn to it:

1. IT ENGAGES YOUR CURIOSITY

The uncanny valley presents something that’s almost human but not quite — it triggers your brain to ask why it feels off. That tension between familiarity and wrongness can be fascinating, like a puzzle your mind wants to solve.

2. YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO EMOTIONAL INTENSITY

For some, the discomfort or eeriness of uncanny things (e.g., lifelike dolls, CGI humans, AI voices) evokes a heightened emotional reaction — a mix of fear, awe, and fascination. If you enjoy intense feelings, the uncanny valley delivers that in spades.

3. YOU APPRECIATE THE SURREAL OR SUBVERSIVE

The uncanny valley can make you question what it means to be human, what counts as alive, and where we draw the line between real and artificial. This overlaps with **existential questions**, surreal aesthetics, and the subversion of norms — all common fascinations in people who enjoy art, philosophy, or speculative storytelling.

4. IT FEELS SAFE BUT STIMULATING

Unlike real danger, uncanny stimuli are usually experienced in controlled environments — movies, art, VR, etc. That means you get the thrill of discomfort or eeriness without real-world risk. It’s like a rollercoaster for your instincts.

5. AESTHETIC APPRECIATION

Some people just genuinely like the look and feel of uncanny things — wax figures, animatronics, liminal spaces, humanoid robots. It taps into a post-human or dreamlike aesthetic that’s visually and emotionally compelling.


CHATGPT
2025-07-28

Shelley LakeComment