Problem: Every time I wear it, people ask me "What's Cthulhu?" and I always seem to be at a loss to give a quick, clear, easy answer that doesn't make me seem like a cultist.
So if you have to give a one or two sentence response to "What is Cthulhu?" how would you explain?
-http://www.cthulhu.org/cthulhu/index.html
"Cthulhu is a fictional giant creature, one of the Great Old Ones in H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. It is often cited for the extreme descriptions given of its appearance, size, and the abject terror that it invokes. Cthulhu is often referred to in science fiction and fantasy circles as a tongue-in-cheek shorthand for extreme horror or evil."
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu
I think the last sentence in the wikipedia quote really nails it.
I then spent the next hour or so trying to explain what everything was and all the little references before we just gave up and switched back to Super Munchkin.
The best I can do in a line or two is; "Cthulhu is an otherworldly horror that will destroy your sanity if you look at him, and was killed by a steamboat."
It doesn't really do the story justice, but it's got it's own Cthulhu-esque geometry to it as they try to comprehend exactly what the last 5 words entail. DON'T explain it to them.
someone from Nubia, located in Southern Egypt along the Nile.
"What's a nubian?"
nice.Which is what you do to the next person who asks who Cthulhu is, or you could take them home & sacrifice them on your altar.
WW(Cthulhu)D?
I've got a medalion with a carving of Cthulhu on it, and I've also put a few silly pics of a stuffed toy Cthulhu up on deviant art, so I get asked a lot. Short answer: it's a monster from a really old horror novel.
Somehow that doesn't do Cthulhu justice. He's not just a monster... he defines a whole genre, and mythos, and represents so much more.
That's like saying "Ghandi a teacher from the early 20th century." Sure, it is the short answer. But it doesn't really work, imho.
Seriously, the Cthulhu mythos has never really engaged my interest. I dont' blame people for not knowing what he is.
"Cthulhu? He's a green guy with wings and a squid for a head. You can totally kill him with a steamboat. Some people think he's awesome, but eh." :P
Seriously, the Cthulhu mythos has never really engaged my interest. I dont' blame people for not knowing what he is.
Heretic!!!
:D
So if you have to give a one or two sentence response to "What is Cthulhu?" how would you explain?
The worse of any 2 evils.
Cthulhu is a great elder evil creature character from horror fiction that despite or because of its obscure nature is a pop culture icon.
It's just like Boba Fett in that way.
It's just like Boba Fett in that way.
....and Grand Moff Tarkin .... and Iago.... and The Kurgan.....:D
"Cthulhu is what I'll do to you. That's right, Cthulhu's me inside of you."
Well, I guess it could rhyme but it should leave them confused and having them think you're crazy.
Somehow that doesn't do Cthulhu justice. He's not just a monster... he defines a whole genre, and mythos, and represents so much more.
That's like saying "Ghandi a teacher from the early 20th century." Sure, it is the short answer. But it doesn't really work, imho.
Short answers mean people can ask to learn more if they want, but your not giving them the lecture otherwise.
Short answers mean people can ask to learn more if they want, but your not giving them the lecture otherwise.
Not really. If a door-to-door salesman comes to your house and says, "Hi, I have this cleaner. You can use it on your windows... do you have any questions?" He has pretty much lost a sale.
The real issue is whether or not it is actually important to define Cthulhu accurately. If the response (for any number of persons wearing catchy Cthulhu t-shirts is "no", more power to them, they're probably just looking for birds of a feather). But if you actually want to share who he is, as I often do, because Lovecraft & horror are things I get stoked about... the same way when you catch a cool movie trailer online and want to show all your friends... then that's not an effective way of conveying such information.
Better example
Cthulu is what 40k and Warhammer ripped off of when making the Chaos Gods.
You know the Far Realms? Yeah, well, he's the god-king of that place.
But from the reading I did, it appears he's more of mid-management than he is the god-king. The god-king would be either Azathoth or Yog-Sothoth.
And then those stupid dreams we get as the result of the proximity..... stupid brain waves
....What dreams? Do you mean nightmares?
They are only nightmares if they are unwanted. Me? I am kind of fond of non-euclidean geometry. :D
If you know what she means. ;)
Dreams in the Witch House?
They are only nightmares if they are unwanted. Me? I am kind of fond of non-euclidean geometry. :D
So you're not scared when I show up in your dreams?
So you're not scared when I show up in your dreams?
, nope fantasy doesn't really scare me either.... ;)My favorite story was Shadow Over Innsmouth.... cah-reee-peee!
Every now and then I am convinced I run into people from Innsmouth just wandering about..... big eyes.... short shuffling walks.... large gaping and drooling maws..... seaweed hanging off their clothing.... ick....
Every now and then I am convinced I run into people from Innsmouth just wandering about..... big eyes.... short shuffling walks.... large gaping and drooling maws..... seaweed hanging off their clothing.... ick....
So you're convinced that you run into me?
So you're convinced that you run into me?
Claws too? Dirt under your finger nails?
Claws too? Dirt under your finger nails?
Yep.
There are some good ones, yeah, but I've yet to see one that I think is just perfect. I'm not sure why...
I've yet to see one that I think is just perfect. I'm not sure why...
If you thought it was perfect, you would be in an asylum and not posting. That's why.
There are some good ones, yeah, but I've yet to see one that I think is just perfect. I'm not sure why...
Yeah. Most of them stink, low budget stuff. The stories are the best.
Yeah. Most of them stink, low budget stuff. The stories are the best.
You stink!
The original stories are the best way to enjoy Lovecraft.
Reanimator was pretty rockin'. Dagon was good, too... as well as the silent version of Call of Cthulhu.
I still think the best way to enjoy the story is to read. Or some of the really really low budget versions that come out of small independent studios.
"Cthulhu is a famous evil deity, invented by H.P. Lovecraft, one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th century".
I don't think "inspired bys" are the same as renditions of stories. Most have nothing to do with the original stories. Really someone just slaps the name on the box to sell copies, when really it is just lame.
I was thinking of films like John Carpenter's The Thing, or the Descent, not films that try to hijack HPL's name for more money.
All right, so I have this shirt I love that looks like the Coca-Cola logo, but it's just a parody, and it actually says "Worship CTHULHU (or else)."
Problem: Every time I wear it, people ask me "What's Cthulhu?" and I always seem to be at a loss to give a quick, clear, easy answer that doesn't make me seem like a cultist.
So if you have to give a one or two sentence response to "What is Cthulhu?" how would you explain?
You wouldn't have this problem if you answered "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn". Duh.
As an aside, my favorite sig on the entire board (whose owner I know not) says: "What part of ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn do you not understand?"
Utter non-euclidian cyclopean comedy gold right there.
How about
"Cthulhu is a famous evil deity, invented by H.P. Lovecraft, one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th century".
I would add in "...a famous evil deity that embodies and commands unfathomable, otherwordly horror and unspeakable chaos, invented by HPL..."
I don't think that's too long winded, and put together, would sums it up well and would probably pique someone's interest.
As a side note, you could respond to someone by drooling, screaming like a madman and making self-inflicted wounds... then stop suddenly and say, "Never you mind."
As a side note, you could respond to someone by drooling, screaming like a madman and making self-inflicted wounds... then stop suddenly and say, "Never you mind."
I like this method!
I would add in "...a famous evil deity that embodies and commands unfathomable, otherwordly horror and unspeakable chaos, invented by HPL..."
does he? I thought he was idle ... (you know "when he wakes up, it will be the end of the world" kind of idle )
Minja: I agree. Ever hear of the production company called the Asylum? Yeah, they're the guys that brought us things like transmorphers, the day the earth stopped, 100 million B.C., and snakes on a train. If you can't guess what inspires these guys... then... well...
Again, when I first brought it up I was trying to refer to films that have drawn from lovecraftian horror in both theme and delivery; where you can tell the writer and/or director has obviously read his share of HPL.
I can't stand all the films that try to make a mint that claim to be 'inspired by'. Why can't they all come up with original and honest ideas to make money with?
Because the last time someone did that was when the Greek City-States were in power? There simply aren't any original ideas any more. All we can do is present the same ideas in new packaging and hope that no one notices.
Cthulhu: His mind-shakes bring all the illithids to the yard.
he could teach you, but he'll have to ... eum ... eat you.
Cthulhu: His mind-shakes bring all the illithids to the yard.
10 yard penalty for a personal foul. AGAINST EVERYONE.
Afroman said it best:
Kelis -- wow
I hate her so much right now
“My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard”
Who gave her a record deal? Oh my God.
Because the last time someone did that was when the Greek City-States were in power? There simply aren't any original ideas any more. All we can do is present the same ideas in new packaging and hope that no one notices.
There many not be completely original tales that people can tell stories and make money with. But there are certainly better options than taking someone's title and throwing on your crap to make a buck when it has absolutely nothing to do with it and calling it inspired by.
a "n00b ian"? some guy who really sucks at video games.
Whose name is Ian.
On the movie note, Guillermo Del Toro is working with Universal to do make an At The Mountains Of Madness movie.
That would rock. I heard rumors of this that it was off and on. That would be great if it was on again.
I can't find any sort of pre-production information. I know del Toro has confirmed doing Hellboy 3 after the hobbit films. It would be awesome if this film got made, but if it is linked to del Toro, it would be several years down the road.
I get the feeling this is one of those urban myths amongst Lovecraft fans.
Cthulhu's mind shakes bring all the illithids to the yard.
*Spank spank spank*
They're better than yours
*Spank spank spank*
They're better than yours
Cthulhu's mind shakes bring all the illithids to the yard...
What I've read is that he is doing research with some monster creators, and they are working on various methods to make the monsters, because they really want to make sure they get it right. Unfortunately he's come out saying he has the Hobbit to do first (this is the first time I've heard of Hellboy III though). I remember hearing a projected date around 2015 (about 2 years each for three big budget, epicish movies is reasonable, even if it means Del Toro doing Lovecraft is that much further off).
That definitely confirms a lot of what I know myself. The two hobbit films will be shot (like the LOTR trilogy) in one production, meaning it would be a three to four year project. Tack Hellboy III (Del Toro mentioned it in passing during an interview about the Hobbit films, which is why it isn't anything big) onto that and its about 6 years down the road.
Cthulhu's mind shakes bring all the illithids to the yard...
I could teach you, but I'd have to charge....
I could teach you, but I'd have to charge....
How much?
Not everything that is 'inspired by' has to be garbage:
Conviction
or this one, a tribute to Poe:
Smoke
Bonus points if you know the Poe story (its all over the comments though
), or the movie playing in Conviction. :PHeck, O Brother Where Art Thou was inspired by the Odyssey, that's certainly not a bad film.
Not everything that is 'inspired by' has to be garbage:
You are right, it doesn't HAVE to be, but it often is... garbage. I think a lot of it depends on the who and how and the motivation.
Like The Tomb by Ulli Lommel... like WTF!!! No seriously! WTF?!?!?!
The king of the 'inspired bys'.
Reply's:
A personification of horror and madness, and tentacles.
Think something utterly irrevocably nightmarish insane. That's Cthulhu being lazy
Well imagine if you take insanity, a squid, and a really big blender...