Keywords

Uncanny, Puppetry, Dark Theater, Practical Effects, Intellectual Uncertainty, Innocence and Horror

Abstract

In this thesis, I will explore the role of puppetry and practical effects in evoking the uncanny and the uneasy as well as questioning the implications they have in dark theater and cinematic contexts. This paper will examine how puppetry and practical effects can contribute to potentially disturbing and dark imagery both on screen and in live theater. I will be focusing on looking at Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal, as well as at different puppetry performances used in Voyage of the Little Mermaid (1992), Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, Kirikou and the Sorceress (Kirikou et la Sorciere), and even animatronics on theme park dark rides, through the lens of Artaud’s theater of cruelty. By exploring the nature of an audience’s interaction with puppets in these performances, I will investigate how certain techniques can cause unease in viewers. This research will also explore how these effects are used to show themes of existential dread, horror, and the grotesque. This can offer a deeper understanding of how the techniques bring out emotional responses. Why are puppets as good as or better than human bodies at telling these stories? I will address several core questions: How do puppets exploit the uncanny to provoke discomfort in viewers? What unique emotional responses do puppets generate compared to human actors, especially within dark and disturbing narratives? How do practical effects— tangible elements— as opposed to CGI enhance darker themes in film? Additionally, I will explore the cultural and historical evolution of these techniques, examining their relevance to modern audiences. Finally, this research will delve into the unsettling effects of using something childlike or innocent in an uncomfortable context, exploring how the contrasts affect the audience.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Wood, Vandy

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

School of Performing Arts

Format

PDF

Document Type

Thesis

Identifier

DP0053232

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