"Powers of Horror"

"Powers of Horror," a concept by Julia Kristeva, explores how humans respond to feelings of abjection—things that disturb or threaten our sense of order, like waste, corpses, or decay. These objects evoke discomfort because they challenge our boundaries between self and other, life and death. Kristeva argues that confronting abjection is essential for understanding identity and the human condition, revealing the complex feelings of fear, fascination, and repulsion that arise when faced with the unknown or the disruptive aspects of existence. It emphasizes how these reactions shape our perceptions of purity, morality, and mortality.