Hey there, monsters! We hope you’re ready to meet Katherine DeGilio, the talented dark artist behind “Artful Mediums” in our episode DARK ARTS!
What inspired "Artful Mediums"?
I have always been interested in art, witchcraft, and everything to do with the mystic. It seemed only natural to mix them together. I wanted to explore the inherent art of witchcraft and the magic in art. I don't remember the exact moment I decided to write about a witch who uses art to practice magic, but I do remember that as soon as the idea did come I knew I had it.
How do you connect with the horror theme "dark arts"?
While the term "dark arts" typically means magic used to cause harm, I've found harm isn't always purposeful. I like horror because its a way to explore pain and darkness through a wider lens. People aren't always inherently evil but can commit evil. Horror lets me explore how we get to the extremes. I'm a huge fan of Philip Zimbardo's The Lucifer Effect, which explores how good people can commit atrocities. I like the terms dark arts and mixing darkness with art in particular because of the opposite connotations. Art is typically thought of as beautiful and well-done, but how can we make it nasty? How can we corrupt it? How do we find ourselves corrupted? How do we face the consequences of it? Those are all themes of dark arts, and I connect with them through my intrinsic need to understand the world around me.
Your piece is full of gasp-worthy twists - how did you come up with this layered narrative?
Lots of coffee and putting dents in my temples from holding my hands there for so long. I wrote "Artful Mediums" a long time ago, so I don't remember how I came up with it, but I do remember struggling to come up with it.
As a creative, how do you relate to the art-based magic in the piece?
Is calling art magic narcissistic of me? I truly do believe in the power of art. From writing, music, and paintings that start revolutions to work that simply changes a single person's mind, art has always been a form of expression that seems above us. In "Artful Mediums" Maris is afraid of her art. She knows its power, and in the end uses it poorly. I think every artist can relate to being disappointed in how their past art turned out or how they choose to partake in it, though maybe not on such a scale.
How did you get into horror?
I spent most of my life hiding from the horror genre. I scare easily and watching horror as a child gave me so much anxiety. However, as I grew up, I started getting into horror writing. It was wild, macabre, and strange, and during that time, my life seemed to be going that way. I related to it on a more personal level and found comfort that I wasn't the only one in the world with horrible strange thoughts and a crazy life.
What do you enjoy in the genre?
My favorite thing about the genre is that it has no limits. Anything can happen at any time. I'm a huge fan of mystery, but there's a continuity to it. You know there will be a culprit; there's comfort in that. But with horror, sometimes it leaves you with more questions than answers. I absolutely love it. It makes me think.
What scares you?
I have always had a very specific rule when watching horror movies: if I can punch it, we're okay. Monsters? Fine. Serial Killers. I'll take them any day. But the second someone gets possessed, I'm out. I hate the idea that someone can control my body and mind. I think then my biggest fear really is not having autonomy.
What’s your writing process like?
I am not a linear writer. My work always starts with a moment. There's usually a scene that pops in my head and I know I need to write that scene. I then spend my time figuring out how to get there, then figuring out what the ramifications of that moment would be. Even if I have a good idea for a story, the real writing doesn't begin until I have that scene in mind.
How does identity play a role in your writing?
Because of who I am, I aim to write diverse narratives. I didn't grow up with a lot of LGBTQ+ content. I know how powerful it is to see yourself represented on the screen and I want to contribute to someone else's positive experience there. Other than that, I am a naturally curious person. Because of this, I find all my work tends to ask questions. I don't pretend I have all the answers, so I don't like leaving an audience with one I'm not sure about.
What role do you think horror plays in the LGBTQ community?
Horror has always been used to represent the unspeakable. Vampires were historically literary metaphors for sex. Frankenstein was a narrative of prejudice. It's a way to write about things the public doesn't like talking about in a way that is palatable for them. It's a way to hide in plain sight. For most of history, the LGBTQ+ community has not been considered palatable. They've had to hide in plain sight, just like the themes in horror.
What’s next for you, creatively?
I am currently working on a YA Mystery titled The Psychopath Didn't Do It. In it, a girl named Bennie is bullied because the town believes she's a psychopath. She learns to live with it, but when random girls start getting murdered around town, the school starts to blame Bennie. Caught between a blemished record and facing a killer, Bennie teams up with the other oddballs in school to solve the case.
Any great horror recommendations?
Us is my favorite horror movie so far. The detail in it is outstanding. For books, either Coraline by Niel Gaiman or The Dark Half by Stephen King.