Introduction to The Differences between Vietnamese and Western Horror Elements

The evolution of supernatural factors in literature and psychoanalysis has recently gained momentum due to the increasing demand for fictional and fantasy stories in entertainment and jobs that require a high level of creativity in storytelling and illustrating between the spiritual and modern world. Horror elements as well as supernatural factors play a crucial role in the lives of people around the world, largely contributing to the horror genre of storytelling. This type of literary genre stems from adaptation and cultural acculturation, based on the foundation of inheriting and promoting traditional values, as well as adapting and appropriating other cultures. Even within the same geographical region, a culture can have a distinctive set of beliefs that is influenced by neighboring cultures, such as Vietnam. Through word of mouth, supernatural elements are passed down and recorded into literary works as a means of contemplating different cultural dimensions and the mystery of Nature versus human life. Such factors profoundly impact the cultural consciousness within a community, the historical situation, and the current societal condition. Aspects of various horror and supernatural factors not only satisfy the literary needs of their readers, but also contribute to shaping the literature and providing a psychological observation into distinctive cultures. While Western cultures depict their beliefs about the supernatural, such as ghosts and demons, as standalone, surreal forces that emerge from the haunting of human consciousness and imagination, the Vietnamese view the supernatural world as inseparable from reality, linked by dreams and mutual connections to daily life. By addressing the ethical practices and understanding behind the spiritual beliefs of such cultures, researchers and students can move beyond their subjective view of the spiritual world and toward approaches that are more culturally respectful and sensitive.