Art Cures, our new series, offers a themed list of music, films, books, events and other cool stuff in hopes of supplying you with a sufficient art fix, as well as the cures you didn’t know you needed. So whether you’re reeling from a recent break-up, seeking inspiration for your creative block, or just needing a change of scenery, these lists will help raise your spirits and remedy your ills.
I’m not sure if it’s the jarring juxtaposition of sunshine and dread, or if it’s simply because I spent 80% my childhood summers walking to and from the local video store with a backpack filled with horror rentals, but I’ve always found myself seeking out extra weird and unnerving things to watch, read, and do in the summertime. There’s just something so alluring about haunted vacation spots, shark attacks, and murderous camp counselors, right? Here’s to making your summer a little bit scarier.
- Read Stephen King’s infamous short story “Children of the Corn” because it’s a quick, summery read with the greatest of things to offer: a road trip gone horribly wrong, evil children, ghost towns, a murderous cult, and terrifying religious imagery. The film version is streaming on Netflix, but the story is freakier.
- Move forward with the Stephen King vibes by visiting the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, our nation’s largest and oldest pet cemetery. It’s definitely less ominous than the one depicted in King’s sinister novel but still — it’s a graveyard for pets. It’s only about an hour north of the city by train. Urban road trip?
- Listen to the music from The Virgin Suicides. Air’s haunting instrumental tracks + old pop music will make you feel nostalgic and weird and dreamy. It’s ideal for when you’re riding the subway (or walking around a cemetery) alone on a summer day.
- NETFLIX DOUBLE FEATURE: Sleepaway Camp II and Sleepaway Camp III! These gems have been perfect for summertime movie nights for decades: they’re fun and cheesy and ridiculous but also — dare I say it — kind of scary.
- Watch Rose McGowan’s directorial debut, Dawn. Inspired by the true story of Charles ‘Smitty’ Schmid, aka the Pied Piper of Tucson, the short film gives an emotional look at femininity, loneliness, and evil. Then revisit the OG literary retelling — Joyce Carol Oates’s acclaimed short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Even if you’ve read this a million times, it never lose its chill-factor.
- Head down to Gowanus and check out The Morbid Anatomy Museum. It offers a whole bunch of exhibitions, events, lectures, books, taxidermy classes, and cool stuff to buy. And speaking of Gowanus, check out the history of this place nearby.
Article by Nicole Woszcyzna. Follow her on Twitter @nicolewosz.
