cursed images: let's get together and pin down the aesthetic!

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https://twitter.com/cursedimages_2
https://www.instagram.com/cursed_images/

i: a lot of photo by flash (but not all)
ii: much reflective gleam of animalian cornea (but not all)
iii: it is often quite lynchian (but not always)
iv: it overlaps with creepypasta but is much broader (and imo more subtly imaginative)
v: double ditto "lurking clown" photos, which would obviously belong but actually don't often feature
vi: triple ditto blobismus!
vii: the shadowland liminality (liminalism?) of various psycho-affective border-territories: man-beast, "non-sentient" objects with vivid character, would you eat this, creepy visual puns via juxtaposition, sinister twee peril, suburban darkness, awareness/lack of awareness, daft rando performativity that scares the fkn bejesus out of you (cf coulrophobia and v)

this (and https://twitter.com/WorstBlobby) are the only things that comfort me any more: i am happy to accept this is a decadent pathology and an indication of despair

over to you

proposed name for the aesthetic:

mark s, Thursday, 9 March 2017 10:03 (eight years ago)

oh yes, the curator ask that images be sent him/her/them/whatever, and selects from that according to i guess "cursedness" -- one stipulation is NO SHOPS

mark s, Thursday, 9 March 2017 10:07 (eight years ago)

vii encompasses uncanny valley also obv

mark s, Thursday, 9 March 2017 10:49 (eight years ago)

vii is key. a lot of mundane scenes made jarring by having some sort of jarring animalistic/death-drive presence. there's a lot of meat

ogmor, Thursday, 9 March 2017 11:05 (eight years ago)

jarring? jarring

ogmor, Thursday, 9 March 2017 11:05 (eight years ago)

yes i'm not sure if jarring is quite the right word, seems to suggest too abrupt a realisation, too step-change: what's unsettling is that this realisation (that you stepped across a border into a world you really don't want to be in) is simultaneously gradual AND quick, beginning slight ending up intense -- this was ordinary and funny and NOW THERE'S NO WAY BACK

(and partly it''s unsettling partly bcz "gradual AND quick" isn't a real-world category?)

there *is* a lot of meat (shd dig out adorno's stuff on animals and meat, feel it's surprisingly pertinent, esp. as you wouldn't tag TWA as a connoisseur of this kind of stuff)

mark s, Thursday, 9 March 2017 11:17 (eight years ago)

also, bananas

attention vampire (MatthewK), Thursday, 9 March 2017 11:45 (eight years ago)

the mapping of the immanent liminality of the banana is an epistemic breakthrough all on its own

mark s, Thursday, 9 March 2017 12:12 (eight years ago)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2lryuOUsAAbiEp.jpg

mark s, Thursday, 9 March 2017 23:03 (eight years ago)

(not actually what i was looking for, but i can't resist the expressions)

mark s, Thursday, 9 March 2017 23:04 (eight years ago)

lmao

Le Bateau Ivre, Thursday, 9 March 2017 23:08 (eight years ago)

it's a cursed image world we just etc

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsmxaFfVIAMExAO.jpg

this is closer to what i was after: people in a CI picture where you absolutely can't tell (bcz artful? bcz we are just intruders in their realm?) if this is a performance or verité

(the kid's performing but what about the woman pushing the trolley…)

mark s, Thursday, 9 March 2017 23:21 (eight years ago)

I get Diane Arbus like vibes from some of them.

MaresNest, Friday, 10 March 2017 00:05 (eight years ago)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6XUu05UoAArI1B.jpg

^ Actually dreamed this in a nightmare about four years ago

Never changed username before (cardamon), Friday, 10 March 2017 00:32 (eight years ago)

Loved the truck with the "flames" paint job, on fire.

Sanpaku, Friday, 10 March 2017 00:52 (eight years ago)

feel this is outside the standard guidelines:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C69END7WYAA07ym.jpg

mark s, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 11:25 (eight years ago)

four weeks pass...

a crucified easter bunny made of toast, outside tooting station (stolen from @andrewbloch)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9R4c7XXgAEmkkJ.jpg

not officially cursed: i can't decide if it fits the aesthetic (perhaps too well made)

mark s, Friday, 14 April 2017 20:21 (eight years ago)

two months pass...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDXmc0dVwAA_WDg.jpg

mark s, Wednesday, 5 July 2017 22:08 (eight years ago)

it plays "Let It Go" when you open the lid

more polls about food and reactionary art (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 5 July 2017 22:09 (eight years ago)

Mark, you need to follow the Facebook group called Theories of the deep understanding of things.

Jack-et potato? (jed_), Wednesday, 5 July 2017 22:13 (eight years ago)

https://www.facebook.com/Theories.of/photos/a.336231093415.155746.300760038415/10155393945428416/?type=3&theater

Jack-et potato? (jed_), Wednesday, 5 July 2017 22:17 (eight years ago)

http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/1/47/69/47/20150928/ob_12d4c5_0lbwsph.jpg

Heavy Doors (jed_), Wednesday, 5 July 2017 22:35 (eight years ago)

^is that it? that's it

Heavy Doors (jed_), Wednesday, 5 July 2017 22:35 (eight years ago)

so not gonna happen

mark s, Wednesday, 5 July 2017 22:40 (eight years ago)

omg

gin and chronic (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 6 July 2017 10:58 (eight years ago)

one month passes...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DGt74NfVoAADSRP.jpg

mark s, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 15:39 (eight years ago)

i liked this one https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DGgSkxxVYAANrnj.jpg

ogmor, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 15:42 (eight years ago)

Imagine: you've called round on some errand and the entire family is dressed like this. No explanation offered.

http://i.imgur.com/MuRaz.jpg

It's the perfect contrast of the mundane and the inexplicable, the ordinary suburban backdrop combined with whatever the hell it is these people are doing.

Another weird detail I've just noticed is "Lisa" isn't holding a saxophone but a large pipe(?)

Pheeel, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 16:06 (eight years ago)

#nofilter

mark s, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 16:08 (eight years ago)

man every single one of those "real life Simpsons" photos/mock-ups creeps the hell out of me

frogbs, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 16:11 (eight years ago)

lol @ all the comments that just say "Russia"

brimstead, Wednesday, 9 August 2017 02:08 (seven years ago)

https://68.media.tumblr.com/66d6482455e5702d0bd84945b6031567/tumblr_otwkho8JzF1w22gauo1_1280.jpg_

for sale: clown shoes, never worn (bizarro gazzara), Monday, 14 August 2017 18:52 (seven years ago)

https://68.media.tumblr.com/66d6482455e5702d0bd84945b6031567/tumblr_otwkho8JzF1w22gauo1_1280.jpg

for sale: clown shoes, never worn (bizarro gazzara), Monday, 14 August 2017 18:52 (seven years ago)

two weeks pass...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBBv2keV0AAW2vN.jpg

mark s, Friday, 1 September 2017 22:23 (seven years ago)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJTZ2McUEAAgnc9.jpg

mark s, Saturday, 9 September 2017 18:47 (seven years ago)

the gigeresque uh 'aperture' on the tree really adds to the effect

Wesley Shackleton explained "look at that beast." (bizarro gazzara), Saturday, 9 September 2017 19:07 (seven years ago)

feel like the twitter acct deviates from the aesthetic a lot now for just Funny Images though the ones reposted here are mostly on point

ciderpress, Saturday, 9 September 2017 19:09 (seven years ago)

one month passes...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DNexeoFU8AA8R8l.jpg

soref, Tuesday, 31 October 2017 17:37 (seven years ago)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DNZxj0vV4AAlJHy.jpg

mark s, Tuesday, 31 October 2017 20:29 (seven years ago)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DNffpu0WsAI8YCT.jpg

Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 31 October 2017 21:04 (seven years ago)

three weeks pass...

gahhhhh

http://78.media.tumblr.com/d96b5221996b8802b15a84e1494cff96/tumblr_ozlormlKdN1vdgpnbo1_500.jpg

It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes. (bizarro gazzara), Wednesday, 22 November 2017 17:56 (seven years ago)

three weeks pass...

DAIRY CULTURE HAS GONE TOO FAR pic.twitter.com/ZI60j0pWoU

— rahel aima (@cnqmdi) December 15, 2017

or click through: http://batheinmymilk.com/

mark s, Friday, 15 December 2017 15:07 (seven years ago)

I'm upset to find out at the bottom of that page that is not real ;_;

(well, the photos are real, but it's by some dude)

♫ very clever with maracas.jpg ♫ (Le Bateau Ivre), Friday, 15 December 2017 15:25 (seven years ago)

idgi

Susan Stranglehands (jed_), Friday, 15 December 2017 16:43 (seven years ago)

long fingers

frogbs, Friday, 15 December 2017 16:44 (seven years ago)

https://78.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m231sn5cxQ1ql8xx7o1_500.png

dipso inferno (bizarro gazzara), Friday, 15 December 2017 16:52 (seven years ago)

Only just realised the teletubbies pic is in a hospital ward, not some kid's bedroom. I guess that kind-of explains it? Maybe?

Pheeel, Friday, 15 December 2017 21:18 (seven years ago)

the grilled cheese looks fine tho...

Muad'Doob (Moodles), Wednesday, 11 December 2024 20:36 (seven months ago)

so does the foot

he/him hoo-hah (map), Wednesday, 11 December 2024 20:41 (seven months ago)

that really is a great example of a cursed image

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 11 December 2024 20:48 (seven months ago)

why is it snowing in their kitchen?

Judge Judy, executioner (stevie), Thursday, 12 December 2024 11:24 (seven months ago)

is my first but not my last question

Judge Judy, executioner (stevie), Thursday, 12 December 2024 11:24 (seven months ago)

two weeks pass...

https://64.media.tumblr.com/3f6f5549f10fa3da6bac6efaa474e326/f81ed4f3383abdd0-10/s1280x1920/2033a8d83cc78037268efa5cc8fe70038ac4ff15.jpg

Why did the Beatles shun the Space Needle? (bizarro gazzara), Thursday, 26 December 2024 20:20 (seven months ago)

we've all been there.

birming man (ledge), Thursday, 26 December 2024 21:02 (seven months ago)

So not gonna happen

Judge Judy, executioner (stevie), Friday, 27 December 2024 07:30 (seven months ago)

one month passes...

https://64.media.tumblr.com/b46cd2764bb48f9a6ff7b71801897d50/0ca8114ff3704f72-23/s540x810/6d5160258feefcf08acce5e4f0ae7abea352e205.png

Why did the Beatles shun the Space Needle? (bizarro gazzara), Saturday, 1 February 2025 07:58 (six months ago)

one month passes...

A Branson Mount Rushmore with John Wayne, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin

https://i.imgur.com/AXdg4DA.png

papal hotwife (milo z), Tuesday, 8 April 2025 23:50 (four months ago)

That's Laurence Olivier in The Entertainer

Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Wednesday, 9 April 2025 14:18 (three months ago)

pretty sure that’s Naomi from Mama’s Family

brimstead, Wednesday, 9 April 2025 14:45 (three months ago)

I don't know if the property is public, but it's definitely not intellectual.

pplains, Saturday, 12 April 2025 17:56 (three months ago)

There's a mural in GTA V that does this:

https://i.imgur.com/FDqBoqV.png

pplains, Saturday, 12 April 2025 17:58 (three months ago)

I thought Marilyn was David Bowie! It was confusing.

mom tossed in kimchee (quincie), Sunday, 13 April 2025 04:45 (three months ago)

kind of looks like scarlett johansson there

z_tbd, Sunday, 13 April 2025 14:53 (three months ago)

Greetings from Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

https://i.imgur.com/HDpn346.png

pplains, Sunday, 13 April 2025 16:46 (three months ago)

That's pretty good ngl

Tracer Hand, Sunday, 13 April 2025 16:48 (three months ago)

Why don't they just use real pigeons?

I pity the foo fighter (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 13 April 2025 16:48 (three months ago)

I'm sure that gag from Top Secret! happens there all the time.

pplains, Sunday, 13 April 2025 16:51 (three months ago)

would not have placed charlie chaplin in red state boomer iconography tbh

five six seven, eight nine ten, begin (map), Sunday, 13 April 2025 17:35 (three months ago)

I thought Marilyn was David Bowie! It was confusing.

― mom tossed in kimchee (quincie), Sunday, April 13, 2025 5:45 AM (twelve hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

the branson marilyn monroe reminds me of that joke that anyone who's "had a little work done" has always "had a little work done to look more like a mountain lion"

five six seven, eight nine ten, begin (map), Sunday, 13 April 2025 17:38 (three months ago)

https://64.media.tumblr.com/eb1e2db861187ea2ec567aa74b31c1a0/73478b23c18cad24-43/s1280x1920/7982766c4ec25dc296e399f6673c5d8e4f5ca3b0.jpg

Why did the Beatles shun the Space Needle? (bizarro gazzara), Tuesday, 15 April 2025 12:39 (three months ago)

yes

z_tbd, Tuesday, 15 April 2025 13:46 (three months ago)

YES! fuck yes, good to see you bizarro

z_tbd, Tuesday, 15 April 2025 13:46 (three months ago)

feeling so anti-stressed

five six seven, eight nine ten, begin (map), Tuesday, 15 April 2025 14:19 (three months ago)

We all float down here

I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Tuesday, 15 April 2025 15:32 (three months ago)

https://64.media.tumblr.com/9df0e223539c9b97e7130585deb0a71c/0bc36f30022c8853-71/s400x600/2e70ebcb9f114b1cc5508995587278c87a82d2bd.jpg

Why did the Beatles shun the Space Needle? (bizarro gazzara), Saturday, 19 April 2025 18:31 (three months ago)

i sense a theme... or an interest

five six seven, eight nine ten, begin (map), Saturday, 19 April 2025 19:23 (three months ago)

oh no

Tracer Hand, Sunday, 20 April 2025 08:09 (three months ago)

ugh ban me i think that's ai

five six seven, eight nine ten, begin (map), Tuesday, 22 April 2025 01:20 (three months ago)

I think that's an actual photograph of a real event.

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Tuesday, 22 April 2025 03:07 (three months ago)

the cover of the new Wet Leg album feels v cursed to me:

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1814951076_16.jpg

better than ezra collective soul asylum (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 30 April 2025 16:28 (three months ago)

that's wonderful

corrs unplugged, Monday, 12 May 2025 13:03 (two months ago)

thought for a second i was in the literal album covers thread

scanner darkly, Monday, 12 May 2025 22:58 (two months ago)

one month passes...

https://imgur.com/a/5pD9TtS

Andy the Grasshopper, Friday, 4 July 2025 21:49 (one month ago)

https://imgur.com/a/5pD9TtS

Andy the Grasshopper, Friday, 4 July 2025 21:49 (one month ago)

fuck it

Andy the Grasshopper, Friday, 4 July 2025 21:50 (one month ago)

yeah seems to be cursed

Proust Ian Rush (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Friday, 4 July 2025 22:06 (one month ago)

it’s not just the cursed images you see, it’s the cursed images you don’t see

z_tbd, Friday, 4 July 2025 23:30 (one month ago)

one month passes...

What wouldn't be improved by drinking it through a hotdog straw?

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Wednesday, 6 August 2025 00:55 (two days ago)


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