You might have heard or come across the word “catharsis” whilst reading English Literature; especially drama or comedy.
The word catharsis is derived from the Greek word which is translated as cleansing or purification. The healing effect of catharsis has been portrayed in literature, theatre, cultural rituals, medicine and psychology. Although it takes different forms the essence of catharsis remains the same. It is a release from a burden, either physical or mental, and allows for further healing through a cleansing effect. It is an educative and controlling power. Our emotions are purified of excess and defects or at least reduced to an acceptable intermediate stage. It is a kind of moral conditioning.
The term catharsis was used for the first time as a metaphor in “Poetics” by Aristotle to explain the impact of tragedy on audiences. He believed that catharsis was the ultimate end of a tragic artistic work. He further said in poetics:
“Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; through pity [elesos] and fear [phobos] effecting the proper purgation [catharsis] of these emotions” (c. 350BCE, Book 6.2).
Catharsis is often linked with tragedy, but a good cry is not the only way to feel emotionally cleansed. When choosing a movie or genre of music after a hard day, we pick something we think will lighten our mood. Often set in opposition to tragedy, comedy represents the other end of the emotional spectrum. While comic literature does not make us feel pity or fear. Catharsis in comedy relies on the audience’s identification with the main character.
When a character in a romantic comedy is embarrassed in the format of their crush, we can laugh and cringe in an all-too-familiar experience from a safe distance. Most of the definitions of catharsis emphasize two essential components: the emotional i.e. strong emotional expression and cognitive aspect (insight, new realization, and the unconscious becoming conscious) as a result of positive change.
We see different techniques have been used to provoke strong emotional expressions in the readers or spectators. The effect of surprise and unexpectedness could be used as the key factor that leads to catharsis. For example, in the Greek tragedy “Oedipus Rex” catharsis occurs at the end when king Oedipus, driven by the guilt of impermissibility of incest and the emptiness caused by the loss of his beloved mother, blinds himself. Similarly in other Shakespeare’s drams and especially in tragedies we find feelings of pity and fear leading to catharsis.
The large amount of violence is often justified by the concept of catharsis. By watching the characters in the play one can experience tragic events. The negative feelings of the viewer were presumably purged and cleansed. The producers of violent computer games, like the producers of violent films, claim that their products are cathartic. For example, Sega Soft has created an online network containing violent games claims to provide users an outlet for the “primal human urge to kill”. Dr. Bartha claims that aggressive urges and impulses can be purged by playing video games.
On the other side we should also see what does the scientific data say about the effects of viewing violence? Do violent media decrease or increase aggressive and violent behavior? Social scientists have been very interested in this question since the late 1960s. The result from hundreds of studies has converged on this conclusion that viewing violence increases aggression. In fact, U.S Surgeon General came to this conclusion as early as 1972. There has also been a long, ongoing debate in social media about the impact and repercussions of violence and whether it is healthy and cathartic or damaging and thus has negative implications.
What Aristotle said in poetics first time about catharsis will continue to influence the minds of critics as it has done so far. It is unfortunate that he has not explained this term which seems so important to his central thesis. The term “catharsis” has been interpreted so variously, that it is difficult to come to a general conclusion as what Aristotle really meant. Various critics have tried to explain this term in the light of Aristotle’s other works.
It has been noted that catharsis has three meaning: it could mean “purgation”, or “purification” or “clarification”. Critics have interpreted Aristotle’s views in the light of each of these meanings. Only one thing has been agreed upon; tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear. But there is a difference of opinion as to how the arousal of these emotions leads to tragic pleasure. Modern scientific research about any positive therapeutic change is skeptical of that point and thus it remains controversial. We can say one thing for sure; whilst watching sad tragedy one can definitely feel the outpouring of pent up emotions and it is exactly the same as what Aristotle said in poetics while defining tragedy.
