Beyond Ecophilia: Edgar Allan Poe and the American Tradition of Ecohorror

Abstract

On October 23, 2013, South Park aired what seemed a classic ecohorror tale. “Emo” plants, fed up with humanity's insensitivity, begin infecting Goth and Vamp kids and turning them “emo”, that is, suicidally depressed and melodramatically self-destructive.1 The kids have a secret weapon, however. They have summoned “the creator of all that is dark, the godfather of death and despair” to save his “children.” In the climactic scene, after an elderly gardener has tied the kids to chairs in a greenhouse full of emos, Edgar Allan Poe's ghost floats down from the roof and settles next to a massive potted plant. Turning to face the kids, he huffs in irritation: Okay I'm here posers … What do you want me to do? Goth/Vamp Kids: Shoot it [the large plant]! Poe: Really? Shoot a plant? … [Poe pulls out a pistol, shoots the “plant leader,” pauses, nothing happens, looks at the kids, shrugs.] Poe: Wait a minute. What is this? [pulls a tag from the pot] This says it was bought at Lowe's Home and Garden for $29.95. Old Gardener: Lowe's Home and Garden? Goth Kid: Hey, these are just plants. Old Gardener: No, they talk to me. Poe: No, they're just like ficus plants in vibrating pots.

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