I was going to save this one for last, because it was the most interesting story I came across while researching for The Unearthed, but it's just so fascinating I had to write about it now.
The Faces of Belmez, or the Belmez Faces, whichever you prefer, have sparked intense scientific and pseudo-scientific debate.
A little background is necessary. In 1971, Maria Gomez Pereira noticed that a strange image had spontaneously appeared on her kitchen floor, that seemingly of a face. The part of the floor containing the offending face was ripped out and re-laid with cement. A week later, another face appeared in the same spot.
As it turns out, the house had been constructed over a cemetery. I know, sounds like a bad horror movie, but apparently this is all "true." Needless to say, an excavation ensued, bodies were reburied elsewhere, and life went back to normal. For two weeks.
Then another image appeared, and another, and eventually as many as 15 other faces appeared. Some would disappear and reappear in the course of a day, while some would remain in place for much longer. The floor was torn out a number of times and replaced, but the faces kept coming back no matter what was done.
Over the course of 35 years, the faces were photographed and documented by various reporters and scientists. One investigator sealed and covered the floor with plastic so it couldn't be tampered with, but new faces appeared underneath the plastic. Other tests were performed to determine if there were any chemical traces that would suggest that the faces had been drawn, and these tests, depending upon who you ask, yielded some surprising answers.
Some believe these images to be thoughtographic phenomenon. According to paranormal experts, this is a form of psychokinesis, in this case caused wittingly or unwittingly by the owner of the house, where the person psychically burns an image from the mind onto something else. Think The Ring. Others have claimed that there is chemical evidence of forgery.
This blog, My Favorite Monsters, provides an excellent detailed summary. And, there's this gem on youtube, complete with its own Matrix-soundtrack.
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16 comments:
"thoughtographic" - what would Dear Old Carl Sagan have made of that word?
Adrian -
Who knows what Dear Old Carl would have thought of that one...
It does barely pass the laugh test, doesn't it?
Wouldn't it be cool if authors could do that, though? Instead of having to type, all you'd do would be think of the next word you wanted to write, and it'd appear on the page/computer screen. Probably take less time to write a story.
They are doing thought controlled limbs for quadroplegics though arent they?
Did you ever see that clip of the Amazing Randi destroying Yuri Gellar on the Tonight Show? Its good stuff.
I'm very skeptical about all this stuff. It would be a terrifying world if magic could somehow work and I'm pretty glad it doesnt.
A
I don't think being thoughtographic would help my writing at all; I've found that as I type, my fingers come up with better stuff than my brain did.
Wow, I found that incredibly interesting. Having experienced a couple of incidents in my lifetime that defy rational explanation, I always keep an open mind when it comes to the supernatural.
~ There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy ~
Adrian -
Never saw that clip of the Amazing Randi. I'll have to check it out.
Yeah, the skeptic in me usually laughs at stuff like this. But every once in awhile, there's a story or two that makes me wonder.
I'm very skeptical about all this stuff. It would be a terrifying world if magic could somehow work and I'm pretty glad it doesnt.
This coming from the guy that has written YA fantasy? :)
Nate -
I've often considered dictating too...but then I'd just have to type it up anyway.
Rita -
Love the quote.
What types of things have you experienced that defy rational explanation? I hope you're not just referring to the fact that ER has been on for something like fourteen years.
Seriously though, you can't just drop a line like that and not explain!
I would be happy to explain to you, Brian, but would prefer to e-mail you off-line about it. The incidents in question are not something that I discuss publicly, except to say that something happened which caused a lot of my former skepticism to disappear. For once in my life, I'm not joking.
As for ER, let's not go there.
Rita -
I understand and didn't mean to pry. If you'd like to do it offline (and feel comfortable about it), please do so.
I can't say I've ever personally experienced paranormal things. It would definitely freak me out if I did, because I'm such a skeptic.
Of course I didn't take it as prying. Actually, I wouldn't mind a skeptic's opinion about this. Am sending an e-mail to you now.
Rita,
Look forward to reading it, but make no mistakes about my credentials--
skeptic, yes
expert, no
scientist, not even close
lawyer, I'm trying really hard not to be :)
Brian
YA Science Fiction old chap not that there's anything wrong with fantasy.
Have you ever been to Mexico City? The shrine of the Virgin of Guadelupe is definitely worth a visit if you're into this stuff. Just dont go there around December 12.
Adrian -
My bad re: YA science fiction. I've been meaning to ask, too, are you working on something right now? Or do you not like to discuss your work till it's gone to the agent/publisher?
I went to Acapulco when I was little, but I've never been to Mexico City. We'll probably get there someday. Our next big trip is to Greece.
For our honeymoon, we spent a little time in St. Augustine. The place is apparently so haunted that we saw at least four other ghost tours happening, while we were on one ourselves.
Brian
I'm working on a YA Noir at the moment. As you can imagine its a tough balancing act - esp for me. Just how much violence, swearing, sex etc can you/should you do for a book aimed at 13 and 14 year olds?
Adrian -
That sounds like a really cool idea for a story. I'll bet it's very difficult to get the noir feel in a YA book, as you alluded to. But I'd put my money on you pulling it off.
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