Here's a breakdown of key characteristics:
* Origin: The term "creepypasta" is a blend of "creepy" and "copypasta," which refers to text that is copied and pasted repeatedly online.
* Format: Creepypasta often takes the form of internet folklore, urban legends, or fictional accounts of real-life events with a supernatural or disturbing twist.
* Content: The content of creepypasta is often centered around themes of horror, the supernatural, psychological terror, and the unsettling aspects of technology and the internet.
* Dissemination: Creepypasta is primarily spread through online forums, message boards, social media, and websites dedicated to horror fiction.
* Community: There is a strong online community of creepypasta enthusiasts who create, share, and discuss these stories.
* Purpose: The primary purpose of creepypasta is to entertain and frighten readers by tapping into common fears and anxieties.
Examples of Creepypasta:
* "Slender Man": A tall, thin figure with no face that stalks and abducts children.
* "Jeff the Killer": A disfigured killer who haunts a suburban neighborhood.
* "Ben Drowned": A cursed video game cartridge that traps players in a virtual reality nightmare.
* "The Russian Sleep Experiment": A fictional account of a Soviet experiment that induces sleep deprivation and results in terrifying hallucinations.
Characteristics of Creepypasta:
* Unrealistic elements: Often include supernatural or paranormal events, violating the laws of nature.
* Psychological horror: Focuses on the psychological effects of fear and terror rather than graphic violence.
* Internet-related themes: Frequently explores themes of internet culture, technology, and the unsettling aspects of online anonymity.
* Ambiguous ending: Often leaves the reader with a sense of unease or unanswered questions.
* Viral nature: Spread quickly through online sharing and social media.
It's important to note that creepypasta is fiction and should not be taken as real events. However, the genre taps into our primal fears and can be quite unsettling.