Ectoplasm (parapsychology)
The term ectoplasm (from ancient Greek εκτος ektos 'outside' and πλάσμα plásma ' that which is formed, formed') was adopted by Charles Richet in parapsychology and is intended to denote a substance that supposedly emerges from a medium from the body orifices. Ectoplasm should be gray-white or pink, frothy or light threads. According to reports by Richet and other scientists of the time, it could also become more solid with more complete materializations . Ectoplasm (later also called teleplasma) is very light-sensitive and therefore hardly visible under normal conditions, only in dark rooms or rooms illuminated with red light. Skeptics consider ectoplasm to be more "photophobic" - they mean it is gauze that can only be used as ectoplasm in the dark because it is recognizable as gauze in light.
The term became generally known through its use in the comedy film Ghostbusters .
Use in art and culture
The term is used in comics, films and series:
- In the film The House of Demons - The Medium Jonah involuntarily produces ectoplasm during forced, haunted ceremonies.
- In the movie Ghostbusters , the ghosts are made of ectoplasm.
- In the movie Scoop , the character Sid says in one scene that he is not being dictated by “a pile of ectoplasm” and is referring to a ghostly apparition.
- In the series My Babysitter is a Vampire .
- In the mystery series Supernatural , ectoplasm is depicted as a black mass excreted by extremely angry spirits.
- In the comic series Les Aventures de Tintin , the original French-language edition by Tintin , “espèce d'ectoplasme” is one of the many pseudo-swear words used by Capitaine Haddock.
- In the comic film adaptation of Hellboy 2 , Johann Krauss, one of the main characters, is made of ectoplasm. Thanks to a special suit, he has a human-like appearance.
- In the cartoon series Danny Phantom , the ectoplasm is the name given to the slime that is generated when ghosts immerse themselves in the human world.
- In the novel The Powers of Fire by Markus Heitz , the substance is used in the prophecy of a medium.
- In Dan Shocker's Macabros series Blutregen , ectoplasm is referred to as the remnant of a medium during the transition into a parallel world.
- In an episode of the British comedy television series At Last the 1948 Show , a man named "BJ Ectoplasm" is mentioned.
- In the No Affiliation episode of the South Park animated series , the term ectoplasm is used to cover up ejaculation.
- In the cartoon series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , Karai and the Foot Clan use special mystic tech weapons against the Tengu Shredder, which are also operated with ectoplasm.
- In the Engelsfors trilogy he appears during rituals and medium Ida Holmström “flows” out of her mouth during the rituals.
- In the book series Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud , ectoplasm is regarded as the distinguishing feature of the existence of a spirit.
- In the movie House Bound by Gerard Johnstone is casually claims that unfriendly ghosts from ectoplasm exist, besides it would be "impossible to beat ectoplasm".
- In the series Maniac (episode 5) a character coughs up ectoplasm and comments with the words "Don't worry. That was just ectoplasm".
It is also used in computer games:
- In the course of the storyline, a group of heroes in the Amberstar computer game encounters slimy opponents, the strongest type of this type of opponent is ectoplasm.
- In the Guild Wars computer game , it is a rare handicraft material in the form of an ectoplasmic ball.
- In the parts of the game series The Elder Scrolls it is dropped as an item by "killed" spirits.
- In the add-on of the economic simulation The Guild as an intermediate product of the operations of the "cemetery guard".
- In the Harry Potter game The Chamber of Secrets , it is an obstacle that can only be combated with magic.
- In the computer game Terraria it is dropped by "dungeon souls" and used to manufacture "spectral ghost weapons and tools".
Others:
- Refried Ectoplasm , a long-playing record by the Anglo-French band Stereolab , was released in 1995.
See also
literature
- Albert Freiherr von Schrenck-Notzing : Materialisation phenomena , first edition 1913 (2nd edition 1924)
- William S. Burroughs : Naked Lunch , Roman