The phrase refers to a broadcast work, usually of a fictional or biographical nature, which profoundly and negatively impacts a reader. The content material could also be disturbing, traumatic, or in any other case generate lasting psychological misery. For example, a narrative detailing graphic violence or intense emotional abuse might fall into this class, probably inflicting anxiousness or nightmares lengthy after the studying expertise.
Such literary works achieve notoriety attributable to their energy to evoke sturdy emotional responses. The influence can stem from real looking depictions of struggling, explorations of taboo topics, or the unsettling nature of the narrative. Whereas not all readers will react the identical approach, these explicit narratives usually turn out to be culturally vital, sparking discussions in regards to the duty of authors, the bounds of creative expression, and the vulnerability of the human psyche. Early examples might be present in gothic literature and psychological horror, the place the intent was usually to elicit worry and unease.
