About
Howard Philips Lovecraft was a Science-fiction/Horror author who hailed from Providence, Rhode Island. He is known primarily for his cosmicist stories in which the protagonists are often tormented by visions and interactions with beings beyond the scope human understanding.
While he was only truly recognized posthumously, he changed the course of horror fiction. In the words of Stephen King:
Lovecraft. . . opened the way for me as he had done for others before me…. it is his shadow, so long and gaunt, and his eyes, so dark and puritanical, which overlie almost all of the important horror fiction that has come since.
People have since continued parodying, deconstructing and reconstructing the Lovecraftian mythos.
Notable Memes and Creations
Cthulhu
Cthulhu is a fictional monster created by horror writer H.P. Lovecraft that is often depicted as a large cephalopod-like creature with a tentacled mouth, large wings, clawed hands and scaly skin.[1]
Nyarlathotep
Nyarlathotep was first introduced in the short story of the same name[2] and is another reoccurring being in Lovecraftian fiction. While it is not as popular as Cthulhu-- perhaps due to its inconsistent form ranging from a pharaoh to a tangled mess of tentacles-- it still has its place in modern popular culture. Notably, “Haiyore! Nyaruko-san” is a novel and anime series wherein Nyarlathotep takes the form of a silver-haired Japanese school girl.
Azathoth
On H.P. Lovecraft romans, it is described as a god of chaos, which is existed before the creation of the universe and has infinitive amount of powers until its body has sepparated itself from the Nyarlathotep.[3]
Controversy
While Lovecraft is revered as a writer, he was also highly xenophobic and antisemitic-- supporting organisations like the KKK.[4] Because of this, his name often sparks discussions regarding “separating the art from the artist”.