History Main / BrownNote

* ''Podcast/FriendsAtTheTable'': A plot point in the ''Road to PALISADE'' series involves one character trying to get her hands on an issue of a fashion magazine that was recalled and destroyed because it contains a centerfold that kills you if you look at it. (The clothes were made by extremely avant-grade MechanicalLifeforms immune to the effect who ''thought'' it couldn't propagate through photographs). She wants it for the articles.

* ''Podcast/FriendsAtTheTable'': A plot point in the ''Road to PALISADE'' series involves one character trying to get her hands on an issue of a fashion magazine that was recalled and destroyed because it contains a centerfold that kills you if you look at it. (It involves clothing made by extremely avant-grade MechanicalLifeforms who ''thought'' the effect couldn't propagate through photographs). She wants it for the articles.

[[caption-width-right:350: Looks like he turned a blind ''[[{{Pun}} eye]]'' to the real problem at hand.[[note]] [[http://rye-bread.deviantart.com/art/Medusa-and-the-Optometrist-145352897 Image]] by [[http://rye-bread.deviantart.com/ RYE-BREAD]] [[/note]] ]]

* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': In "The Spaceship," Rhino blows on a dog whistle that proves intensely painful to both Bolt's ears and those of the dog-like aliens who try to abduct him.

* In the ''Film/TheAdventuresOfRockyAndBullwinkle'' movie, the villains use a television program that causes the viewers to become zombies and attempt to broadcast it across the United States so Fearless Leader can become president.

[[caption-width-right:350: Looks like he turned a blind ''[[{{Pun}} eye]]'' to the real problem at hand. [[note]] [[http://rye-bread.deviantart.com/art/Medusa-and-the-Optometrist-145352897 Image]] by [[http://rye-bread.deviantart.com/ RYE-BREAD]] [[/note]] ]]

See also BlackSpeech for inherently evil languages, which may overlap with this for people who aren't evil enough, and TriggerPhrase for brown notes created through psychological conditioning. A BrownNoteBeing is an entity that causes this by something of its very nature, and is a common trait of {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, due to how mind-breakingly alien they are. The nastiest forms of this also force their victims to propagate them, overlapping with MindVirus. Not to be confused with the real-life [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_noise "Brown noise,"]] which is completely harmless and sounds a bit like a poorly maintained air conditioner. Compare SuckinessIsPainful, for when the "Note" is an awful work of art, and MakeMeWannaShout for sounds that cause physical harm due to their extreme volume.

* In WebAnimation/YouTubePoop, an OffModel picture of [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Luigi]], nicknamed "Weegee", has gradually developed this power. Anyone who looks at him for too long [[CloneByConversion will become him]]. It's been used as a metaphor for how {{meme|ticMutation}}s spread.

* In the ''VideoGame/GarrysMod'' video [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqSbreR8a0I "Scout's Amazing Adventures (Part 3/6),"]] [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 Heavy]] starts playing "Music/{{Friday}}", which is so awful that it sends Soldier into a series of contortions until he eventually explodes.

** Similarly, a mod for ''VideoGame/DoomII'' replaces the chainsaw with a radio that, when played, JustForFun/{{rickroll}}s enemies. The enemies' sprites have even been altered so that they cover their ears.
* According to the ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' cartoon "Fall Float Parade", Strong Sad goes into an unexplained trance whenever he hears the phrase "covered bridges". At least until Strong Bad starts hitting him with nunchucks.

* The music video for the Music/{{Radiohead}} song "Just" begins with a man lying down in the middle of the street and refusing to budge. As people gather, they ask him (all the dialogue being in subtitles) why he's lying there, and after refusing over and over again, he finally caves in. The camera zooms in on his mouth as he's speaking, but with the subtitles suddenly removed, [[TheUnReveal the audience has no idea what he's saying]]. The final scene of the video is of all the people around him lying on the ground in the same posture, his words presumably having had the exact same effect on them as on him.
** The closeup has him repeating "God help me, I'll tell you." and it's implied that he's actually saying it during the shot of Radiohead looking out the window.
* The Music/KateBush song ''Experiment IV'': "But they told us All they wanted Was a sound that Could kill someone from a distance."

* In ''[[https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/against-the-deep.97635/page-15#post-22451728 Against the Deep,]]'' [[VideoGame/KanColle Shipgirls and Abyssals]] have this effect on [[Literature/{{Worm}} Thinkers]]. [[spoiler:Coil winds up bumping into Taylor Hebert, the natural-born USS Lord's Port, and literally passed out when he couldn't model her at all.]]

* Seeing the full glory of [[Literature/TheBible God]] is harmful for mortals; none can see God's face and live. Moses asked to see God's face, and after explaining the aforementioned, God placed him in a crevice and passed over while showing His back to Moses. That was enough to make Moses' face shine when he went down. Saul saw God's light while on his way, and even closing his eyes during the encounter still rendered him blind. On the other hand, the Beatitudes mentioned how the pure of heart are blessed, for they will see God.

See also BlackSpeech for inherently evil languages, which may overlap with this for people who aren't evil enough, and TriggerPhrase for brown notes created through psychological conditioning. A BrownNoteBeing is an entity that causes this by something of its very nature, and is a common trait of {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, due to how mind-breakingly alien they are. The nastiest forms of this also force their victims to propagate them, overlapping with MindVirus. Not to be confused with the real-life [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_noise "Brown noise"]], which is completely harmless and sounds a bit like a poorly maintained air conditioner. Compare SuckinessIsPainful, for when the "Note" is an awful work of art, and MakeMeWannaShout for sounds that cause physical harm due to their extreme volume.

* In ''[[https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/against-the-deep.97635/page-15#post-22451728 Against the Deep]]'', [[VideoGame/KanColle Shipgirls and Abyssals]] have this effect on [[Literature/{{Worm}} Thinkers]]. [[spoiler:Coil winds up bumping into Taylor Hebert, the natural-born USS Lord's Port, and literally passed out when he couldn't model her at all.]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' fanfic [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6509106/1/Danny_Phantom_Stolen_Years Stolen Years]] of the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', Jack invented a device that emitted a painful sound that only ghosts could hear. [[spoiler: He got the effect [[ReversePolarity backwards]]. It is later used to disable the Guys in White, to rescue Danielle]].

* In [[http://thepunishment.tumblr.com/post/7430283171/prequel-daisy the prequel]] to a ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'' fanfiction called [[http://thepunishment.tumblr.com The Punishment]], Wheatley falls victim to a glitch programmed into all personality cores which makes them [[CuteMachines "fall]] [[SleepCute asleep"]] at the sound of human singing.

* In ''FanFic/TheShapeOfTheNightmareToCome'', saying the full name of [[EldritchAbomination the Nex]][[spoiler:us of ever fated rising madness hope of all turned black doom to all the belligerents and their gods all hail doom nightmares]] causes severe nausea and vomiting, and wreaks havoc on recording equipment.

** If Herald removes his mask and shows his [[EldritchAbomination true face]], the viewer's mind is filled with [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow knowledge of the Outer Gods]], which drives them insane. [[spoiler: This is what he does to Twilight Sparkle.]]

* The [[FanFic/TriptychContinuum Triptych Continuum]] ascribes this to [[spoiler:''[[NeverGivenAName her]]'' cutie mark]], stating that ponies looking at it are quite disturbed, with Twilight nearly experiencing it as a breaking event. [[spoiler: The mark is ''animated'', and up until ''she'' came along, no mark had ever moved: the disruption of that level of constant doesn't go over well.]] Notably, however, some individuals aren't affected and claim it's beautiful, while Spike seems to be aware that ''something'' is off, but isn't sure what.

* ''Film/Dune1984'' shows Atreides advanced weaponry that is sonic in nature, using ultra and/or infrasound to shatter structures, inflict pain in enemy soldiers, etc. [[spoiler: When Paul becomes TheChosenOne he acquires the ability to imitate the effects of this sonic weaponry with just his voice]]

* DYE's "Fantasy" music video ends with [[spoiler: the protagonist seeing an EldritchAbomination so horrible that the mere sight of it made her eyes explode into flame.]]

* There are oodles of urban legends about a house of horrors exhibit which pays you back part of the admission price for every floor of the building's unimaginable contents you clear. The typical version of the legend has it that no one so far has ever fully managed the task, though some people have been found dead of fright on the fifth and final floor. [[http://www.snopes.com/holidays/halloween/haunted.asp According to Snopes]], there is no known evidence for any real life basis for this legend.

* In the ''VideoGame/GarrysMod'' video "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqSbreR8a0I Scout's Amazing Adventures (Part 3/6)]]", [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 Heavy]] starts playing "Music/{{Friday}}", which is so awful that it sends Soldier into a series of contortions until he eventually explodes.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13814352/10/Unprecedented-Competition Unprecedented Competition]] a mosaic of Merlin states that the Welsh Red dragon had a cry which could stun or kill animals and Muggles. This eventually resulted in its deliberate extinction.

* In ''WebAnimation/DickFigures'' Red finds an adorable Kitten he dubs "Kitty Amazing" (because that's what he is). The kitten is so adorable it ''melts'' the hearts of all who look at it... Blue recently had eye surgery so he is spared, but no explanation is given for why Red is immune.
* In the VideoGame/GarrysMod video "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqSbreR8a0I Scout's Amazing Adventures (Part 3/6)]]", [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 Heavy]] starts playing "Music/{{Friday}}", which is so awful that it sends Soldier into a series of contortions until he eventually explodes.

** During the attack on Canterlot, [[BigBad Herald]] has [[UnwittingPawn Trixie]] conjure the Red Sigil (an obvious {{expy}} of the Franchise/CthulhuMythos' Yellow Sign), which causes intense pain if you just glimpse it, and insanity if viewed directly.

* BrownNote/WebComics

** [[BrownNote/SCPFoundation SCP Foundation]]

* The videotape from ''Literature/TheRing'' causes anyone who watches it to die seven days later, [[spoiler:unless they made a copy of the tape and gave it to someone else]]. In the American version, the short film ''Rings'' and the website "[[http://www.she-is-here.com/ She Is Here]]" expand on the concept; Samara's videotape is treated almost like a mind-expanding drug. In the original novels, it eventually becomes clear that the tape is not, in a traditional sense, haunted. The tape causes physical changes to the viewer's body, eventually resulting in their death. The film adaptation differs from this.

* ''Film/{{Constantine}}''. When John is trying to exorcise a demon from a little girl he tells the men helping him not to look. One of them does and his [[LockedIntoStrangeness hair instantly turns white]].
* In the UsefulNotes/NewZealand-made film ''Film/{{Deathgasm}}'', the protagonist stumbles upon some sheet music that when played, turns anyone within earshot into demons.
* In the religious horror film ''Film/DeliverUsFromEvil'' the (apparent) head villain repeatedly leaves graffiti in the form of Latin/Persian incantations written in strange places. It turns out [[spoiler: simply reading these incantations, not necessarily even out loud, allows the reader to be possessed by a demon]].

-->"... human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the awesome power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode within your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that out."
** At the end of the film, [[spoiler:God kills a now-mortal Bartleby by speaking a single word. His head blows up. The viewer hears only a deep, loud thrumming noise.]]
* Creator/DavidLynch's ''Film/Dune1984'' shows Atreides advanced weaponry that is sonic in nature, using ultra and/or infrasound to shatter structures, inflict pain in enemy soldiers, etc. [[spoiler: When Paul becomes TheChosenOne he acquires the ability to imitate the effects of this sonic weaponry with just his voice]]

* In ''Film/HighAnxiety'' Dr. Wentworth gets [[spoiler:trapped in his car and killed from an ear hemorrhage caused by the loud rock music blaring from the car radio.]]

* In the 2015 film ''{{Film/Kingsman The Secret Service}}'', the villain develops a signal (transmittable by cell phone) which causes anyone nearby to become violently homicidal. The first live test is done in a crowded church, while a highly competent secret agent happens to be present. The resulting four minutes of deadly free-for-all is epic.
* ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'': The concussion from the tank's main gun firing in the opening sequence puts the pursuing constables on the ground, groaning and helpless. {{Justified}} considering they just had several artillery shells powerful enough to blow the vault door off its hinges go off in a confined space; the bigger surprise is that the overpressure didn't outright kill them and that the Fantom and his men can still hear each other (apparently the tank cabin has ''very'' good sound insulation).

* In ''Film/TheLordsOfSalem'' the song on the strange record has this effect on Heidi.
* In ''Film/MarsAttacks!'', it is discovered that the Martians' main weakness is the singing voice of Slim Whitman; a recording of "Indian Love Call" causes [[YourHeadAsplode their heads to explode]]. Seriously.

-->"For your safety, please avoid contact with close family members, and refrain from the following: all terms of endearment, such as 'honey' or 'sweetheart'; babytalk with young children; and rhetorical discourse. For greater safety, please avoid the English language. Do not... [[OhCrap translate... this message.]]"

* The videotape from ''Film/{{Ringu}}'' (and its [[ForeignRemake American adaptation]], ''Film/TheRing'') which causes anyone who watches it to die seven days later [[spoiler: unless they made a copy of the tape and gave it to someone else]]. In the American version, the short film ''Rings'' and the website "[[http://www.she-is-here.com/ She Is Here]]" expand on the concept; Samara's videotape is treated almost like a mind-expanding drug.
** In the original novels, it eventually becomes clear that the tape is not, in a traditional sense, haunted. The tape causes physical changes to the viewer's body, eventually resulting in their death. The film adaptation differs from this.

* Creator/DavidCronenberg's ''Film/{{Videodrome}}'', about a TV signal that causes brain tumors and hallucinations. The discoverers of the signal attach it to a violent {{gorn}} show [[spoiler: in order to clean up society by killing everyone who watches violent television]].

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8806745/3/At-The-End-Of-All-Things The End of All Things]]'' a magical reaction destroys the Horcrux in Harry's scar during second year. It's stated that if Madame Pomfrey had been unlucky enough to hear the scream of the dying Horcrux it would've shattered her mind.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8831374/2/The-Power-of-the-Press The Power of the Press]]'' the screaming of a Horcrux being destroyed gives Sirius nightmares and makes an American observer physically ill.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Overlaps with BlackSpeech. So Kyril and his apprentices, sans Soren, have advanced through Rad in Chapter 16 of the original, killing everything in their way to hunt down Shamuhaza. They eventually reached a courtyard, and all of a sudden, a maddening drone drowns out the silence, "in a language so incomprehensible that lesser men would have torn their own throats to escape it". [[TheStoic Kyril]], of course, is unfazed, but not so much for the other three. Sanakan mutters that [[ThisIsWrongOnSoManyLevels everything sounds wrong]], Hugh shakes his head in a grimace, and Lily turns paler than usual.