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Representation of Women in Horror Films
The female role in horror movies are represented in very similar ways to each other. In most
predictable horror movies we assume that the women are always meant to be naive,
helpless, hopeless and seemingly always the victims. We notice that the victims are always
alone and unable to get out of the situation. In older films this is mainly how they were
presented.
A typical example of this is the film Scream (1996) this shows that the woman are always
killed first in an over dramatised effect. Most of the victims are blonde; this gives off a sense
of naivety and unintelligence. The most predictable scene is when the victim is running
around helplessly screaming not knowing what to do. This is how horror films use young
women to present a horror movie.
Directors do this to create an image of someone who needs to be rescued by a male figure
for protection which then creates a storyline of the man to become the hero and eventually
the killer will die. In most films this is what the viewer is predicted to see.
A horror movie that doesnt represent women to play the victims is the horror movie
Carrie (1976). This film clearly shows the opposite of a predictable portrayed young girl in
a horror movie, as she has a psychological power called Telekinesis. This is where she can
control everything around her and eventually kills everyone in the film. We wouldnt expect
to see this in a normal horror film; this is why this film is very cleverly made.
Recently, horror films have a fashion for the women to take the lead role as a killer; The
Orphan, the Exorcist and Monster. But these are real life experiences. This could be done to
show a difference between the horror genre; now and then.
A contrast of the usual way women are presented can often be adventurous and willing to
do something that is obviously not the right thing to do in the audiences view. A recent film
that has shown this is The house at the end of the street (2012). In this film the victim
played is very willing to find out who the killer is. This shows a twist to the narrative. Again
this shows how characters have changed over the years to present woman to be fearless
and confident.
You can see how over the years the change between showing how women are presented in
horror movies.
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Iconographies of Vampires- True Blood
This first photograph youcant automatically tell what itis, as it is a camouflagedalligator in its environment.This could suggest that its anatural born killer like avampire.
The eighth image has beenchosen because they aretwo contrasting colourswhich both stand out fromeach other. Red colouringshows blood related eventsthat could happen later inthis series.
The last image showsdeath. Its not clear but youcan work out that there are2 people in the riverdrowning someone.
Snakes are very similar tovampires, as they have a lotof features alike; in thispicture it shows a snakeready to attack its prey withits wide open mouth withsharp teeth. Also snakes arevery quick and speedyanimals; this can represent
vampires as well.
This third picture is a car onits own in the woods. Thiscan relate to vampires asthey are most likely to bealone and abandoned fromeveryone around them.
The forth picture relates to avampire iconographybecause of the blood around
the mouth and then sharpgritting teeth that isrepresented in the image.Obviously when you lookproperly at the picture youcan tell its a young boyeating berries. This is athreat to child innocents.
The fifth image shows a fullmoon. This is an iconographyof vampires coming out at
night. But also this representswerewolfs coming out atnight.
The sixth image is of twowomen who have verydisturbing expressions. And
also look like are praying.This is an iconography ofreligion that relates tovampires.
This seventh image is theVenus fly trap. This is aniconography as like avampire it looks like anormal and healthy plant butthen really is really a meateater.
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The Nightmare on Elm Street
The opening sequence of the Nightmare on Elm Street has an immediate tension feel,
caused by the music. This is very high pitched that creates a mood and anticipation to the
audience, which immediately grabs their attention. The music is not continuous which is
unsettling for the viewer given the audience a feeling of uncomfortable and comfortable.
Importance is placed on the camera angling as there are a lot of close ups and long shots.
The first close up shot we see are knives being sharpened, this is to aware the viewers what
is about to happen. This film technique is used to bring the audience into the killers world
and lets us know what is happening.
Low key lighting is used throughout the opening. This creates a feeling of loneliness and
brings the audience to the killers dark world. The victim in this is played by a blonde woman
who is clearly fragile and isolated against the setting. This feeling is also given off by what
she is wearing.
The editing in this first sequence shows flashing images, this is done to show the audience
past scenes in the film. At the end of the scene we find out that the woman has woken up
from a dream, this could be foreshadowing whats going to happen later on in the film.
Jaws
The opening sequence of Jaws we see a girl running across a beach looking like she is having
fun, this indicates danger to the audience as we can assume something to going to happen
to her as she goes into the sea. There are many different shots of camera angles that are
taken. The main one which shows danger is the camera beneath her. The audience gets to
see the victim from the sharks point of view. This creates tension with the audiencebecause we have an idea of what is going to happen next.
The scene is set on a beach at first to show that a naive young girl is running along having
fun. This shows that something is occurring to happen as its a very predictable shot to use.
The sound during the attack is very ironic for this film. As it has a specific theme tune that
when the audience hear it, we automatically know someone is in danger. The music has a
very low key which creates more tension during that scene.
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Se7en
The camera uses a lot of close up shots and extreme close up shots in the opening of the
scene. This is done to set a mood of what specifically someone is doing and it gives a clear
idea of what is written on the papers. We can only assume at this point that someone is
making something with sharp objects.
The lighting used in the opening is low key lighting to create a dark suspense of what
someone is doing. Also it gives an idea of the genre that the film is; at this point we assume
that it could be a horror, thriller or an action film.
The editing done in this is very quick and sharp, as we only see the clips for a few seconds,
this gives the audience an uncertain view of what is happening. The director wants to create
suspense; this is done by in the editing where there is not much given away. This gives the
impression that something is occurring.
The music used is non-digetic sound throughout the opening. It sounds like a sci-fi movie oraction from the different noises as its very jumpy and loud.
Link to this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-k2gsEI34CE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-k2gsEI34CEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-k2gsEI34CEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-k2gsEI34CEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-k2gsEI34CE7/30/2019 Alice Driver's Research
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Directors Research
Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock, a director known for his high suspense film making, along with his
innovative film techniques. In todays film industry, Hitchcock would be regarded as one of
the greatest directors ever. Many of todays films have moments, scenes and ideas that
relate too many of Hitchcocks work.
One of his most famous films is Psycho, a psychological thriller that plays with the audiences
mind, using suspense and shock. A brief incite of the film introduces a woman on the run
trying to start a new life with stolen money, after this point the suspense and thrills begins
at the Bates Motel.
Another classic Hitchcock that creates a different kind of suspense is the classic, Birds. The
film is a more natural horror picture showing the audience, how birds create chaos in an
American town.
Hitchcock enjoyed using a female to present the characters, a striking blonde with very
similar features. For example; Rear Window- Grace Kelly, Psycho- Janet Leigh, Birds- Tippi
Hedren, symbolised as a woman of vulnerability.Hitchcock reined as a prominent film director for 54 years.
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick is regarded one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. He wasn't just a
filmmaker but a film director, producer, cinematographer and editor. Kubricks films
covered a variety of genres; war, crime, romantic, comedies, horror and science fiction.
He has very wide ranging horror film techniques; from The Shining to classic futuristic A
Clockwork Orange.
One of his most modern was The Shining, casting Jack Nicolson as the lead role playing Jack
Torrance. This horror story again has a psychological twist to the film line. This film is one ofthe greatest horrors made of all time and the scariest.
Wes Craven
Wes Craven was an American film director, writer, producer and actor. Craven has been
directing films for over 40 years now. Most of his films hes made are horror. He is best
known for directing all of the "Nightmare on Elm Street", The Hills have Eyes and the
"Scream" series.
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Alice Drivers Media Coursework
How is sexuality and gender represented in a TV program?
True blood is a good example that presents sexuality in their TV program. True Blood is an
American television series based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries. This TV show is very
obscene and contains a lot of sexual scenes within the program.
In their episodes it shows sexuality by the personalities of the actors, as most of the women
are very seductive and bold.
True Blood target audiences is aimed at Adults as it contains very explicit scenes and story
line. This is also shown through the beginning theme song "I wanna do bad things to you".
Automatically it opens with a sexual phrase.
This picture symbolises sexuality through the character licking her lips. We can associate this
photograph of someone licking their lips meaning they are hungry for blood or hungry for
sex. Through this we can get an insight of what the programme represents; danger and love.
This shows women are seen as predators for humans.
Vampires mostly are seen to be very sexual by the audience. This is shown through their
clothing they wear; the colour red symbolises sexuality yet also the colour of danger. This is
ironic and known for vampires. Gender presents female vampires to look seductive and
promiscuous. This is seen through the clothing they wear which is; little tight clothes which
outlines their figures, this draws attention to the male characters. However the male
characters in this are a contrast to how the women are portrayed. They are seen as very
violent towards each other. As they have their fangs there to protect them from humans.
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