alice driver's research

7/30/2019 Alice Driver's Research

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Alice Drivers Media Coursework

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
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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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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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