American culture and perception of women in horror movies

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book American culture and perception of women in horror movies by Emilia Wendykowska, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Emilia Wendykowska ISBN: 9783656228585
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: July 2, 2012
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Emilia Wendykowska
ISBN: 9783656228585
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: July 2, 2012
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Essay from the year 2012 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: A, University of Malta, language: English, abstract: Horror genre has its origins in the gothic 19th century novels like Marry Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) or John Polidori's The Vampire (1819). Even though horror movie is a typical European genre, it has a long history in American cinema dating back to 1915 silent movie Les Vampires by Freuillade and to one of the first sound movies from 1931, Tod Browning's famous Dracula. Horror movies may be put into three categories: ones that contain the supernatural elements, in which vampires, ghosts, witchcraft appears; psychological horror, which relies on characters' fears, their guilt or beliefs; and massacre movies, with scenes of slaughter, brutality and rough treatment (Cinema Studies 184). Although horror movies, as an element of mass culture, may be perceived as simplistic, predictable, lacking depth and simply being an unworthy for analysis, there is a great deal of films that in its content reflect the contemporary problems that occurred in the American society. While many critics consider horror genre as a 'low culture,' one must not fail to notice that its significance is enormous. One can sense an inextricable link between film and social concerns, since the role of the film is to project certain fears and concerns of contemporary society as well as to help people to resolve them. As Prawer observed: 'If the terror film is thus connected to our social concerns, it also, paradoxically, helps us to cope with our ordinary life by jolting us out of it' (60). A popular opinion has it that the popularity of horror movies increases along with the disturbance experienced by the society. Since the 20th century is perceived as the era of the constant social upheaval, the history of the horror movie equals the history of the anxiety (Wells 3); hence, the time the cultural chaos erupts, the audience turns to horror movies as a means that liberates them from their anxiety. As Phillips asserts, 'anxiety tends to promote a sense of helplessness; fear, on the other hand, provides an impetus for change' (9). Thus, the fear evoked by the slasher film, one is forced to invent new ways of coping with his or her difficulties, since a typical way of thinking will occur not only problematic but also troublesome.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Essay from the year 2012 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: A, University of Malta, language: English, abstract: Horror genre has its origins in the gothic 19th century novels like Marry Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) or John Polidori's The Vampire (1819). Even though horror movie is a typical European genre, it has a long history in American cinema dating back to 1915 silent movie Les Vampires by Freuillade and to one of the first sound movies from 1931, Tod Browning's famous Dracula. Horror movies may be put into three categories: ones that contain the supernatural elements, in which vampires, ghosts, witchcraft appears; psychological horror, which relies on characters' fears, their guilt or beliefs; and massacre movies, with scenes of slaughter, brutality and rough treatment (Cinema Studies 184). Although horror movies, as an element of mass culture, may be perceived as simplistic, predictable, lacking depth and simply being an unworthy for analysis, there is a great deal of films that in its content reflect the contemporary problems that occurred in the American society. While many critics consider horror genre as a 'low culture,' one must not fail to notice that its significance is enormous. One can sense an inextricable link between film and social concerns, since the role of the film is to project certain fears and concerns of contemporary society as well as to help people to resolve them. As Prawer observed: 'If the terror film is thus connected to our social concerns, it also, paradoxically, helps us to cope with our ordinary life by jolting us out of it' (60). A popular opinion has it that the popularity of horror movies increases along with the disturbance experienced by the society. Since the 20th century is perceived as the era of the constant social upheaval, the history of the horror movie equals the history of the anxiety (Wells 3); hence, the time the cultural chaos erupts, the audience turns to horror movies as a means that liberates them from their anxiety. As Phillips asserts, 'anxiety tends to promote a sense of helplessness; fear, on the other hand, provides an impetus for change' (9). Thus, the fear evoked by the slasher film, one is forced to invent new ways of coping with his or her difficulties, since a typical way of thinking will occur not only problematic but also troublesome.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Auditor independence and regulation by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book The end of parallel trade with patented pharmaceuticals? by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book Semantic Relations in the Phenomenon of Syllepsis by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book Stephen Spender's 'The Temple' as an autobiographical novel by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book Banks, Informal Money Lenders and Asymmetric Information by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book English in the European Union by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book 'There is not one Europe but many' (cf. Wæver 2009: 168) by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book The Great Gatsby - Characters, modern society and the end of a dream by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book Vertical Integration and R&D Information Flow by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book Der 13. August 1932 by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book How to stop crime? Megan's Law as a strategic approach to crime prevention in the USA by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book Analysis of minimum size requirements of organizations for the implementation of enterprise resource planning systems by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book NBC terrorism since the end of the Cold War - myths and realities by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book Evidence Based Reasoning / Statistical Literacy Teaching Statistics and Econometrics by Emilia Wendykowska
Cover of the book Is it beneficial for the African Union to introduce a Common Currency? by Emilia Wendykowska
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy