course work

Most film genres are often spoken about as now being stagnant and "Instances of repetition and differences"(1) In my research investigation I will be exploring whether this is the case for the horror genre, or if it is "not static, but evolving"(2). The horror genre is said to be heavily reliant on "Anxieties created by the changing role of human knowledge and science in our society."(3) This suggests that the horror genre can not afford to be stagnant, in order for people to want to continue watching it, the genre will have to evolve and adapt according to the period and social anxieties of the time. One of the arguments suggesting a reason as to why "Horror isn't as lively as it once was is because people are out of ideas," which is supported by the post-modernism theory, proposed by Jean-Francois Lyotard, which suggests the idea that everything has already been made, anything made now is just a remake that is slightly different. To aid my research investigation I will be looking at two horror films, My Bloody Valentine(1981) directed by George Mihalka and the (2009) My Bloody Valentine remake, directed by Patrick Lussier. I will be looking at these films because they will both have very similar narrative, therefore any changes will be clear and obvious to spot. Moreover, the large time gap between the making of the films will have allowed time for transformations in the ever-changing society, thus making it clear whether or not the genre has detected and incorporated these changes into the film or if it has just stayed stagnant. "Genre must respond to socio-economic and cultural change."(4) By looking at these films, I will be trying to determine weather the established codes and conventions, of the horror genre are still evident in modern films, or if they have transformed as a "Response to  political, social and economic conditions."(5) To determine this, I will be looking at: the representation and stereotypical archetypes of females within the horror genre. I will be looking at this because in the during the decades between the making of the two films, woman have become more empowered and following the second world war there has been a "Crisis of Masculinity" which suggests that it has been and is still becoming unclear what the roles of males and females are in society, as females are slowly becoming less domesticated. Furthermore, I will also be looking at the established conventions of the horror genre and exploring whether the same conventions are still evident in the remake of the film. if they are still present or if they have been changed slightly to adapt to desensitization, then it could prove whether the horror genre is stagnant or still evolving. Lastly, I will be looking at the use of new technology, to see if the use of things such as CGI has helped the genre to move forward and evolve over the years. To further aid my research I will be applying

















(1) Steve Neale- Genre theory
(2)Warren Buckland
(3)Jason Colavito- Knowing Fear: Science, knowledge and the Development of the Horror Genre.
(4) David Buckingham
(5)  Daniel Chandler