Preliminary Research: Representation


     The media tends to represent women as pieces of meat, arm candy, or sex objects. This representation is antiquated, as it has been a long-known virtue in media that "sex sells". Take for example Marilyn Monroe, an idolized sex symbol of the '50s, the countless barely-there shots of models on the cover of Sports Illustrated, or the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show that parades underwear models around. However, this fallacious representation of women comes at a cost. A young girl growing up surrounded by messages from the media that all the females have to offer is physical, might give up on other skills or talents that she might have shown potential in. Additionally, if this young girl was dissatisfied with her physicality, and was always told that it was all she had to offer the world, she could become very depressed and feel as though she has no purpose in life, which is not only sad but dangerous.
     When the media is not objectifying women, it tends to generalize most mothers as "supermoms", the kind of matriarch that establishes order around the house (cleaning, cooking)--all whilst looking immaculate doing so. This representation of women can take it's toll as well, as many moms could see this idealization of mothers in media and aspire to embody the traits of a supermom...little do they know, these kinds of women simply do not exist. Keeping a house is not smooth sailing for most, and in portraying these tasks as "simple" or "natural" for women, it only perpetuates the unrealistic expectations for women.




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Preliminary Research: Genre Conventions

Conventions of Horror Genre:

Content:
  • An element/aspect designed for the purpose of unsettling the audience
  • An element involving death 
  • A monster/evil that the protagonist must face and/or defeat
Production:
  • Low lighting--creates a dark and evil atmosphere
  • Dark colors on set to establish a more sinister tone
  • Props like weapons (knives, guns) to fight off evil
  • Masks and dark colors for costumes 
Institutional:
  • The marketing technique of "less is more" is often used to engage younger audiences (young adults) who enjoy the mystique 
  • Teaser trailers-- non-revealing and hype up the film 
Film Example #1: Halloween (1978)
  • https://youtu.be/aMCLVSlk1Tk
  • This film represents the horror genre well, as it incorporates several of the standard genre's conventions
  • Michael Myers = the evil that the protagonist (Jamie Lee Curtis) must face
  • Low lighting used, most notably in the iconic scene nearing the end of the film when Curtis' character is wandering the house in search of her attacker
  • Michael Myers wears a mask
Film Example #2: The Exorcist (1973)
  • https://www.youtube.com/YDGw1MTEe
  • This film is a classic and certainly embodies several characteristics of a true horror film
  • An element (demons) designed to unsettle audience
  • Low lighting throughout the majority of the film
  • The trailer successfully entices viewers, while not giving too much away
List of 5 more films that embody the horror genre: 

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