Question 2

HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT REPRESENT

PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS?

Males within horror movies are usually seen as either heroic or villainous. They usually take on the active role.

Women usually remain in passive roles. They are either the supporting role or made an example of by the villain (victimized). This is through being captured or tortured. Women are also depicted as the prize of the hero, also known as ‘the princess’ when applying Vladimir Propp’s theory of fi lm narrative.

When a woman does adopt the dominant role she usually ends up as what is known as the ‘final girl’ – confronting the villain or surviving the predicaments.

TYPICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SOCIAL GROUPS WITHIN HORRORS.

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL GENDER REPRESENTATION IN HORRORS.

‘Final Girl’ – Nancy Thompson in Nightmare on Elm Street.

‘Hero’ – Tony Janekowski in Devil.

Jeneba (The Girlfriend)Jeneba is represented as a subtle, calm and humble individual. Emphasis on her passive inferior persona is displayed as she is threatened in the opening sequence which suggests she is the prey. As she is by herself when threatened, this presents the idea of her being in a vulnerable state as there is no one to protect her, thus reinforcing the idea of a damsel in distress. By having Jeneba demonstrate these traits suggests that her character conforms to the typical representations of females within the horror genre.

REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER WITHIN MY MEDIA PRODUCT: FEMALES

Tshani (The Ex)She is portrayed as the villainess: aggressive, dominant, and fearful. She has issues with her temper and holds grudges. These traits and characteristics are usually represented in the media by the male gender. By having Tshani demonstrate these traits suggests that she is represents a subversion from the typical representation of females within the horror genre. She may also be noted as a representative of deformed femininity.

REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER WITHIN MY MEDIA PRODUCT: FEMALES

Jeneba being the victimized conforms to the typical representation of females in horrors as being the damsels In distress. Women are usually portrayed as vulnerable.

Also, Tshani being hysterical over the break up of herself and her ex boyfriend represents the typical assumption of women being the emotional gender.

TO WHICH EXTENT DOES MY MEDIA PRODUCT CONFORM TO TYPICAL

REPRESENTATIONS.

Tshani being violent, hysterical and a villain within the sequence subverts from the typical representation of females within the horror genre. Usually females are considered to be victimized and helpless. However, in the opening sequence – Tshani is in control and is the dominant force of the sequence.

Having both Tshani and Jeneba as leading roles challenges typical representation of women within the horror genre. It is usually males who dominate the genre as the heroic or evil figures.

TO WHICH EXTENT DOES MY MEDIA PRODUCT CHALLENGE TYPICAL REPRESENTATIONS.

What did I intend? Did I get desired eff ect?

The sequence was created with the intent of subverting from the typical representations of social groups within its genre. I believe we fulfi lled this intent to some extent as we had both lead roles as females with the male being inferior to the narrative. However, it could be argued that our intent of subverting from the typical representations of social groups within the genre was unsuccessful as the root of the problem in the sequence was the male. Which thus causes the narrative to be centered/surrounding the male gender.

INTENTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

I have realised after completing the opening sequence that the absence of certain social groups still is a form of representation. Lack of representation of elderly people within the

opening sequences suggests that they are incapable of villainous behaviour.

Lack of representation of disabled people suggests lack of romance.

Lack of children suggests that the themes and ideas explored within the sequence are directed at an older audience as the children may not be able to comprehend such situations.

EXCLUDED SOCIAL GROUPS