Dark ShadowsControlled assessment

Q: Investigate how far the trailer for Dark Shadows conforms to genre conventions.

Sophiar Jack – 10TB

Why is Horror so popular?

It appeals to a younger audience and gives an escape from reality that you can’t necessarily get from any other genre, the feeling of adrenalin. You become completely engaged In the film and can even leave you ‘On the edge of your seat’. Also, there is a wide variety this is created by the use of hybrid/sub genres e.g. Slashers and Comedy like Scary movie. Also, some believe the pleasure comes from the relief after.

Conventions • Cobwebs• Shadows • Blood/Red• Blue hues• Gothic architecture• Fire• Secrets• Death• Religion • Pale faces• Love• Tall Pines• Dark Magic

• Vampires/Monsters/Ghosts• Suicide• Madness• October/Halloween • Abandoned buildings• Witches• Murders • Screams• Mist• Eerie music• Flickering lights• Wolf howls• Cliffs

• Crystal Chandeliers• Forests (Empty)• Full moons• Pumpkins• Spells• Coffins• Mice• Long corridors• Candles• Creaky Gates• Mobs with fire• Hell• Family• Night time

Why are Sub-genres necessary?Genres work because the audience can recognise them from their convections very easily so they know what to expect. We have genres so we can easily categorise.A sub-genre is a version of the main genre that may contain new elements. Well eventually the main genre will get boring if they conform to the same pattern as every other one of its type so to stay interesting and not repetitive they use sub-genres. This creates so many new ideas and story lines that are waiting to be created. Also, a completely new audience and the old one is still retained. An example is Paranormal activity also that uses a hand held camera to show the victims point of view. That is a Docu-horror…

e.g. Say someone was unwilling to try a new genre but if it was mixed with one they previously liked they may be willing to try something new.

Vampires

Past Representations (1922) New Representations (2012)Old vampires were feared more they could make a girl scream for her life just at the sight of them as they were hideous now they are seen as beautiful caring creatures who actually care and save humans rather than instantly drink their blood! In sunlight the audience may have expected them to incinerate but now in 2012 they glisten… However blood has been a factor that has not really changed they still do however now they prefer animal blood the fear factor is actually non-existent nowadays. Rather than be a villain they play the role of a hero (Just Cullen’s not Victoria’s clan). Now the younger generation rather than the older enjoy these movies as they have been made to be more realistic and they are set so casually (e.g. In a school) so it makes it more appealable to ‘Tweens’ and aspirational.

Movie Trailers

Trailers usually only show the best parts of the movie to get the viewer engaged, they are

usually not in a chronological order and they usually don’t give out the most important parts

in the film. They also use star vehicles so the viewer will know what to expect based on the

previous movies they have been in or just because they really like that celebrity.

Movie Trailers

The typical layout is a voice over of the main character/protagonist or narrative from the movie which begins to tell the story but not to reveal the plot then it shows all the action using e.g. jump cuts, high tension music and also leave the viewer with questions they may want answers to, to entice them to watch the film. In that section they may introduce the antagonist. Finally, leave you with the films name, the information (e.g. the release) and the main stars name . This is all used to create instant interest for the film before it is released.

The example I used was Skyfall.

Dark Shadows Movie TrailerThe trailer begins with the main character introducing himself, he also happens to be Johnny Depp the recognition of him gives the viewer a sense of safety and gratification as they may know him from other movies and have an idea of the types of movies he is in, what to expect and whether they will like it or not.As the trailer continues it keeps to the very gothic theme including love and magic (the witch), supernatural beings. Then as he is exploring his new surroundings it begins to include humour which subverts from the original theme.

Dark Shadows Movie Trailer (2)

So we begin to see this isn't just a gothic horror it’s a hybrid, it is mixed with humour it gives the movie a whole new perspective and may not be the expectation of most people. This almost refreshes the whole genre and gives the viewer something new and original to watch. Also, it may attract people from other genres to watch something that they may not have before because of this mix and creates a whole new community. That all doesn’t conform to original conventions of the Horror genre as rather than just fear it also includes a sense of happiness.

Twilight: New Moon

This is a fantasy romance it creates a form of escapism to it’s viewer as it is not something that may happen in real life. As the main characters are quite young this obviously appeals to a younger audience we see as New Moon is a PG and Dark shadows is a 15. Dark Shadows has older characters, that may show there is a link between the characters and the age of the viewers. However, the trailer doesn’t conform to typical Horror convections as some scenes are filmed in the day and convectional Vampires are more reclusive and like to be alone rather than go to school.

Twilight: New Moon

Also, the Vampires are at war with the Werewolf's so in all the fights have a lot of energy and have a high intensity which gives the audience pleasure as it evokes a new emotion with all the adrenaline increase.It also has quite a bit of action and the struggle of love and the disapproval of the community of them being together. That gives the viewer a new personal relationship with the characters as they may sympathise with their situation fulfilling their need for love and belonging.Even the simple fact that the Vampire and human can manage to fall in love completely subverts from the original genre and Vampires are meant to be loved, just feared.

Twilight: New MoonBrown represent nature so this may show their love was almost meant to be.

The movie is called new moon may show this is the beginning of something… The fact he is

holding her may show he is the protector.His hand is spread

out quite beastly this may show the monster in him. Their lips are

both red and red represents blood and danger so this could foreshadow the movie.

The background is very misty and unclear this may represent secrets.

Comparing Trailers…

Twilight:• More romance and is slightly more

dramatic • This is aimed at a younger audience as

the violence is very pg.• This subverts because it is mostly a

romance and the only gothic vampire features that are used are Fangs and werewolf transformations.

Dark Shadows:• Has more comedy however had some

romance.• This may be target at a older

audience as it is based in the past and refers to people like ‘Alice Cooper’.

In the early days of cinema society wasn’t as desensitized as we are, politics may have played a part as very graphic things may not have always been shown

casually on TV. They may have been used to seeing happy movies but horrors may have been a shock to the system and may not have been their expectations

but people may have liked the shock and may have gotten a new sense of pleasure when it was over as repetition of the same idea gives no gratification so

that is where hybrids and sub-genres are useful. New technology's have also mad it easier to access new things that may be either good or bad.

Gothic architecture with follows the movies genre.

The low angles shot makes the character seem more dominant.

The Shadows create a slight eeriness and may represent there are secrets in the movie.

His costume is typical of the gothic genre epically with vampires e.g. Count Dracula.

The uninviting building and the low angle shot makes the building look bigger and fearful.

Their costumes are typical of a fairy-tale.

This will appeal to people who like romantic movies as they are kissing.

The shadows create a darkness that may show something bad may happen.

How ever that may contrast with the setting as it’s relatively clear blue sky.

The fact there is only light above her may show she is powerful

The low angle shot shows her dominance over us.

The blue hues give the viewer a clod feeling.

The use of pathetic fallacy may change the readers emotions to a very grim one.

The fact you cant see much of the rest of the scene may represent secrets.

Again the light coming from the cauldron also shows where the power/magic is arising from.

Again the blue hues create a very cold feeling.

Gothic architecture in both stills typical of the genre.

“Fire cleanses and purifies.” So this is almost cleansing the town of the evil vampire that’s why the mob have fire.(I really liked this)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080306184125AABMoVc

The Ghost may represent control as the girl is following it.

The fact he is alone in this scene may show he is alone facing this mob.

Noun

1.The use or study of images or symbols in visual arts.2.The visual images, symbols, or modes of representation collectively associated with a person, cult, or movement.

i·co·nog·ra·phy /ˌīkəˈnägrəfē/