R E P R E S E N TAT I O N A N D FE A R

CO M M O N FE A R S A N D PH O B I A SCommon fears and phobias include:

• Spiders

• Snakes

• Blood

• Pain

• The dark

• Silence

• Isolation

• The stranger

• Old places

• Disease

E X AM P LE S O F F E AR S BE I N G U S E D I N F I LM

Saw: The saw franchise uses both pain, blood and isolation as fears.Anaconda: The film anaconda is primarily based around the fears of snakes.

The Hills Have eyes: The fear used in this film is isolation, the outsider, sometimes darknessOld gothic films used the outsider, darkness and weather conditions to create fear, such as lightning, thunder and rain. An example would be Frankenstein or

Dracula.

T H E U S E O F T H E F E A R T E C H N I Q U E

It is the most common convention of horror that links all of the sub-genres. Fear can differ across the sub-genres, however it is always in the film even if it does take different forms. The fear is represented through conventions of film.Camera

Camera is used to develop fear again often by showing the characters reaction by using big close up or close up shots. Almost imprinting onto the audience of how to react. The lighting is often key when used in camera, Very low-key lighting creates a much more feared

atmosphere.

SoundThe horror genre creates fear often by using silence. Silence has connotations

of isolation and being alone. It also enhances the diegetic sounds which

further develops the idea of being alone or isolated a common fear or phobia

EditingEditing is key when showing and enhancing the fear for the audience. Often editing is used to replicate scenarios and create the feeling of fear that the character has in the situation which is then reflected onto the audience. For example fast pace to show

panic.

Mise en sceneThe costume, props and surrounding location all feature the conventions of

fear. They are all quite dark, often feature connotations of pain or

suffering, disease etc. They manage to create an impression of fear.

R E P R E S E N TAT I O N T H E O RY

Richard Dyer’s theoryRichard Dyers theory is based on rigid stereotypes and how representations are reinforced by them. He said that the way in which people or groups of people are represented in film has a strong connection to the stereotypes

in real life. This helps to make them easily identifiable and relatable for the audience.

An example would be the outsider is to be feared. Someone who is secluded or isolated, who doesn't fit in with society is to be feared. An example film which toys with this idea is the texas chainsaw massacre.

C U LT U RA L F E A RS - C AW E LT I A ND T U D O R

Different times, people and cultures have different fears which change over time. Successful horror films are those which access

specific fears and exploit them.

John Cawelti recognised this and stated that the horror genre reflects aspects of society and therefore societies fear is shown through the

genre.

Tudor also recognised this and said that horrors provide a ‘monstrous threat’ and this threat is ‘based on notions from the producing

society’. Basically stating that the genre of horror develops as fear in society changes.

N E ALE ’ S D I F FE R E N T M O N S T E R S FO R D I F FE R E N T F E A R S

Neale identified that different horror texts had different types of monster and therefore different fear.

The external monster

The one who comes from ‘somewhere else’ and brings

the threat to a community. For example vampire films. They are considered outsiders as

they can never be members of society, as a result end up invading a previously safe

place.

The man made monster

The stereotypical man made monster, something created by man. An example and the most famous example would be frankensteins monster. A

collection of body parts pieced together to create a monster

by Dr Frankenstein.

The internal monster

Someone considered to be part of society, an everyday

person with a psychotic personality, usually caused by

previous trauma, who then becomes a danger to the society they are in. For

example Psycho and Saw.