Horror Conventions

The horror genre strives forward in inducing fear and terror to those that watch the genre dominated by monsters, psycho killers and the supernatural in real life situations. The horror genre its self pushes and even goes against modern-day society values.  Horror genre plots often follow from paranormal/supernatural without any sense of reality to it to classic literature from writes such as Edger Allen Poe, T.M. Gray and H.P. Lovecraft.  Horror also often crosses over other genres such as Sciences Fiction, Fantasy, Black comedy and thriller. Through the ages to today’s modern day horrors the uses of graphic violence and bloody guts and gore has increased a great deal, which people believe desensitises the audience to violence.  The horror films began to change and differentiate over the years. The horror codes and conventions often are used for visual representation of symbolic connation.

Theory’s used in conjunction to codes and conventions

Many directors and writers who work in the horror genre use theories to help set targets and establish aims they look to complete or use to help make their product successful. Common theories are used in horror such as Desensitisation, Cultivation Theory, Uses and Gratifications,  and Narrative theories such as Strauss Theory, Vladimir Propp, Hollywood Narrative,  and also Psychoanalytical theories such as Post Modernism which increasingly growing popular in many other genres besides horror.

I believe every horror film uses the theory of Desensitisation which is where the use of over excessive violence and sexuality is used to the point the point that the audience is less sensitive in the real world where violence and sexual behaviours may be seen, such as on the news, at work and even on the streets. Cultivation theory where the higher the consummation of media the more we adapt to particular views about reality that may not exactly be true. Uses and Gratifications theory which is where the audience use the media for entertainment, social interaction, personal identity and also information.                                                                                                                                                                     Narrative theories are very important to the story as its the effective way to communicate to the wide audience efficiently through organizes steps with the theorists plan.  Strauss theory uses to binary opposites/characters which conflict with each other from one step to another who have to resolve a problem/situation, the uses of the clash of elements is what builds the narrative. Vladimir Propps theory comes from him breaking down old Russian folk tales and finding that there was up to 31 functions used in the various fairy tales and he is also resolved that there’s up to 8 broad types of characters in the 100 stories he analyzed. The 8 types of characters are Hero, Villain, Donor, Dispatcher, Father (Authority), False Hero, Helper/Assistant and Princess/Prize. Hollywood Narrative is a theory which states that it follows three certain sets of conventions. Convention 1 of Hollywood Narrative; Equilibrium –Disruption to the Equilibrium – Equilibrium, Convention 2 of Hollywood Narrative; Love Interest (Mainly Heterosexual), Convention 3 of Hollywood Narrative; a very popular actor is the main focus for the whole entire film. This theory is often used on big budget films that use a basic formula.                                                                                                                                                                   Psychoanalytical such as post modernism help push the boundaries of media products. Post modernism a raised when the collapse of grand ideas through cultural, religious and political ideologies such as Marxism (view of capitalist society, which aimed to maintain capitalist state in power). Post Modernisms “A Hip Hop record may sample a piece by Mozart. There is playfulness and knowingness about the way influences are used leading many people to refer to post modern texts as ironic.”  

Factors with in the plot/storyline:

·         Introduction into the life of the victim and possibly the suspect

·         Bizarre murders/deaths – by the villain/killer/supernatural

·         Main characters are fully introduced – Often playful and youthful

·         Teens vulnerable and often home alone

·         Teens in a relationship (football jock and blond bimbo

·         Possibly mysterious phone calls and signs of the villain (Characters silhouettes)

·         Family breaks apart

·         Failed attempts of heroism

·         Villain don’t die – sequels

Location

·         Churches

·         Schools

·         Graveyards

·         Forests

·         Home and building cellars and attics

·         Haunted houses

Sound and music

·         The sound sets the mood and tone of each scene (important that the trailer has a powerful and strong sense of eeriness at the end but calm and composed at the beginning, which allures the audience like a predator.

·         Screams (high pitch which could symbolize the characters in weak, or even femine showing that they may of needed protection in result the audience will feel sympathetic to the character.

·         Music: strings

·         Animal’s noises

·         Echo’s

·         Lighting and thunder

·         Natural ambient sounds such as the wind.

·         Music: Rock and metal (including there sub genres such as nu-metal)

Other factors which make up some of the conventions are colour, religion and animals such as birds of prey, snakes and canines.