Genre Research Blog Activity

 

                                    Horror

Horror movies are most often speculative fiction with the purpose to disturb, frighten, and/or scare the viewer. The typical audience for horror movies varies between teenagers and young adults, both male and female between the ages 15-25 since majority of people these ages enjoy thrills. However, horror is also popular among people in their 30's and 40's due to the fact that they grew up during a time that many consider it to be the peak of American horror which introduced icons like Michael Myers, still popular today. 

Genre Conventions - Content

Fear and Terror in horror films are critical if you want to draw the audience into a thrilling experience that stirs strong emotions. These films include different types of fear such as fear of the unknown, death, or societal issues, but they all have a similarity which forces the characters to face their worst nightmares. Although nobody likes facing their fears in real life, when it comes to watching movies, the audience loves to feel scared and the intrigue of what's happening next mixed with the shocking scenes, keeps them hooked on. Additionally, many viewers say that they enjoy horror movies due to the adrenaline rush and the safe exploration of fear. The thrill of fear and the unknown, triggers an adrenaline rush that creates an emotional response to what is presented on the screen, and what they love is that whatever they characters are going through, they don't. By this I mean that the audience is able to overcome and/or confront their fear in a safe environment, where nothing that's going on can get to them.  

Horror films often feature isolated settings where characters are obligated to face their fears. Some locations include haunted houses, abandoned buildings, dark forests and remote cabins.  When characters are cut off from safety or get away from the crowd they usually end up alone in these places, which is where the plot gets intense. This sense of isolation increases feelings of anxious and helplessness, allowing the audience to better relate to the characters' fears. However, at this point not only are they isolated, they are also vulnerable. Being by themselves, away from their comfort zone, and in a dark atmosphere puts them in the perfect place for the "evil" to get them, and the audience knows that it will soon come.

Since the vast majority of horror films are fiction, supernatural and violent elements are key in the content. This is designed to shock and disturb the audience by including classic monsters, ghosts, and even  psychological threats, including real-world violence and insanity. Graphic and intense violence can really grab the audience’s attention and add conflict to the story. When filmmakers include supernatural beings, they tap into basic fears of things the normal human being can't understand or control, while violent scenes often reflect deeper social issues and moral questions. Together, these components create memorable and terrifying moments that shape the horror experience, leaving a lasting impression on viewers long after the film ends. 

Genre Conventions- Production Techniques

Sound is an essential aspect of any horror film, since thy enhance the overall atmosphere and emotional impact. Sound effects can can immediately interact  with the audience's senses and build tension by producing jump scares, such as creaking doors, whispers, or sudden loud noises. to make these sounds even more terrifying, sound designers often layer them with other sounds or manipulate them to create a unique effect. Additionally, a haunting score can provoke an emotional reaction from the audience, for instance, a sudden volume changes can cause an alarm and surprise, while a slow, discordant musical buildup can indicate danger. Filmmakers can easily influence the audience and make them feel what they desire at any time during the movie, just with sound effects. 

When it comes to horror cinematography, shadows and lighting play a key role by creating terror and suspense. How producers manipulate light and darkness creates an atmosphere that heightens the overall cinematic experience. For example, employing harsh, contrasted lighting produces dark and alarming atmosphere that intensifies the feeling of isolation and vulnerability and makes the audience feel concerned. Moreover, the use of shadows is another important technique in horror films. They can be employed to create confusion, to reveal, disguise, or draw attention to potential threats. A scene's depth and texture is improved by shadows, which also adds visual interest and let the viewer's imagination fill in the blanks. These small details, such as long shadows stretching a dark hallway or a figure of an unidentified person hiding in the shadows, can evoke strong feelings of anxiety and suspense in the viewer.

How Is Horror Marketed

Horror is marketed in a variety of ways including entertainment, retail, attractions, and many more. When looking at the market segmentations of horror we see that it is targeted in all locations (mainly in the U.S. and Mexico), towards the younger audience (16-25 years old), people in the middle class, and individuals who have interest in horror. Horror is mainly identified with films and fantasy stories which is what creates the baseline of marketing. Furthermore, horror is also marketed through trailers and teasers that often feature intense, suspenseful scenes that showcase jump scares and unsettling visuals, designed to evoke curiosity and excitement. One of the most important visual ways horror is marketed is through posters. The same posters you see in social media, movie theaters, and even public places like the mall. These posters often include a dark red and black color in the background, and often have the "evilness" portrayed in the middle of the frame. As the viewer, it causes intrigue to know what the movie is about and therefore hooks the audience. 

The Conjuring, directed by by James Wan, emphasizes horror through its ambience and psychological techniques. The film is based on the true story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who help a family haunted by dark forces. The cinematography consists of dim lighting and unsettling camera angles to create an opposing environment, while sound enhances The strange silence and abrupt, unexpected noises in the sound design heighten the feeling of fear. To add on, the use of jump scares that feel earned rather than cheap and , the movie gradually increases suspense and pulls viewers further into the terrifying story. The Conjuring stands out among modern horror films because of its unique blend of supernatural elements and emotional stakes.

Hereditary (2018)  by Ari Aster redefines horror by combining family drama with psychological horror. After the death of their isolated grandmother, the film follows a grieving family as they discover dark truths. After the death of their isolated grandmother, the film follows a grieving family as they discover dark truths. Aster skillfully creates a sense of impending doom with spooky visuals and a somber soundtrack. Character development is made possible by the slow-burning pace, which draws the viewer into the situation they are in. Throughout, themes of pain, sorrow, and inherited madness remains building to a shocking conclusion that horrifies and provokes viewers to stop and think. Hereditary established its position in the horror canon with its strong examination of fear that resonates long after the credits have rolled.

The Shining (1980)

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

The Exorcist (1973)

Psycho (1960)

Child's Play (1988)

Hi blog! 

One of my favorite movies of all time that has an amazing representation is Black Panther. Aside from the fact that it's a Marvel superhero film, it portraits African-American culture in a positive way, which is not as common. I feel like in most movies and shows, dark-skinned people have a stereotype of being aggressive, a bad influence, or even criminals, while in Black Panther this is revoked by representing African Americans as hard-working, powerful heroes. 

T’Challa is the first African-American hero in the Marvel universe. He is king of Wakanda, plays the main character and has a tremendous role in representation since his leadership style is one of the main themes.  T’Challa is a peaceful, responsible leader who embodies his cultural heritage by highlighting the richness of the African culture. He's always proud of her he comes from and has deep love for his homeland. He also has great respect and cheris for the ones that came before him. For example, when he connected with his ancestral plane, specifically his father who was an old Black Panther, and asked him for advice and guidance you could tell how he admired his father. There's also an important detail in that scene which I don't know if you noticed but there's a specific medium shot of them two walking side-by-side, connecting to one another, and most importantly speaking in their native language. Clearly, T’Challa has a very deep connection with his roots and is willing to do anything so save his community, keep everyone safe, and do the right thing. Furthermore, another very important factor of representation is how they chose clothing. He is a character that bring Africa with him wherever he goes, especially as Black Panther. 

Female leadership is also represented in Balck Panther. An excellent example is Okoye. She is the general of Wakanda's armed forces and is represented as an independent, strong women. Okoye is the perfect representation of an empowered female character, who doesn't depend on others or accept stereotypes. She leads an army of women who are skilled and trained to fight for Wakanda, loyal to T'Challa and his kingdom. Like the Black Panther, her cultural symbolism is always present through her clothes, jewelry, and language. She’s seen and treated with respect and admiration, since she has always shown to be ready for any conflict and has continuously shown loyalty to her home and people. However, it’s also important to mention two females that are critical to the movie. Ramonda and Shuri, T’Challa’s mother and sister are two of the main reasons to who T’Challa became. Not only that but they have the own independent role as Ramonda, the queen and Shuri as a leader in the technological field. Together they represent wisdom, strength, and African Royalty.

Furthermore, Wakanda is represented as a technological advanced and culturally rich nation that break common stereotypes associated with Africa. The film displays its stunning landscapes, including beautiful mountains and forests, emphasazinig the harmony between nature and advanced technology. This hidden kingdom is portrayed as a vibrant society, rich in traditions and cultural heritage that is highlighted through traditional clothing, ceremonies, and a mix of modern and historical architecture. Additionally, these a variety of high angles and middle shots in which it shows both the traditional actions and scenery with an insight of African culture that the targeted audience does not see it as commonly. Now to finish off, the movie uses a variety of sounds, including traditional African instruments, a classical orchestra, and significant African songs that represent real life culture. 

 Hello Blog!

Two weeks ago in class we had a sound lesson and watched videos, which I learned a lot of things. We were taught what sound is and the different types of sounds that are used throughout a film. For example, one of the many reasons sound is used is to add emotional impact to the scene, as well as make visuals more realistic. Then the teacher gave a whole lesson of the variety of sounds like synchronous, asynchronous, and diegetic, which are all used in most movies, films, or pieces of media.  Aside from that, we also had to watch a couple videos on illusion and foley sounds. The illusion videos helped me identify and learn the purpose of the creepy, nerve wrecking background music. The sound consists of several tones but you mainly hear the lower bass fade in while the higher one fades out, which makes your brain believe that the sound is constantly increasing. This is used in movies like Sherlock Holmes to create a feeling of intensity and anxiety. Additionally we also had assigned to watch a couple of foley videos and take notes on them, which were quite interesting. The videos showed how a professional foley sound maker develops the perfect sound through a variety of objects that are all put together in the end. They do this because in films the original sound is not as intense or loud, and therefore will not receive the attention that directors want. Personally I learned how difficult and time consuming it is to make a foley sound, whether you’re a professional or not. 

For the sound project we had to work in pairs of two and brainstorm a 1-2 minute realistic scene, that could actually happen in a 1-2 minute span, and using only sounds. Then, we had to create a detailed outline that explains the sounds that will be used. We were only allowed to add 7 words and no video, just a black screen. When we got to making the final project we needed to use online sounds effects for the most part and at least 4 foley sounds made by ourselves. All duos were required to turn in 3 files; the completely edited sound file of the scene, another file of the evidence of all of the foley sounds, and 1-3 images of the editing timeline showing the audios layered. 

Me and my partner were thinking of a real life scenario that could happen in 1-2 minutes, and we came up with the idea of a person walking in a park when a heavy storm hits them and they need to escape it. After brainstorming, we completed the soundscape planning outline which we split the film into 3 main scenes; walking through a park, the rain starts, and then escaping the rain. The outline was probably one of the most important steps for this project since it helped me organize what sounds we wanted to use, and made sure that we wouldn’t repeat or mess up. For each scene we came up with at least 7 sounds that showed what was going on. For the foley sounds we created regular footsteps, raindrops and splashing puddles, footsteps on wet pavement, and clothes rubbing together when running. We used the websites provided by the teacher to look for the rest of the sounds and put it all together on iMovie. 

In my personal experience, I believe that we did a very well job organizing the scenario since we had everything we needed and there was no confusion. We were also able to find every singe sound that matched up perfectly with the scene, which was kind of surprising to me since I thought we weren’t going to find every single one. The foley sounds were also very well done. But I do have to admit that editing the sounds, placing them on top of each other, and making it all sound good was where I struggled. For me it was very difficult to hear the scene and visualize what was going on, especially during the more chaotic scenes. The whole process of layering sounds, increasing and lowering the volume, and placing them at the right spot was honestly so time consuming and difficult. This all tells me that I need to improvise on my editing skills so that my next projects turn out even better.

MunozCykert_soundscape_per1.mp4