Represenation

Representation 

Laura Mulvey’s theory is that because the most frequent cinema goers are male “The Male Gaze” has now become a norm which can now by certain people (Feminist) be seen as immoral. The theory is that women’s bodies are displayed on screen in films which the male viewer find pleasure from. However even though this gains pleasure from the male viewer it also forces the rest of the audience to see this male gaze through a heterosexual male view. Our trailer included this theory in the shot when one of the protagonists is running in the field, the camera had a full shot which had a complete shot of the female protagonist. In Cabin in the woods there is a scene where the camera follows the “dumb blonde” stock character when she starts to dance and in addition to this the way in which she is dressed is quite provocative forcing the audience to see her in the heterosexual male gaze.  

Clover’s theory is that the final girl who is a stock character which is the last female alive to confront the killer is typically virginal, avoids trouble and doing the things the other stock characters are doing e.g. drugs, sex. We see the antagonist approaching both girls in different ways however they don’t carry the conventions of a typical final girl. Using Cabin in the woods as another example there are two clear females: final girl and dumb blonde there clothing immediately allows the audience to recognise the two stock characters the final girl is wearing a cardigan with jeans whilst the dumb blonde is wearing shorts and short sleeve top which. In our trailer the final girls aren’t wearing typical clothing for final girl and it is hard to tell as well as there is no comparison. In addition, clover argues that once the final girl confronts the antagonist she becomes masculinised once taking up the weapon. In my trailer the final girls never pick up a weapon so it can actually be perceived by some of them being the other stock character as they do seem quite helpless by running away from the antagonist.

Teen punishment is seen in nearly every sub-genre of Horror it is the reason why they die they are being punished for committing a sin that being having sex or doing drug are just a few examples. In cabin in the woods there is a scene where the dumb blonde and the jock have sex in the woods so because of this she gets attacked my first a zombie stabbing her I the hand which represents penetration she is being attacked in a symbolic way which then leads to her death by having her head chopped of. In my trailer we didn’t include this which leads to reason for the film being confusing because there is no explanation as to why they they are being chased is it because of teen punishment?

To conclude the representation in Horror trailers and films is conventional, I have also become aware that my summer trailer doesn’t include these representations which is what I will be improving for my final product. I also need to include these representations clearly for the audience to recognise as that is something that was also confusing about my trailer and wasn’t successful.