Task 3 Research into Genres- Stereotypical Representations

  Stereotypical representations in the Horror and Thriller genre

Representations have been pre-established in genre films such as Horror and Thrillers. Certain representations used in the Horror and Thriller genres have now become stereotypes or an archetype (typical example of a certain person/thing). Some of these include, 

Count Dracula- Bran Stoker the original creator of Dracula formed Dracula with typical features of which is still used in relation to Dracula nowadays. Bran Stoker gave Dracula very specific qualities to meet his overall character some of these include his age, gender and social class. Dracula's social class is something that has remained part of his character despite the modern remakes. Dracula's character is given an upper class aspect through his name 'Count Dracula'. Count being a term assosiated with Aristocracy. Dracula is typically presented as a white male often with a Eastern-Europeon/Broken English accent. There are certain dennotations Stoker formed upon his creation of Dracula these include his abandoned caste, bat like features and cape. These features continued to be part of Dracula's imagine despite the beginning of remakes during 1931 Hollywood. 

Another typical representation within the Horror and Thriller genre includes the stereotypical antagonist  middle aged male, within this genre this representation is generally the dominant representation, many horror films feature the typically middle aged male some of these include...

-Freddie Krueger from Nightmare On Elm Street

-Mike Myres from Halloween 

-Norman Bates from Physco

Horror Movie Heroines are generally typically single, white virginal females, they are typically the archetypal victim in the film. However the 'femme fetale' roles have evolved from being the typical damsil in distress victime to the aggressor. Examples of this modern day envolvment in films include,

Tomb Raider and Resident Evil. 

The representation of Gender/Ethnicity in the genre

Hollywood is culturally bias as generally the actors have always been male. In the thriller genre it has always been common to have a white male protagonists, yet the 1990's Thriller 'Se7en' broke this typicality through the casting of Morgan Freeman (well known black actor) playing the detective of which was typically a 'white' actors role. Similarly to being culturally bias Hollywood is also heterosexual bias due to Homosexual/Lesbians being rare within Hollywood films.