Independent study proposal

Title: How are women represented in ‘Slasher’ films and are the roles of women changing in this genre? Making particular reference to ‘Texas chainsaw massacre- the beginning’.

Hypothesis: The representations of Women have developed and changed over time due to the changes in society. However slasher films such as Texas chainsaw massacre still convey stereotypical values of women being victims, weak, helpless and in some films as sex objects.

MIGRAIN of the film trailer:

M- Long shots of the location reflect the empty space in the countryside which helps set up the narrative. Close up shots of the women tied up show how she is struggling to get herself out of this situation and facial expressions persuade the audience to imagine themselves in her position. Low key lighting and natural day light is used to make the scenes more horrific. There is both diegetic and non-diegetic sound in the trailer as there is non-diegetic sound of a heartbeat and opera singing which is used to engage the audience in watching the trailer hence also the film. The dialogues, screams are the diegetic sound.

I- New Line cinemas

G- Slasher film which is a sub genre of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer (sometimes wearing a mask) who stalks and graphically murders a series of adolescent victims in a typically random, unprovoked fashion, killing many within a single day.

R- Women are represented as being helpless victims of the psychopathic killer although there are also male victims but as they are killed or they escape in some cases really quickly, the main purpose of the film is to show the audience how the female characters struggle and ask for mercy.

A- Primary target audience is people who enjoy watching films of this particular genre. Usually most of the audience who follow this genre fall in 15-30 age group.

I- Progressive values showing women fighting back, equality.

N- A group of normal innocent citizens are on a trip but they find themselves in trouble after trusting a psychopath and they are tortured and then killed perhaps brutally.

Wider Contexts (SHEP):

In order to look at why and how the representations of women have changed I would be studying things such as: Feminism and also looking at the history of slasher films in detail focusing particularly on the representation of women in the early slasher films and how it has changed over the years.

Theories/theorists:

I will be making reference to some of the theorists I already know such as Laura Mulvey, Levi Strauss and Propp. However I will also be researching some new theories and theorists that would relate specifically to my topic for example Carol J Clover who is known for her theory of “final girl” in slasher films.

Other texts relevant:

I will be relating Texas chainsaw massacre- the beginning to its first part which was released in 1976 and also other previous and recent slasher films such as Hostel.