Media – Critical research Essay Example

slasher films are often depicted as intelligent and capable of organizing against male antagonists.

Carol J. Clover introduced the concept of the Final Girl (FG) theory in her book - Men, Women and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, which was published in 1992. In her study of modern horror movies, she identified the final girl as a character who is typically portrayed as smarter, more conscientious, and morally purer than her counterparts. In slasher movies, Clover suggested that the final girl is often contrasted with her peers who are depicted as being stupid, careless, and portraying a "slutty" image. The final girl is a recurring trope in horror films, referring to the last person left alive to confront the killer.

Occasionally, in various slasher films such as Halloween (1978), Scream (1996), and Nightmare on Elm Street (1980), female characters have a shared history with the killer. For example, in Halloween, Laura fights against her brother Michael, who is also the psycho killer. In Scream, Sidney kills her boyfriend Billy, who turns out to be the killer of her mother. Nancy in Nightmare on Elm Street plans and sets booby traps to lure Freddy, who was responsible for the death of her mother. These examples lead people on horror.com forum to believe that women in slasher films have the ability to understand and respond to the situation, taking actions to survive. Another concept encountered is the "stick and run" action often taken by women in these films - they hit the killer and escape, repeating this strategy. This genre flips the role of men as protectors, making women the protagonists while portraying men as helpless.

According

to my interviewee and focus group, there are two types of female characters in slashers, each providing a different perspective from the audience. The first type is the clever and independent girl who does not believe that only a male hero can save her from danger. She is willing to fight back against the killer. This portrayal of a strong, independent girl is a departure from the past. In fact, Sara from my focus group stated, "She is like seventy-five percent of the world's women: smart and independent." These girls dominate in slasher films and often take on the lead role in the story, aligning with the FG theory suggested by Clover. Clover argues that these female characters are more realistic and relatable because they are not distracted by sex, drugs, or alcohol in the movie.

According to Miss Bennett's interview, filmmakers tend to focus on a young, attractive girl who symbolizes different things to her friends. This girl is typically portrayed as innocent, pure, and independent, relying on herself for survival - a contrast to the second type of girl. Unlike the first type, this second type of girl doesn't receive as much attention in slasher movies. Donato Totaro, a film scholar from Columbia University who has written for offscreen.com, suggests that these girls are often the ones who have rejected men like those in the audience in the past. In the movie, they are seen as the attractive ones and serve as sex objects for male viewers, appealing to the concept of male gaze.

According to various sources, women in slasher movies are typically portrayed as promiscuous and reliant on their appearance to succeed. This

often leads to their early demise in the film. This viewpoint is supported by comments from participants in my forum and focus group discussions. One male participant stated, "They die not because they're women, but because they rely on their looks instead of thinking." It was also noted that these characters are seemingly intended to be killed off. Personally, I believe their actions may contribute to the audience feeling that their brutal deaths are deserved. Examples include Nancy Kyle (portrayed as Annie Brackett in Halloween), who encourages Laura to go out at night, and Drew Barrymore (as Casey Becker in Scream), who flirts with the killer over the phone. In order to further investigate this topic, I conducted interviews, questionnaire surveys, forum debates, and focus group discussions aimed at gathering opinions on the evolving portrayal of women in slasher films, as mentioned above.

The responses I received indicated that there have been shifts in both individual and societal interests. According to Mr. Wightman's remarks during my focus group, "As women obtained greater rights within society, their presence and influence in the film industry also increased." Presently, women are assuming more prominent roles in movies, signifying a notable departure from the 1960s and early 1970s.

In the 80s, groups like New York's Women Against Pornography (WAP) suggested implementing the more equal rights act, advocating for sexual equality. However, I will not delve into this topic further in this essay to stay on track with the main question. These changes possibly explain why slasher movies have gained popularity and why women have been given stronger roles. Furthermore, feminism has progressed as women now earn equal pay to men.

As a result, the portrayal of women in slasher films has slightly shifted from the 70s and 80s to the 90s and beyond. Based on my internet research, debates arose regarding how women in earlier films would scream, run, and fortunately escape from killers. Nonetheless, starting from the mid-90s onward, women started not only screaming but also fighting back with greater strength.

The portrayal of female characters in movies has shifted over time. In the past, they were often depicted as passive and constantly fleeing from danger, like Laurie in Halloween. However, modern films present female characters as more active and independent. This trend can be seen in the movies I've watched, where female characters are self-reliant while male characters are belittled. Additionally, I've noticed that female characters undergo development and transformation throughout sequels. For example, Laurie in Halloween changes her appearance with shorter hair and becomes more independent while also taking on a motherly role in H20 (1998). Similarly, Sidney in Scream alters her hairstyle and clothing to appear more sexually appealing. In Scream 2 and 3, it becomes difficult to determine her gender from behind. These changes can be attributed to the expansion of the slasher genre's target audience, which now includes a significant increase in female viewership. As a result, the significance of the male gaze has been elevated compared to previous times.

"Once men and women are equal, they do not focus on targeting a specific audience. They cannot portray women as weak and useless, which wouldn't appeal to many women. This perspective was voiced by a female student in my focus group. Additionally, they also expressed boredom with the portrayal of unintelligent

women in slasher movies. One participant said, 'It's so stupid when they walk into a dark house and don't turn on the light. It really annoyed me.' Another participant remarked, 'It's also frustrating when they know someone is being killed in the house and should run away to get help, but instead they go back into the house and open the door with the villain inside.' To what extent do these changes in slasher movies still align with Clover's suggested Final Girl theory from 1992? To evaluate this, I suggest looking at the development of lead female characters, which supports the Final Girl theory."

The reason for women being more intelligent and self-reliant aligns with the archetype of the final girl, which calls for a strong and heroic female character. The idea of a passive woman is no longer suitable for slasher films. As women are encouraged to take on more significant roles and become the protagonists, it corresponds with this theory. However, there is a distinct change in the use of the final girl theory due to audience expectations regarding the characters. The movie trend is evolving rapidly, and audiences continuously seek new concepts and traits within the same genre. For instance, in Saw2, the killer was actually a woman, and in Scream 2, one of the killers was Billy's mother.

This passage discusses the unequal gender roles between females and males in relation to slasher movies. It suggests that the portrayal of women as victims controlled by men may be contributing to a decline in the popularity of slasher movies in the film market. The example of Final Destination 2 and 3 is given

to support this point. Overall, this observation is based on the author's primary research and their observation of people's attraction to surprise in films.

The female protagonists in these films were shown as aware of their surroundings and able to avoid danger and help others. However, they often had a male character accompanying them as a protector. This caused a debate among my focus group about how women are portrayed in movies and the issue of dominance. The male participants argued that it could be risky to suddenly change traditional gender roles by having a woman in the lead role. The female participants countered by saying that women should have equal opportunities and be able to do the same things as men, showing their capability in handling situations better. Both groups were unhappy with the repetitive patterns and predictable endings commonly seen in slasher films, leading me to think about future trends in this genre within the film industry.

I lack sufficient data to predict how women characters in slasher films will change in the future or to discern what the world expects from the new type of female representation in this genre. Nonetheless, I find it intriguing that filmmakers are blending traditional elements with fresh ideas to create a novel concept of portraying women. I am enthusiastic about what lies ahead, as the future remains uncertain!