Saturday, 12 December 2015

Introduction to Literature review

Here is the introduction to my literature review based on 'why do we watch horror films?'
Later in the review I go on to talk about what research I have collected and what I have learnt from it. This will help me when writing the essay response to my question.
Introduction to horror and fear:

Horror movies have advanced a great deal since the very first horror- the 1896 Georges Melies - Le Manoir du Diable house (the devils house). We have experienced unprecedented leap in the number of big budget horror movies released over the last decade. Time has presented the beauty of conventions, where directors have successfully identified what it is that scares us and therefore, will play on our fears. Many theories and published research works have come to the surface due to the very existence of conventions. Despite its ‘predictability’ it will often be the very thing that will determine how good a movie is in terms of its shock factor. Since it’s inception over a hundred years ago, the horror genre, has played on the fears, terror, and dread of the unknown. More recently there has been an increase in experimenting with subversions in the horror context, revisiting the ‘fear of the unknown’ leaving us wondering what could possibly happen next. Though this would take some getting use to it has often proven just as effective as using conventions.

As we delve into an age where conventions and subversions are played on more and more the list of elements that scare us increases, however with that comes the ultimate price of immunity to things such as, gore, violence, brutality and torture in a cinematic event. We are allowed to experience such things in confidence due to our placing in the safety of the spectators’ seat.

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