Media Studies

A2 Genre Study

SESSION 2
What is the audience for the
Horror genre?
 How can we define the
horror audience?
 Predominantly male until 1990, according to
SARA BRAGG (1995).
 Audience is split into CHASER or CHASED,
which polarises the audience (LAURA
MULVEY – 1975).
 According to CAROL CLOVER (1992), male
and female audiences view the material
bisexually; they identify with the victim.
 What audience does horror have
according to national statistics?

 Male and female, but with a higher proportion

of males expressing a keen interest.

 Most fit into the age range of 16-28 years.

 Prefer the experience of a horror film being

seen socially and in groups, rather than in
isolation.
 Who chooses a horror film?

Enjoy watching pain

being inflicted Identify with the
on others killer

Want to see EXPLICIT Appreciate the violence

scenes of violence, and its staging
rather than
IMPLICIT Adapted from “Men, Women & Chainsaws” by
CAROL CLOVER (1992)
 Who chooses a horror film?
Identify with the
Dislike watching pain victim
inflicted on others
Enjoy the
adrenaline
rush, and
being scared

Want to see IMPLICIT Find the innovation of the

scenes rather than genre appealing, but
EXPLICIT violence dislike repetition of themes

Adapted from “Men, Women & Chainsaws” by

CAROL CLOVER (1992)
Why is the horror audience appealing to
filmmakers & institutions?

 Large group viewings

mean large financial
gains.
 The 16-28 age group
spend the most on
popcorn, merchandise,
etc.
 The audience for horror
traditionally is very
loyal.
 Institutions like DARK
CASTLE and HAMMER
prove that Horror is
enough to have financial
stability.
 The most popular genre
titles tend to be low
budget efforts.
Why did horror disappear in the
mid to late 1980s?
 The genre was blamed
for rising violence
within society.
 The “Video Nasties”
scandal stigmatised
the audience.
 As a result, Horror
films went largely
straight to video.
 Cinema audiences
dropped worldwide;
the Horror genre had
largely become
repetitive and
stagnant.
 Convention, codes and audience
PART ONE

View this first clip, and consider:

 Is it conventional?

 Why or why not?

 What type of audience do you think

this would appeal to? Why?
Why are the most successful horror
films usually low budget?

 It avoids the constraints of large

institutions.
 It gives the filmmaker the control to avoid
conventions.
 It permits greater artistic license.
Conventions, codes and audiences
PART TWO

View this second clip, and consider:

 What is different about this, compared to

the first clip?

 What type of audience do you think this

film would appeal to?

 Why do you think this?

 Audience, codes &
conventions exercise
In pairs, create a synopsis (overview) for a short 30
minute horror film.

You must try to consider the time constraints

imposed, as a short film will not allow you to be too
complex with your theme.

In your synopsis, you must address the following:

 The main genre target audience (16-28).

 The genre conventions you have studied so far (you
may
wish to subvert them!).
 Identify a clear plot, and how the piece will progress.
 Explain the characters, and their part in the
narrative.