Representation in Film

Adolescents are typically portrayed as self-absorbed and lazy individuals who have no regards to anything happening around the world that doesn't relate to their own personal and often meaningless problems. The only things that teenagers are portrayed to care about are superficial things such as their self-image, if they're "popular," what parties they go to and who they date. They are also represented as very irritable and rude to adults.

For example, the movie "Clueless" follows teenager Cher and her best friend Dion, who live in luxurious Beverly Hills and only care about going shopping. They are both completely clueless about the world around them and remain ignorant because they only pay attention to anything that revolves them. Cher's ex-step-brother makes fun of her because of the self-absorbed and ignorant behavior that she doesn't even care to watch the news. She has an epiphany towards the end of the film and changes her behavior and begins to see the world and everyone around her and stops worrying about superficial and materialistic things. Another example is the movie "Project X" which features Thomas, Costa and JB, three "uncool" high schoolers who throw the biggest party of their high school years to desperately fit in the cool crowd. They wait for their parents to go out of town and tell everyone about the party, which results in hundreds of teenagers showing up since the address got leaked. Instead of canceling the party due to a large number of people that went, they continue with the party despite the consequences of trashing the house and getting arrested for underage drinking and illegal drugs at the party. They just want to fit in which is enough reason to risk it all.

This representation of teenagers, while some aspects may not be far from the truth, is still taken to an extreme and don't apply to all teenagers. The representation of not caring about anything going on is unfair because it entitles adults to dismiss any ideas that the youth may come up with or any emotions they express. I retain the view that teenagers do enjoy partying, which often relates to illegal possession of drugs and alcohol. Since teenagers are still in the phase of growing up, it is common to be reckless and engage in illicit activities without thinking of the consequences. However, I challenge the idea of teenagers being completely ignorant and indifferent because many teenagers do stand up for their beliefs and voice their opinions, as demonstrated through countless youth-led movements in history. The current March for Our Lives is a challenger to the stereotype itself.

Film Genre Database Entry Sub Genre: Slasher Films

Genre conventions- content: 
Slasher films revolve around the main antagonist, a serial killer, that goes on a killing spree, killing all of the main characters one by one. The serial killer typically suffered a childhood trauma that caused them to become violent and kill as a way to have some control over their lives. Most killers in slasher films are masked to hide their identity and increase the suspense of the film, as well as making them appear unhuman to go along with their superhuman strengths. The killer's choice of weapon is handheld (e.g., knife, chainsaw, machete) to cause grotesque and painful deaths of the victims, hence the name "slasher" killers. This also allows the killer to be up close and personal to the victim, which adds to the horror and suspense of the film and the sadistic nature of the killer. Another convention of slasher killers is that they are male, big, and exert superhuman strengths and withstand any stabbings/shootings/etc., making them almost impossible to kill or capture. Most are misogynistic since they're main targets are young, "impure" girls who have engaged in sexual relations.
The typical targets of the killer are adolescents and/or young adults, who are usually in high school or college. The main characters form a friend group that generally consists of the jock, the popular girl, the geek, and the final girl. The first victim is usually the popular girl who might be engaging in sexual acts, which is the motive for the killer to kill her. Then one by one the characters are killed off until the final girl is the last one standing and confronts the antagonist, sometimes able to take him down. The final girl is the representation of innocence and purity that can defeat evil.
The location of the film is usually in the suburbs in normal looking homes and neighborhoods to which the audience can relate to. This adds to the horror and fear of the movie because it suggests that serial killers can show up at even the safest of places. Another common location is isolated areas such as campsites and the woods because it adds to the suspense since no one else is around to rescue the victims from the killer.

Genre conventions- production techniques:
The establishing shot of slasher films is done through panning to introduce the audience to the setting and create the creepy and unsettling atmosphere right away. The movie builds momentum with tracking shot by following the victims around to suggest an evil lurking around the house or the area. Since slasher films are notorious for being extremely grotesque and graphic, close-ups and extreme close-ups are used to show the fatal injuries and cause fear and disgust to the audience. Close-ups are also used to indicate the fear of the victims as they're being chased and ultimately stabbed to death.
Low key lighting is used throughout the entire films to create a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere and further distort the killer's identity who is often masked by the shadows. The lighting allows the killer to lurk around and sneak attack the victims to create jump scares, which is a big factor of the horror of the films.
Sound is used in slasher films to create horror and suspense. Ominous music is used to make the audience uneasy and suggests that there is an evil lurking around and that something is about to happen. Sudden bursts of music equate to stabbing to scare the audience and build tension.
 Film Example #1: Scream (1996)



The movie follows the main character Sidney and her group of friends who live in a suburban town that's haunted by a serial killer, Ghostface, who killed the first victims, Casey and her boyfriend, within the first few minutes of the film. Since the target of the killer is teenagers, school is temporarily closed and a curfew is set for the whole town. Sidney and her friends have a party in one of their houses where Ghostface eventually ends up. He starts killing each victim one by one in very gruesome ways without being taken down since it seems impossible for him to be captured. His identity remains unknown for the audience but it's hinted that the killer is amongst them. The final girl is te last one standing at the climax of the film when it's revealed that the killer is actually her boyfriend. His motive for the killing spree was that her mother messed up his parent's marriage and was looking for revenge. Sidney confronts him and is able to defeat him and everything is resolved.

Film Example #2: Halloween (1978)


The film begins with a young Michael Meyers who kills his sister, showing that he was deeply troubled ever since he was little. Fast forward many years later, he escapes the mental hospital he's admitted to and goes back to his hometown for Halloween. The movie follows the main character and final girl, Laurie, who is the innocent one of her friends, Lynda and Annie. Laurie notices a figure who is referred to as The Shape following her around all day but fails to identify who it is. That night, Laurie is babysitting and is alone at a house with the little boy, Tommy. Her friend Annie who is babysitting in a house nearby drops off Lyndsey to meet up with her boyfriend. She's quickly killed off when she gets in the car to go pick him up. Lynda is with her boyfriend and they engage in sexual acts and are both killed off right after. Laurie, the last one standing, believes that her friends are all playing a prank on her but soon discovers that they've all been brutally killed. As the final girl, she confronts Michael Myers and tries to kill him multiple times but he possesses superhuman strengths that make him immune to any stabbings. She is able to take off his mask, revealing his identity. The doctor from the mental hospital comes and shoots him repeatedly, making him fall off a balcony but sees he's vanished, proving he's impossible to kill.

Slasher film examples:
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)



Stage Fright (1987)



Friday the 13th (1980)



A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)



Child’s Play (1988)