Monday 16 September 2013

Day 2: The History of Horror

The genre of horror originates from Gothic Literature, with iconic novels such as The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, Frankenstein by Marry Shelly and The Strange Case of  Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Original elements of Gothic Literature has had an influence on contemporary Horror movies, especially in terms of trops/characters you see represented. Today in class we watched the opening of Nosferatu the first ever Horror movie created in 1922. The movie may have lacked a variety of angles with mainly mid shots and long takes, however in terms of mise en scene the characters are very similar compared to the roles and casted actresses and actors you see in 21st century Horror movies. 

Carrie (1976) and Nosferatu (1922)

Similarities

  • Both films start of peaceful and normal as if nothing bad is going to happen
  • There's subtle hints of a power or an abnormal knowledge they possess
  •  In  terms of mise en scene both of the characters look conventionally scary

Differences 

  • Carrie has more variety of angles, camera shots and angles.
  • There's more ellipse of time in Carrie 
  • The structure of Noferatu is more conventional to horror as it sets the scene quicker, however Carrie reinforces the genre of Horror through the changing turn of events towards the end of the movie.




Analyzing the representation of angles, camera shots and the narrative of both movies strengthens my understanding of how horror movies have changed but also how they can be similar and different. For example in terms of mise en scene Nosferatu and Carrie both have characters which originally are fragile, however their circumstances lead to them becoming "The Villain" on their stories. This understanding will be potentially useful when creating a Horror trailer and magazine cover.


                          

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