To what extent has the horror genre been affected by desensitisation focusing on the 1980's through to 2010
The horror genre has changed significantly through time, displaying a rise in the levels of violence shown in films. I will explore how the affect of desensitisation has affected the audience response to violence over time and how this has shaped modern horror films. This can be seen through my two chosen texts, the 1980's horror film, The Shinning and the 2005 'torture porn' film, saw II. I will apply theories surrounding genre, discussing postmodernism within the horror genre and how this is a product of audiences demand. I will also discuss audience theories such as they affect that horror films have on the audiences outlook, through the hyperdermic model and the cultivation theory creating stereotypical views. I will also discuss uses and gratifacations, focusing on the audiences response and demand for high levels of violence in films and how desensitisation is the product of that.
The Shinning bases itself around an isolated hotel, where Danny sees disturbing visions known as 'the Shinning". The Father, Jack, is underway in a writing project when he slowly slips into insanity as a result of cabin fever and the impact of the hotel's former guests in the form of ghosts. After being convinced to "correct" the family, jack goes completely insane. Saw II is based around Jigsaw, the serial killer, locking eight people in a booby trapped shelter, forcing them to find their way out before they inhale too much of the lethal nerve gas and die.
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