How does a comparison of these two 'slasher' texts demonstrate how genre changes over time? Why this is so and what other media issues and debates do they raise?

Psycho (1960, USA) directed by the Granddaddy, Alfred Hitchcock and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, USA) directed by Tobe Hopper, both belong to genre of slasher movies. With the intentions of having similar ideologies, the aim and its function to create fear and shock within the audience are evident in slasher movies. However, despite having similarities we can also analyse how both slasher texts demonstrate the change in genre over time.

Firstly, the main and obvious change throughout the genre of slasher movies is portrayed and evident by watching both movies. Psycho is a movie which was made black and white, despite having the advantage of colour films, the granddaddy of slasher decided to keep it black and white in order to create and maintain originality within movies and keep it authentic. Through black and white movies Hitchcock wanted to create suspense which the audience of the time were familiar too. Whereas, Texas Chainsaw Massacre is made in colour in order to create and enhance more horror and highlight the horrific scenes to the audience as the blood is visible. Through the use of close-ups for example when the final girl is running out of the house we see a close up through which we identify with her state as she is screaming, limping and covered in blood. This colour movie has shown the change in the genre of slasher movies as it can be seen how the movie Psycho was not as horrific as Texas chainsaw massacre as this movie shows colour in order to get the audience scared.

Media debates which can arise from these movies are the issues of a patriarchal ideology. Both movies have women in them and as Laura Mulvey would argue, it is due to pleasing the male audience, ‘male gaze’. Psycho shows women throughout the movie however, once again portrayed as sex objects as she is a femme fatelle and evidently is killed during the movie. On the other hand in Texas chainsaw massacre we have a Final girl who is traumatised and then survives, it can be argued that these women are shown in order to enhance pleasure throughout men by seeing them being tortured. Psycho does not portray a final girl and this can once again portray a change in the genre of slasher movies as the films from 1970’s and onwards are most likely to present a final girl and show the zeitgeist of today. Which also shows that women were now independent that they are given that role of being a final girl and showing how the political views of equal rights has been enhanced through the society today as well as throughout the Hollywood industry itself! Whereas the woman in Psycho is presented as weak and unable to help herself from the murderer. One main scene which shows how the woman in Texas chainsaw massacre is superior is the long shot in which the final girl is being chased by two of the men, she manages to survive from the patriarchal debate and survives. Once again showing the change in the genre of slasher movies.

Moreover, considering Sigmund Frauds’ theory of phallic symbols, we can see throughout the movies how this phallic symbol is present. With Psycho showing a knife as its phallic symbol, which is the object that kills everyone and Texas chainsaw massacre has many phallic symbols from knives to chainsaws with the chainsaw itself being the main phallic symbol which is used to kill people and during the end is the object that cuts off the mans leg.

One generic change that has occurred throughout the decade from when the granddaddy of slasher- Psycho was shown to Texas chainsaw massacre is the narrative and characters. Psycho is a movie in which the narrative revolves around the one missing person who is killed and everyone who has gone to look for her is then killed however these narratives has changed throughout the years from having one- two victims to having a group of teenagers like in Texas chainsaw massacre who are killed one by one then leaving the final girl. This is also shown in recent movies such as Halloween and Friday 13^th. This narrative creates suspense and the audience are hooked onto watching this as they want to know why they are being killed and who is behind the killings. This use of characters has created a wider range of audience including mainly teenagers who would go watch such movies and identify with many of the characters.

In conclusion, there has been a change of conventions of the genre of slasher movies which has made this genre not only successful and popular that many people come to watch these movies but has made it even more exciting to watch through the use of colour and narrative change and horrific scenes that are highlighted due to the use of colour. And it is evident that as time has progressed the movies have progressed in the sense the audience have more horrific and explicit movies to watch in order to give them the feeling they want from slasher movies.

Cover work: 10/03/08

a) Form: an extract from the movie, Texas Chainsaw massacre

Function: to create suspense in the sense, will she get away or not?...

b)

M: young girl running covered in blood, chased by the two scary mad people, medium shots emphasise her pain, the way shes running showing her in blood. long shots show her being chased by two other men.

I: ideology of having a final girl

G: slasher, horror

R: representation of the final girl. who goes through such traumas and stays alive.

A: Teenagers.

I:

N: linera narrative, no use of flashbacks.

Cover work...10/03/08

a)

Form: extract from the movie Psycho

Function: to create suspense for the audience.

b)

M: Going towards the shower in her bath robe!

I: She's portrayed as a 'sex object' an femme fetale

G: Horror.

R: representation of a young, pretty women who is going to have a shower and is murdered, emphasises the ideology of the femme fetal!

A: Teenagers and adults and those who are interested in arthouse.

I: Arthouse

N: Linear narrative.