Post 9/11 Horror 4/12/15

               

                 For our lecture today we had Victoria McCollum talk to us, a new lecturer in Magee. She studied Post 9/11 horror for her PHD, so she based the lecture on what she knew best, Horror films and why we watch them.

What are the best horror films made?

The best horror films are the ones that challenge us and make us question the norm. Take Psycho for example, its culturally relevant and has something to say about the world. Texas Chainsaw Massacre though, took 5-10 years for healing process to be accepted by the public. It was too gory to be accepted at the time it was released and the public couldn't understand or accept Hooper and Henkels work. 

Post 9/11 horror

This is evidently the time period after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in which horror films were released. Most, if not all films, not just horror were related and linked back to the horrific event. The majority of films that were ranked high, were all terrorist related or linked back to the time period of 9/11. This is because the public can sympathise with it and have more understanding of the emotion and terror caused in such events. 

Popular Culture 

Pop culture is seen as a bad thing by the majority of people. It kills brain cells because of how unoriginal and repetitive pop music is, it's made for masses. All music these days are the same when broken down and this has been proven by scientists. However, we're all brain washed to listen to it because it's relevant. It's more than likely that the next new horror films released will be based on Syria in Britain, a culturally relevant issue. All of the images used however are constantly recycled just like Pop Culture.

"If movies are the dreams of the mass culture- horror films are the nightmares"- Stephen King.

Clover Field is a good example of a story that is not seen or heard but felt. Watching a video from the film made me feel on edge. The imagery from 9/11 are used, skyscrapers falling and the statue of liberty beheaded ( After 9/11 the Statue of Liberty wasn't open for 14 years. ) The movement of the camera found footage make the viewer uneasy due to the amateur cam perspective, below is the scene where the Statue of Liberty's Head was knocked off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkFcHUvyJ-k

How horror has changed and developed

• In the 1920's people thought that the people in horror films were ghosts because of this Gothicism time period.
• 1950's was more of the time period of mutated monster mash, this was at the time of invasion of body snatchers making the films culturally relevant. There was nuclear tension and fear made by the characters.
• 1960's 14% of films were horror films, and people related to them because it showed that anyone could be a killer.For example Rosemary's Baby, is a horror film about the new technology used for reproduction and this was the fear of people in the 1960's, the fear of the new generation being born, making them once again culturally relevant.
• 1970's was the time of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it showed the social cratigue, immorality of the youth and drug/alcohol abusers etc. making this all relevant during this time.
• Horror films now, Post 9/11 are all based in rural areas, featuring a rural monster, usually a hill-billy.

It was evident after 9/11 that Die hard's views increased due to it being relevant. There was also a 90% increase of population voting for the president whilst conspiracy theories began. Majority of horror films were based in urban areas because the landscapes look apocalyptic, decimated, relevant after 9/11.