Does the horror genre subvert or conform to stereotypical representations of females?
In this investigation I will be analysing whether or not contemporary Television texts subvert or conform to the stereotypical representation of women in the horror genre. To help me do this I will be analysing 'The Walking Dead' and American Horror Story' season 3 episode 2 entitled Boy Parts.
Firstly I will investigate if the female protagonists ideologies are forward thinking or belong to a more patriarchal society. By analysing this particular area of representation I will determine if my two chosen texts reflect the society in which they were made.
I will then be investigating if females are objectified by the directors constructed mode of address and how much screen time they have. I will question if females are under represented, especially in roles of role or dominance. To ensure an in-depth analysis I will conduct primary and secondary research including the application of specific theories such as Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze theory. I will also see if the shows pass the Bechdel test.
The horror genre was introduced in the early 1900's and mainly about vampires and ghosts, 'Traditionally women are represented in horror films as the damsel in distress and are usually being attacked by the killer because they have committed a sinful act.' [3] This representation was carried through most horror films even to this day but now the representation as been adapted to suit audiences. In the two texts I have chosen to analyse the female protagonists are different from characters in other shows, for example American Horror Story the show has a mainly female cast and they are very powerful characters. Also in The Walking Dead has a mixed cast but the women are able to look after themselves, even through they follow Rick as their leader. In the Episode of 'American Horror Story: Body Parts' [1] the teenage girls are stereotypical in the way that they are discussing the perfect boyfriend but Madison is more psychologically disturbed in the way she wants to take the best parts of the chopped up boys to make the best boyfriend 'Zoe, look around this room, what do you see?' 'Tragedy, what?' 'I see potential'[1]. Madison is also stereotypical through the mise en scene, she wears tight clothes to get attention from the men that surround her. But Zoe is covers up and is very nervous around boys partly because what happens when she has sex with them but also because she isn't used to the attention. The other women in this show are powerful, strong and independent. But Fiona is a power hungry women who will do anything to keep her ruin over the house, she is an older women but still wears tight clothing in order to get the male attention.Where as her daughter Cordelia is different, she is stereotypical in the scene that she is married and trying for a baby like most women of her age but she is also portrayed as professional who runs the house, this is shown through the mise en scene of what she wears and how she acts.
The women in 'The Walking Dead: Made to suffer' [2] subvert the stereotypical representation of women found in similar text form the same genre, because they are strong then most and only a small number of them could be argued whether or not they are damsels in distress. For example the women travelling with Sasha at the beginning of this episode, she had to be saved a couple of times and then was bitten by a walker. In this episode Maggie falls victim to the brutality of humans trying to grain power but she remains strong for herself and Glenn. Although the fact that she was shirtless could be seen as her being objectified and used as an object to hurt Glenn she doesn't let it get to her and she helps herself and Glenn out of the mess they are in. Through the mise en scene the audience can see that they are all armed and willing to fight to survive. Carol is an interesting character because as the show progresses she comes more ruthless but at the start of this show she was an abused wife and a mother. Some may say that she was weak because she stayed in an abusive relationship but in Carol's case she was strong to endure the abuse and became stronger later on because of it, it helps define her. Also because she was a mother the represents her in a stereotypical way such as the scene in the prison, she is left behind with the children and she protects them while everyone is gone. But she later twists that protection into something that gets her kicked out of the group. Michonne is loyal to her friend but because she was on her own for so long she very independent and can fight her own battles. This is evident in this episode when Michonne leaves the group to go on her own mission. The scene opens with a long shot of the Governor's room the lighting is low key but could be argued natural lighting because it is night time. Then it cuts to a low angle close up of Michonne by doing this the audience can see her facial expressions, she looks angry and her lip is twitching. Also the close up so that she is sweating and is dirty, this common with a zombie themed horror text. There is also non diegetic music playing to build tension for the audience, they know something is going to happen. Then there is diegetic sound of banging coming from the next room, the audience knows this because it cuts to an over the should shot of the door which Michonne is looking at. This shows that she isn't afraid of the thing that goes bump in the night, she doesn't hide from it. The sequence of this scene that shows Michonne as a character who subverts the stereotypical representation of women is the scene where she is holding Penny in front of her while the Governor id begging her not to hurt his zombie daughter. Michonne is shown in a mid shot and her expression is still annoyed but also there is a little ... because she has the upper hand, she can hurt the Governor. In the mid shot she tenses her face and move the samurai then it cuts to a close up side profile of Penny as the samurai goes right through her head and out her mouth. Michonne when goes on to fight a strong and angry man and she manages to win the fight by stabbing him in the eye with a piece of glass. She then leaves her loyalty for Andrea behind after she choses the Governor over her. Michonne is strong in everyway but the show doesn't let her be the total subversion to the rule, she takes on the motherly role when Penny first walks out 'It's okay I'm not going to hurt you'
[1] American Horror Story season 3 episode 2 Body parts
[2] The Walking Dead season 3 episode 8 Made to suffer
[3] Word press: http://screampsychohorror.wordpress.com/representation-of-women-in-horror-films/
