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
The texts ‘Physco (1960)’ & ‘The Texas chainsaw massacre (1974), are two films from the slasher genre. The genre itself uses May typical conventions in order to keep the audience entertained and to make them watch the same type of film repeatedly. The changing pace of the genre allows it to fit into many genres all at the same time. This is demonstrated through The Texas chainsaw massacre and Physco. By looking at the two texts, we can see within 14 years the two genres have changed and developed over time.
The most evident changed between the two films is the use of colour, Physco has purposely been filmed in black and white in order to create authenticity and uniqueness to his films.Whereas The Texas chainsaw massacre has used colour, this is used to make scenes such as violent blood cutting scenes look more real. The use of colour allows us to see the real 'goriness' of the scenes. Although Alfred Hitchcock has used no colour in order to draw in the audiences expectations and to make them feel the suspense within the film, as Alfred Hitchcock is said to be the ‘master of suspense’, thus the use of colour.
The way in which women are represented as also changed with time like the genre. In Physco, we see the women represented as helpless and vulnerable as in the shower scene she is killed immediately within the first third of the film. She is killed by a male murderer holding onto a phallic symbol; a knife. This enforced patriarchal; ideology as dominant. We see the knife being penetrated into her body like a replacement for the male ‘penises. Although both films use the phallic symbol, as stated by Sigmund Freud, Texas chainsaw massacre uses it more, as the chainsaw is used through the whole film.
The texts ‘Physco (1960)’ & ‘The Texas chainsaw massacre (1974), are two films from the slasher genre. The genre itself uses May typical conventions in order to keep the audience entertained and to make them watch the same type of film repeatedly. The changing pace of the genre allows it to fit into many genres all at the same time. This is demonstrated through The Texas chainsaw massacre and Physco. By looking at the two texts, we can see within 14 years the two genres have changed and developed over time.
The most evident changed between the two films is the use of colour, Physco has purposely been filmed in black and white in order to create authenticity and uniqueness to his films.Whereas The Texas chainsaw massacre has used colour, this is used to make scenes such as violent blood cutting scenes look more real. The use of colour allows us to see the real 'goriness' of the scenes. Although Alfred Hitchcock has used no colour in order to draw in the audiences expectations and to make them feel the suspense within the film, as Alfred Hitchcock is said to be the ‘master of suspense’, thus the use of colour.
The way in which women are represented as also changed with time like the genre. In Physco, we see the women represented as helpless and vulnerable as in the shower scene she is killed immediately within the first third of the film. She is killed by a male murderer holding onto a phallic symbol; a knife. This enforced patriarchal; ideology as dominant. We see the knife being penetrated into her body like a replacement for the male ‘penises. Although both films use the phallic symbol, as stated by Sigmund Freud, Texas chainsaw massacre uses it more, as the chainsaw is used through the whole film.
Whereas in The Texas chainsaw massacre women play a more significant role, we have a final girl-Sally who battles her way through the film taking on a more masculine role attempting to save her. This shows how the genre has adapted, to represent women in a more fair and equal way, this could be because the first wave of feminism had taken place.Additionally, it also takes into consideration in the early 70's when women started becoming more independant regardless of patriarchy still being about.Therefore, encouraging directors to allow women to take on men’s roles. Women are therefore represented as strong and powerful and ale to take on this role.
The change is society has impacted the way women can be seen throughout films
More over the use of weapons has changed from a knife in Psycho to a chainsaw in Texas chainsaw massacre this shows the change in society and technology making way for new technology and weapons to be used.
The group of friends that go on a amping trip in a car is now a very typical generic convention used by many slasher films,The genre has adapted to make way for the changes in society of how teenagers all go out in groups on road trips.
The use of masks and cover up are typical of the genre. These are used to show the emptiness in the killer’s faces, thus giving the audience more to feel scared about. Yet, in Physco, this has been made more evident as the ’granny’s’ mask is not as frightening as the one scene in The Texas chainsaw massacre. That mask is more sincere and is made out of skin-‘leather face’. This shows how over time audiences have become desensitized to violence and it is easier for them to watch the brutality of certain films, as it is not as uncomfortable to watch. It shows how the audiences of these films have got use to the violence which takes place in the films, the audience is then being introduced to more 'in your face' action which then shocks them, but allows them to be prepared for another film to mirror this,thus making it harder for audiences to be scared.
The slasher genre itself confronts the audience fares, and allows their expectations to be subverted. Overall to conclude, by comparing both Psycho (1960) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) that as time progresses there is always going to be an ongoing change continuing to adapt and better films and their genres,allowing audiences expectations to be met and overwhelmed.
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