horror essay
 

I am doing an essay on women in horror movies. Hopefully it won't turn into the average Final Girl essay although I do intend to discuss the phenomenon briefly.

I`m not even sure how I am going to phrase my thesis statement but essentially I am trying to prove that womens' roles in horror movies have changed from victim to heroine over the decades.

50s-60s- Women were the victim, always saved my a man.
70s- women were the ultimate survivors but seemed to survive at random.
80's- Women survived by using their wit, but by being the stereotypical prudish virgin were still viewed as masculine.
90's- Women like Sydney in Scream survived based on their smarts but challenged the stereotypical Final Girl views. (survived despite losing her virginity, and saving a male virgin from near death)


I need to take this into the 2000s to really prove my point but I don't know where to go. I could discuss movies like All the Boys Love Mandi Lane- Where the lead female plays the sexy and gutsy heroine (not prudish) but also plays the monster. She is both victim and villain.

The Descent deals majorly in feminism, and a woman's will to survive. Female vs. female violence and understanding who is the villain in the situation.


Any ideas or reading I can do? I have already read Men, Women and Chainsaws by Carol Clover.

I've read every thing relating to this topic I could find using the search function and found nothing that really helps my cause.. Help?

i recall barbara creed's book monstrous feminine - but am not sure it will help with this.

i think andrew tudor's book monsters and mad scientists also does a historical read of horror films though not especially female.

i wonder if high tension would fit? it has a definite feminist/lesbian chic going for it.

i also recall a fairly good argument about sydney in scream in the book projected fears.

there is also a good reader on feminism and horror called the dread of difference (though specifics related to your thesis don't come to mind).

i wonder about the first hostel and even saw as an example of horror taken out of the 'female victim' mentality - perhaps a way of extending your analysis.

good luck (i didn't even know you were in school)

I have a specific quote from Andrew Tudor that fit really well I plan on using. He basically said that yes, females have had more significant roles in horror movies, especially as survivors, but that it was rare at the time.

That coupled with Clovers thoughts on females being masculine as a way to keep with the usual stereotypes works well.




but ya, I have been in school since December. It's a web design course where I am forced to relearn English and to do god-forsaken programming classes. Thanks for the help, those should really help me cement what I want to prove.

I think there are women in all those decades who belie those stereotypes. There have been scary/monstrous women in horror films since the beginning of filmic history- just a few examples would be the witches in Haxan, the Bride of Frankenstein, Wasp Woman, Countess Bathory, the Merrye sisters in Spiderbaby, the protagonist in I Spit on Your Grave, Ms. 45... those are ones that come to mind off the top of my head.

I would love to see an essay sometime that focused on scary women. I realise this dsidn't answer your question, or contribute anything constructive.

Sorry.

Don't forget to discuss the role of women in horror as the anti-hero or the villain. Check out movies such as Hard Candy, Mordum and Haute Tension (as Zero mentioned) for a very different perspective on the modern womans role in horror.

Not to mention the womans role as the avenging spirit/ghost in Asian horror, going all the way back Kwaidan.

Onibaba would be another film to consider, as far as unique female roles.

Aspects of the Feminine by Carl Jung.

Horror, esse'

Onibaba is a great example. I second it too. Miss M, you have to check that out.

Also, for the post-2K scenario, Cherry Darling is a good example, and to an extent, Machine Girl. Both deal with women in situations loaded against them and their comebacks into it, all guns blazing. (pun intended)

Teeth - if ever there was a definition of power of a female over men, this was it. And the makers knew very well what smug indications they hid behind the premise of this movie.

I m sure I ll think of more...