2. • Ferdinand De Saussure
• Structuralism states that the culture is to be understood as a system of signs.
Structuralism attempted to develop a semiology (system of signs).
• Structuralism explores the structures through which meaning is constructed
within a culture
• For example:
• What does this chair mean?
This chair alone could symbolise
education, children, dinner, seating,
rest etc..
• … Now what does this chair mean?
By changing the position of the
chair and adding another object the
whole context has changed as now
this represents death, isolation
depression etc..
This is an example of how signs
and symbols can change a story
and influence a certain context.
Signs create a structure and
context without even doing
anything.
3. • 1960’s-70’s
• Foucault and Lacan developed the theory of structuralism suggesting that
the structure exit in all texts and that art forms are based on out cultural
understandings. We can/and do apply this to film.
• Iconography is symbolic representation, especially the conventional
meanings attached to an image or images.
• This links to structuralism as it explores symbolic representations in culture.
4. Analysis Halloween Trailer
•
•
•
The slasher horror sub-genre is a sub-genre of horror films that typically involve a mysterious
psychopathic killer stalking and killing a number of victims often very gruesome. In this essay I
will be analysing how the Halloween trailer(1978) adhere to the codes and conventions of the
slasher horror sub-genre. I will be doing this by looking at the iconography, structuralism and
thematic paradigms in the trailer.
Iconography is the visual images or symbols that represent or associate with a person, cult or
movement. The trailer starts of with the camera movement of a handheld camera this
automatically builds a sense of tension as it symbolizes behaviour of reality, it then pans the
house and the zooms in which gives us view of the settings. We are shown the house, which
looks, deserted and lost. A deserted house is a basic expectation for a horror film living up to the
expectations from the audience. We can also see the darkness surrounding the house, which
connotes a purpose of fear and terror. A point of view shot is then used as the ,asked murder is
stabbing someone. The fact we can see they are wearing a mask implies symbolizes hidden
identity and suggest that they know they are doing wrong and don’t want to get caught. This
adheres to the codes and conventions of a slasher horror sub-genre as the mask also highlights the
thought that this must have been planned linking to the idea of a psychopathic killer. In this shot
we can also see them using a knife, A knife emphasis the gruesome culture of the killer linking to
the slasher horror sub theme once again as they repeatedly stab a victim. This knife suggests an
evil personality as they slowly kill someone without showing any source of regret.
5. •
Thematic is the idea of relating to something or being a theme. A form of non-diegetic
sound is used throughout this trailer as a running theme, The music plays in the
background and as things are about to get intense it speeds up this is a theme
throughout the film. This links to the slasher horror sub-genre as it builds a support
and relationship with the mass-murder as he move son to his next victim. Another
example is the use of lighting on the victims and mask. The mask and victims are
always lit up compared to the background this causes a high level of contrast and
makes them stand out.
•
Structuralism is A method of interpretation and analysis of aspects of human
behaviour, culture, and experience that focuses on relationships. An example of how it
links to the slasher horror sub-genre is through the relationship and identity of the
murder. The murderer is first introduced through a mask and then once unmasked we
see him as a child this when the idea of the troubled killer is announced as it is very
unexpected for a young child to think of such crimes let alone perform them. The
structuralism of his relationships with others seems to be friendly and innocent once
the mask it off suggests some sort of two identities linking to the psychopathic theme.
The behaviour of this young child is very much an example of the slash horror theme
as he goes around willing killing people with what seems to be no reason at all.
•
After looking at the paradigms I have come to the conclusion that this trailer is just a
glimpse of how this film will come under the slasher horror sub-genre.
