This document discusses the concept of representation and provides context about the 1957 film "The Horror of Dracula". It defines representation as the construction of ideas or images that reflect societal attitudes, and may not be accurate. Representations of gender, social class, age, and British values are examined in the film. Historical context is given about political unrest and economic struggles in Britain in the 1950s that may have made horror films popular escapes. Specific facts about "The Horror of Dracula" are listed, and it suggests the film represented British fears about losing power abroad and changes to traditional gender roles at home.

1. Representation

2. What is representation?
• It’s a construction of an idea or an image
• Representations are not necessarily accurate rather they
reflect societal attitudes of the time
• Who has created the representation? Why? For what
purpose?

3. Representations in our case study films
• Gender (men, women)
• Social class
• Age
• Britain/ British values

4. Changing representations
“Horror films tend to be particularly popular in times of political
unrest, economic depression, war, terrorism, all kinds of domestic
strife…It seems that people need an escape, so they go to horror
films to exorcise a lot of this angst that they have … These films
put a picture to our deepest fears and allow us to deal with these
fears from the safety of our theater seats.”

5. Horror of Dracula (1957) A few facts…
• It cost £81,000 to produce
• Based on literature
• It was released in 1957- the same year the first woman was
allowed to enter the Houses of Parliament
• It was directed by Terence Fisher
• Prime Minister at the time was Harold MacMillan
(conservative)
• A lot of anxiety about Britain’s place in the world

6. British fears
• Anything ‘foreign’ (losing power) other countries were gaining
their independence, the British Empire was shrinking...Suez
Crisis etc.
• Fear of women becoming more powerful, loss of patriarchal
society.

7. The Suez Crisis: A little bit more
historical context
• An invasion of Egypt in late 1956 by Israel, followed by France,
then England.
• The aim was to regain Western control of the Suez Canal and
remove the Egyptian president from power.
• After fighting started the US, Soviet union and UN forced
Israel, France and England to withdraw- this was humiliating.
• Widely believed to have contributed significantly to Britain’s
decline as a world power.
How does this link to
an analysis of Dracula?

8. What representations can be
found in The Horror of Dracula
Men Women Britain Class

9. What representations can be
found in The Horror of Dracula
Men Women Britain Class
Heroes (tend to
be white)
The monster
Weak
Victims
Damsels in
distress
Sexual/Temptress
Empire
Conservative
values
Christianity
Heroes are the
educated,
middle class
(men)

10. Genre and Dracula
• How does Dracula fit the horror genre? (make a list)
• Think about your theorists:
• Rick Altman
• David Buckngham
• Steve Neale

11. Narrative
• What sort of narrative does Dracula have?
• Think about:
• Structure + Syd Field
• Levi Strauss
• What is significant about the ending?

12. Essayquestion:Howdothefilmsnarratespecifically
Britishstories?
Things to include:
• Title, date, director
• Key sequences/ use micro terminology to illustrate your ideas.
• Contextual references- what do you know about Britain at the
time?!
• Narrative structure- what happens at end? Who wins?
• In your groups have a go at planning this question. What
would go in each paragraph?

13. Essay plan: As a group decide on your
best 4 points…
Introduction
Para 1
Para 2
Para 3
Para 4
Conclusion

14. Homework
• Write this essay up in full for homework ready to be handed in
on Monday 27th Feb