Recent developments in genre have included the emergence of parody, pastiche and hybrid form. Show how such developments have influenced the nature of media texts.
(January ‘06a)

Introduction:
The granddaddy of slasher films was psycho (1960, Alfred Hitchcock). This straightforward film has developed over many years to from a new form of slasher genre with the use of intertexaulity, pastiche, parody and hybrid genres. Richard Malby stated that “genres are flexible”. This reflects the genres theory as genres are not static but dynamic allowing the combination of other genes called hybrid films, which are becoming more popularly used with texts.

PARODY:
a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way
make a spoof of or make fun of
humorous or satirical mimicry
spoof: make a parody of; "The students spoofed the teachers"

1st cycle: The development cycle: the loose gripping so the film (psycho, Texas chainsaw massacre, Black Christmas and Halloween.
(Near the time of the Vietnam war) (1960’s to 1970’s)

2nd cycle: introduction to special effects and technology): Evolution to a classic period—Nightmare on Elm street, Friday the 13th (1980’s)

3rd cycle: DECLINE ‘genre in crisis’: Introduction to Video/VCR): Freddy vs. Jason Franchises/sequels (80’s/90’s)

4th cycle: post modern era: Scream (1997)

5th cycle: re makes: Psycho, Texas chainsaw massacre, Halloween

Douglas Pye (1975)

“Generic consistency allows for the use of conventions and stereotype but also with the relationship between confirmed expectation and novelty”

“…Enough to allow for enormous individual variation”

Steve Neale (1980)

“Films repeat themselves in different ways”

Jim Collins

“Bricolage the playful mixing of elements”

Elements of bricolage are used in slasher films such as Texas chainsaw massacre remake as it is laid out like a documentary (the opening).

The main element of genre theory is genres are dynamic. This means that they are not fixed static allowing genres to become hybrid.

Definition
A hybrid film is a genre that is difficult to categorise as it combines a number of different genres into one production. The film cannot be classified simply as comedy, horror, romance or mystery.

Scream

Post modern text—references to other slasher films and film making.

First post modern text was Wes Cravens new nightmare- Scream directed by same director and both are post modern texts.

Intertexual references to other slasher genres – has details of the rules of a slasher—created identification for the audience

Sidney is told she sounds like a Wes Carpenter flick
l l
Director John Carpenter (co-producer)
Directed Halloween- was made as a reference

He also directed A nightmare on Elm Street- Hybrid film with features of fantasy- comes in children’s dreams and kills them
-- Freud’s theory on the unconscious is being employed

Screams also makes intertexaul reference to psycho- Billy (killer) quotes Norman Bates= “We all go mad sometimes”

Psycho: ‘granddaddy’ of the slasher genre through not fully classified as a full slasher film.
-started the emergence and popularity of the slasher genre
-Makes reference to the use of the corpse in the next slasher film- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974)
- (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) Wider context: Mid 70’s oil crisis= countries limited and led to shortages
- happens in the film where they couldn’t get gas

Some elements get passed along to the next slasher films from psycho such as:
- Hitchcock creates suspense and shock (enigma)-- > audiences have more information = dramatic irony
- Phallic object being the knife(Mulvey's theory)- further used in slasher genres
- The scream by the victim
- Isolated area

Minimal blood is shown in psycho—partly due to censorship
- this increases over time due to the relaxation of censorship
- people (audiences) become desensitised to what is being shown marking the development =of the genre-makes changes
* CULTIVATION THEORY

The failed authority figures is another element that is transferred from one slasher film to another- challenged hypodermic needle model
Police/authority figures presented with power- failed- passive audiences injected with negative ideologies of the police and their ability to protect.

Hybrid genres are becoming more popular because different conventions could be used to make the film more unique and attract different audiences suiting the genre. Slasher genre is combined with:
- Horror
- Thriller
- Fantasy
- Mystery
- Comedy

Recent development could be due to the changing characteristics. The texts reflect the changing times and societies in which they are produced as well as changes in media institutions such as film industry.

Other reasons for the changes and developments of the slasher genre could be due to changes in target audiences:
- Certain texts are likely to attract different audiences. These audiences depend on socials class, age and gender. Emerging other elements such as parody, pastiche and hybrid genres attract wider and mainstream audiences that best suit their genre.
- The new elements themselves may attract more audiences to watch the text as it is different however similar through conventions and codes.
- It is often argued that target audiences for films have become younger over the years. This is known as the ‘juvenilisation’. This could be the reason why slasher genres are now aimed at teenagers.

Changes in audience expectations
- Contemporary audiences are much more sophisticated viewers than those who first saw moving pictures.
- Audiences reading a text are familiar with the codes and conventions- this results in new elements being introduced

Changes in society
- Contemporary audiences are harder to shock and more accustomed to representations of graphic violence, sexual images and bad language and well as more special effects that before. This results in producers trying new things to entertain audiences.
- This explains why genres change ( introduction of hybrid genres)
- Genre changes over time as it reflects the values and concerns in society around them. The changing position of women (final girl due to feminism), attitudes, violence and other issues present in society.

Rick Altman

Critic looks at similarities across a range of films and is based on analysis after the event (after view of categorising films). The film producer identifies a successful film, analysis the film to what made it successful and the codes and conventions of the genre. The producer then uses this formula to create another film—this results in films becoming hybrids as successful traits are used to make a film successful from different genres.