Real Media Texts

Lewis Brown

What is a ‘real media text’?

• A real media text is an example of a real life media product such as a film, book or newspaper.

Conventions of a Horror trailer

• There are several common features in a horror trailer that appear whether they are examples of mise-en-scene, editing or sound. These are known as codes and conventions.

For example

• A Sinister piece of music • An iconic villain that aims to ruin the lives of

the main characters• A location which is isolated and eerie (for

example, a forest or abandoned house in the middle of nowhere)

• Editing that gradually becomes faster cut towards the end of the trailer

• Sounds that sound unusual or dangerous (for example a saw or knife slashing)

• A final scare at the end of the trailer

Carrie (2013)• This trailer fits with the codes and conventions of a horror genre as there

are unusual sounds within the soundtrack, there are references to spirituality and religion and the story involves teenagers (this is most common in slasher movies). It is also typical because it involves a supernatural character, in this case Carrie who has powers of telekinesis.

• A theory that can be applied to the film and its trailer is the theory of voyeurism in film by Laura Mulvey. In the film, whilst showering, Carrie starts her period and everyone taunts her. Laura Mulvey stated that film provides visual pleasure through scopohillia (voyeurism) and this can be applied to Carrie because she is going through intimate moments during the film and it’s as if the audience is spying on her private life.

You’re Next (2013)• This film is typical of a gore type horror film as it contains the

conventions including blood, violence, a masked killer and sense of hopelessness for the victims. The dark lighting and setting which is isolated is also common of the horror genre.

• Vera Dika’s theory of Catharsis in slasher films can be applied to this film. People may watch the film to express their feelings by viewing and fearing bodily harm and gore.

Curse of Chucky (2013)• The Curse of Chucky has typical codes and conventions in its horror trailer. For

example, the main villain is associated with children and innocence; this is the same as other Horror films such as Stephen King’s “It” where the main villain is a clown, this also reflects children and innocence which creates an eerie juxtaposition of horror and purity. The Sounds in the trailer are common as there are unusual stings and sound effects that sound dangerous.

• A theory that can be applied to the film and trailer is Freud’s theory of the “Uncanny”; Chucky has human-like features which are familiar and safe to the audience, whereas because he has a constant, unchanging facial expression and doll-like features, his face is unusual at the same time which creates a feeling of fear.