Genre

Horror

   In horror, stories are often based on psychological fear (like insanity or hallucinations), physical threats (monsters, killers, or unsafe situations), and supernatural aspects (such as ghosts, demons, or cursed objects). Typically, the settings are gloomy or isolated, like abandoned villages, forests, or abandoned homes. In order to increase tension and give the audience a persistent feeling of dread, characters are regularly placed in dangerous situations that take advantage of their weaknesses. This could happen when a group splits up in an unfamiliar place.

   While abrupt zooms or unsteady cameras enhance the suspense during chase scenes, close-ups show the characters' fear. Suspense is increased with eerie music, sudden silences, and jump-scare noises. Rapid cuts heighten suspense and make the audience uneasy. More intense horror scenes are produced by practical effects, such as genuine wounds or eerie makeup.

   In order to increase curiosity and fear, horror movies are marketed using certain conventions. To increase tension, trailers frequently use flashbacks of important scary scenes, tense music, and sudden silence. Dark shades, ominous imagery, and suggestive taglines are frequently used in posters that point to danger or something supernatural. Viral marketing and social media campaigns may also be very helpful in building suspense by using "found footage" or cryptic hints to make the story feel authentic. To fit the scary atmosphere of the season, horror films are often released around Halloween or Friday the 13th.

   Take, for instance, The Shining. With its use of psychological terror, supernatural themes, and isolation, this film represents the horror genre. The Hotel's isolated location enhances themes of vulnerability and loneliness, which makes it a natural background for suspense. A disturbing mood is created by the director's slow pacing and use of eerie shots, while the concept of psychological breakdown is illustrated by Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Jack Torrance. The movie is a classic horror experience since it also makes use of unsettling sounds and images.   

   Another example is Hereditary, a 2018 horror film. Deep family-related trauma is shown in this film through an effective combination of supernatural themes and psychological horror. Hereditary uses creepy sound design, lengthy shots, and disturbing scenes to gradually build tension, emphasizing environmental fear over basic jump scares. The horror is very personal because of the unsettling themes of mental illness, loss, and inherited family curses. The film's unexpected story puts the audience in a constant state of anxiety, containing modern horror clichés, while Toni Collette's portrayal of a grieving mother adds real emotion.

  

Representation In Media

 Representation In "The Notebook"

In The Notebook, the portrayal of the two main characters, Noah and Allie, revolves around familiar themes of love, class differences, and personal growth. However, the movie also leans heavily on stereotypes to tell its story. Through these stereotypes, the film simplifies its characters and their struggles, relying on common tropes to evoke emotion and move the plot forward. Noah and Allie, while central to the film's narrative, are both depicted in ways that reinforce societal stereotypes about men, women, and class. 

Noah Calhoun, a working-class young man, is symbolized by the "rugged, devoted man" stereotype. His character represents the hardworking, emotionally tough, yet deeply romantic man who never gives up on love. This stereotype suggests that men should be patient and persistent, willing to wait endlessly for the woman they love, even if the odds are against them. Noah’s unwavering devotion, while romantic, simplifies his character, reducing him to the stereotype of the idealized male who exists only to win and keep his love interest. The movie doesn’t explore Noah’s individuality beyond his relationship with Allie, reinforcing the stereotype that a man's value is tied to his ability to provide and be endlessly loyal.     

On the other hand, Allie Hamilton fits into the stereotype of the "wealthy, rebellious girl" torn between societal expectations and her personal desires. As the daughter of a wealthy family, Allie is pressured to marry someone from her own class, which places her in the familiar position of the privileged woman who wants to break free. This stereotype suggests that wealthy women are often trapped by their riches and family expectations, and their only escape is through love with a man of lower status. Allie’s character also embodies the stereotype that women are indecisive and emotionally driven, as much of her internal struggle centers on her conflicting emotions about love and duty, rather than her personal goals or ambitions. 

The film also reinforces class-based stereotypes. Noah, as a poor laborer, is depicted as more "authentic" and emotionally rich than Allie’s wealthy suitor, Lon. This taps into the common stereotype that those from lower social classes are more in touch with their emotions and have greater integrity, while the wealthy are shallow or driven by materialism. Allie's parents, particularly her mother, are portrayed as snobbish and controlling, further reinforcing the idea that upper-class people are out of touch with true emotions and judge others based solely on their financial status. This oversimplification reduces the complexity of class struggles to a predictable narrative of rich versus poor. 

In Conclusion, The Notebook relies on these stereotypes to tell its story in a way that is familiar and easy for the audience to digest. While the movie presents a touching love story, the use of stereotypical characters and situations simplifies the deeper issues of class, identity, and relationships. The reliance on these stereotypes helps drive the plot but also limits the depth of the characters, making their experiences and choices more predictable. By leaning on these familiar patterns, The Notebook tells a story that feels timeless but fails to challenge the traditional roles and assumptions that come with these stereotypes. 

Sound Project

   During the sound lesson and assigned videos, I learned many ways to categorize sounds and ways to make the sounds in your film have a greater impact. I also learned that you could make sounds yourself by using objects you might've not considered. I learned simple ways to make sounds at home, which really helped tie together and improve my project.

   For this project, we had to convey the plot of scenes using only sound. The recording had to be a black screen or one still shot and 1-2 minutes long. At least 4 of the sound effects used had to be created using random objects on a foley sounds. We had to video the process of creating these four sounds and edit them together into one cohesive video file.

   Me and my partner began working on this project by first coming up with a topic, and then we plotted the scene down on paper and visualized how it would sound if it were to actually happen. The outline helped us organize our sounds because it helped us think of all of the sounds that go into ordinary things we don't usually think of. After brainstorming, we watched videos on foley sounds and researched sounds on the internet. Our main editing source was Adobe Premier, but we also used our phone settings to crop clips. 

In this project, we did well with conveying the plot. I think all of our sounds worked smoothly together to put the scene together. Although, the beginning could use some improvement. In the beginning of the project, the sounds should've flowed together a little bit better. Overall, I think me and my partner worked well together on this project. 

Link to project: https://youtu.be/Fht41J5e66I?si=kLt_KqzD33SEZ7WK