Plan: Jan 06b

Recent developments in genre have included the emergence of parody, pastiche and hybrid forms. Show how such developments have influenced media texts.

Introduction:
Philip Brophy (1986) argues “modern horror genre is a saturated genre as audiences are over-familiar with the repertoire elements and their possible variations.” Therefore parody, pastiche and hybrid films give audience the familiar elements of previous slasher texts. For instance character roles are taken and used in new ways such as subverting the typical character role in texts such as “Scary Movie” (2000) creating humour for the teen audience.

Key texts:
Parody: “Scary Movie” (2000), “Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth” (2000) mocks other genres
Pastiche: “Scream” (1996) explicitly makes reference to previous slasher films as well as copying that certain style e.g. “Scream” copying the phone call scene from “when a stranger calls”.
Hybrid forms: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) consists of comedy elements
Freddy vs. Jason can be seen as a pastiche and a hybrid as it franchises the two villains too appeal to two groups of slasher fans moreover it makes reference to the previous Friday the 13th films and nightmare on elm street. Additionally, as villains like Freddy Kruger and Jason Vohrees have become merchandised through dolls would make them less threatening and take away the impact they once had therefore creating more slasher films about them would clearly be unsuccessful but using them in parodies and pastiches can be quite successful as the producers are using repetition through having familiar characters but varying the narrative.

“Imitation is of images from the past offered as nostalgic substitute for any real exploration of either the past or present.”- John Belton (1994)

Moreover, the producers rely on an active audience who have seen or have knowledge on previous slasher films so that they can understand the jokes and references about the other films giving them nostalgic and intellectual pleasures. E.g. in “Scream” the phone call scene people who have seen the text discussed in the opening sequence would have a better reading of the text.

Genre is dynamic not static therefore parody, pastiche and hybrid forms can be seen as a novelty aspect.

The target audience have changed as most audience are desensitised to the gory graphic scenes shown in slasher films therefore just repeating again and again would make it boring for the audience and lead the genre into decline.(Metz cycle)

Hybrid forms help appeal to a wider audience which would target a mainstream audience.

In the text “Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth” (2000) explicitly states they are in a parody situation by explaining the rules of a parody situation. Those rules are:
Exaggerate everything.
Accept that the ridiculous is logical.
Sexual sight gags are always funny (especially with wacky sound effects)
Unlimited absurdity
Nothing is sacred (At this point, "The Killer" knocks down a cross off of a wall, killing a drunk girl who is passed out on the bed.)
Point out the obvious
Perpetuate painful stereotypes.
You can't have a successful parody without mocking contrived, confusing endings.
By talking about parodies the text is being Post modern by playing with conventions and being self referential.