Genre Question 1b

The production that I will be analysing and evaluating, on the basis of its genre aspects is 'The Conjuring' trailer. This film is a horror and its sub genre is a supernatural/ psychological horror. In order for me to have recognised this sub genre the trailer had to have certain codes and conventions that tend to consist in most psychological and supernatural horrors. These codes and conventions are made by numerous theorists. 

To begin with, Warren Buckland said that, 'Genre creates expectations that condition our response. Genre sets up hopes and promises and brings pleasure if these are fulfilled'. This is depicted in 'The Conjuring' trailer as the mother is possessed, we can see this through the mise-en-scene used; she has scars and her eyes are just black holes. This situation is created in the trailer as the target audience are aware that a possession normally takes place in psychological horrors so when this occurs in the trailer, their hopes are fulfilled. 

Although this does take place, some films like to challenge the conventions, for instance in 'The Conjuring' there are a lot of camera shots used on Mrs Warren who is one of the protagonists. This is unlikely in horror films because males are normally the dominant characters as Mulvey stated in her theory. The director most probably did this so the audience can be pleasured and shocked by the differences. This could also be use to highlight a social issue: post-feminism. For instance women are important and the ability to help others that are in need. 

Furthermore, another way that this trailer signifies which sub genre it falls in is through the key elements that Graeme Burton stated.  These are: protagonist, antagonist, stock characters and stock situations. An example of a stock situation in this trailer would be when the girl gets dragged in her sleep by the evil spirit, the slow cut which transits into quick cuts in this scene builds the tension and suspense which helps us identify that this trailer is a horror.

In addition to this the trailer uses typical jump scare and boom non-diegetic sounds that are normally in most horror trailers to scare the audience at random points.