For a long time, I have been interested in how horror and thriller films have evolved through the lens of gender studies, especially the concept of the “final girl” introduced by Carol J. Clover. I want to focus on films from the 70s to the 90s, as well as those from the 2010s to today. I’m particularly drawn to the Alien (1979) franchise featuring Sigourney Weaver and the Scream (1996) series, known for its meta moments and references to older films. l’ve also recently noticed a large amount of remakes and legacy sequels like Alien, Halloween (1978), and Scream. I find it fascinating to compare how technology and character perspectives have changed over the generations. I’m eager to explore these interests further and see what insights I can develop from them.
When I made this reading list, I prioritized texts that would create a balance of historical perspective, contemporary theory, and in-depth analysis of gender, particularly as it connecte to horror. My hopes are to focus on how generational shifts in horror cinema reframe classic tropes like the “final girl” and explore the evolution of gender representation. Clover’s work Men, Women, and Chainsaws and her essay “Her Body, Himself” are important to grounding my research in gender studies within the slasher genre. Clover’s insights into the “final girl” trope will be invaluable for analyzing Ellen Ripley’s place in the Alien franchise, which is central to my project.
I also think Stephen Scobie’s What’s the Story, Mother? specifically examines Ripley’s maternal role and the Alien franchise’s exploration of grief, gender, and trauma-topics that connect well with my focus on generational themes and horror’s capacity to engage with feminist discourse.
Balanzategui, Jessica. “The Child and Adult Trauma in American Horror of the 1980s.” The Uncanny Child in Transnational Cinema: Ghosts of Futurity at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century, Amsterdam University Press, 2018, pp. 35–66.
Clover, Carol J. “Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film.” Representations, no. 20, 1987, pp. 187–228.
Clover, Carol J. Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film – Updated Edition. REV-Revised, Princeton University Press, 1992.
Craven, Wes. Scream. Dimension Films, 1996.
Gillet, Tyler. Scream. Paramount Pictures, 2022.
Pinedo, Isabel. “RECREATIONAL TERROR: POSTMODERN ELEMENTS OF THE CONTEMPORARY HORROR FILM.” Journal of Film and Video, vol. 48, no. 1/2, 1996, pp. 17–31.
Terms:
- Postmodern
- Final girl
- Generational
I’m so fascinated by this topic! I’ve never thought about how gendered the horror genre is and why the final girl is always a girl—why never a “final boy”? I think it’s also interesting to see how the trope still persists. I’m not totally familiar with the Scream franchise, but I know the recent sequels also feature final girls—the Carpenter sisters. I’m very interested in seeing how this project turns out and I can’t wait to see what you uncover!
I really love this topic! It is really interesting also with how sex is portrayed in horror. Specifically with the fact that in a lot of classic horror movies (and I’m really thinking of the first Halloween movie with Kevin Bacon), how the couple who goes off to have sex is almost always killed off first. I’m wondering if that could possibly go together with what you are talking about with how gendered the horror genre tends to be. I wonder if this extends to spin offs or even tv shows like Scooby Doo and the Scary Movie franchise as well. I can’t wait to hear more about this!