Carol Clover’s essay, “Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film” studies how the slasher film genre uses its narrative and identification patterns of its audience to connect with the structure of gender categories. Clover articulates “if popularity alone measures the fitness of a form for a study, and if profits and sequels are the measures of popularity, then the slasher qualifies” (194). Therefore, her purpose to study slasher films is because of its popularity, rather than its fundamental value. In this rhetorical analysis, I will more specifically analyze how Clover proposes her argument that slasher movies complicate the understanding of gender in both film and society through the feminization of the male spectator, female versus
…show more content…
By characterization, Clover is referring to the typical plot of slasher films. She points out that halfway through the film, “groups of boys who cheer the killer on as he assaults his victims, reverse their sympathies to cheer the survivor on as she assaults the killer” (195). Clover addresses that not only does the male spectator reverse sympathies, but also takes on female pain and terror as well that is exposed through the point-of-view shot. When the point-of-view in slasher films are through the female victim’s eyes, the male spectators are often experiencing the feelings of terror and fear as the females on screen are, which induces feminization of the male spectators. While considering point-of-view shots, characterization, and narrative structure, Clover is able to further implement the idea that slasher films complicate typical gender …show more content…
She finds the strength to survive the murder, and “either stays alive long enough to be rescued or to kill him herself” (Clover 206). Therefore, since the killer failed to “complete the job” and he himself is now fighting against the remaining girl, his masculinity has been affected. Clover writes, “the survivor often shows more courage and levelheadedness than they cringing male counterparts” (206), explaining that the female survivor belittles both the killer and his masculinity. In consideration of the final girl, it is apparent that slasher films work to intimidate typical
By characterization, Clover is referring to the typical plot of slasher films. She points out that halfway through the film, “groups of boys who cheer the killer on as he assaults his victims, reverse their sympathies to cheer the survivor on as she assaults the killer” (195). Clover addresses that not only does the male spectator reverse sympathies, but also takes on female pain and terror as well that is exposed through the point-of-view shot. When the point-of-view in slasher films are through the female victim’s eyes, the male spectators are often experiencing the feelings of terror and fear as the females on screen are, which induces feminization of the male spectators. While considering point-of-view shots, characterization, and narrative structure, Clover is able to further implement the idea that slasher films complicate typical gender …show more content…
She finds the strength to survive the murder, and “either stays alive long enough to be rescued or to kill him herself” (Clover 206). Therefore, since the killer failed to “complete the job” and he himself is now fighting against the remaining girl, his masculinity has been affected. Clover writes, “the survivor often shows more courage and levelheadedness than they cringing male counterparts” (206), explaining that the female survivor belittles both the killer and his masculinity. In consideration of the final girl, it is apparent that slasher films work to intimidate typical