Genre Theories That Apply to Horror

To create an opening sequence to the best ability it is essential to understand and include several different theories (as they are included in many films). I will explain Claude Levi Strauss' Binary Opposites, Roland Barthes Code theories, Robert Stam's genre theory and Alvarado's Four key racial themes. These theories will most probaly be applied to my opening sequence.

Binary Opposites

Claude Levi Strauss' theory of Binary Opposites is used to emphasise the difference between two total extreme opposites. An example of this is good and evil, dominant and submissive, saint or sinner. Many films use this technique as it is quite simple to achieve mainly through the use of characters. In my opening sequence an example of binary opposites is how clean the setting and the girl are (OCD like) everything is in order contrasting how dirty and sick the intentions are.  An examples of Binary Opposites in film is in The Shining 'Here's Johnny' scene where Jack is represented to be strong and in extreme control opposing his wife who is represented to be very weak and extremely chaotic. An other example of when binary opposites are used in The Shining is the contrapuntal music is played, it completely contrasts the scenic and beautiful surrounding also implying foreshadowing of what is to occur later in the film,


Enigma Codes

Opening sequence of The Exorcist

Roland Barthes' theory of enigma codes explains the process of when suspense or mystery is created. Most horror films contain this as it can leave the audience at-the-edge-of-their-seat. Enigma creates foreshadowing to the audience leaving an unanswered question to be revisited later on. In my opening sequence we are using many enigma codes. First of all the room will question the audience with "where is she" (the girl) and "why is she there"; the girl will also create some confusion to the audience as to "who is she" and "how did she get where she is?". Many films use enigma codes to open a film as the producers don't want to give 'too much away' in the first 5 minutes, therefore it being a very successful code to use. An example of a horror film opening with enigma codes as an opening sequence is the opening sequence to The Exorcist 1973; as the film begins in a western house (USA) for a minute and then switches to the Islamic country of Northern Iraq- it lead me to
question "Where are they?", "Who are the people there?" "What are
they doing?", "What are they looking for?" all of these making me want to carry on watching. I think this is a very succsessful technique to use whilst making an opening sequence.

Robert Stam's Genre Theory:

Alvrado's Four Key Racial Theme: