Living in Terror: Post 9/11 Horror Films

Thesis (M.A.) -- Indiana University South Bend, 2007The events of September 11, 2001 have changed the way Americans view terror and terrorism forever. The events of this one day made a type of destruction Americans had only read about previously a reality in our own home. Since then our culture has been one of fear. The media facilitates this terror with constant newscasts of bombings, random shootings, anthrax scares and plans for future terrorist attacks. Our country has been trained to understand a system of codes, which indicate the level of fear we should be experiencing. Thus our society constantly turns to the media to see if the current level is yellow, orange or red, as if we can somehow control or mediate the causes of fear. One way our society transmits and reflects the current beliefs, values and traditions is through art forms. Art forms, like literature and film, map the changes in our society's ideologies. Therefore, one can allegedly see art responding to the culture and adopting the ideologies of the culture. One of the most significant issues of our day and age is the reality of terrorism. Thus this paper seeks to map the changes our society has encountered through an art form that deals directly with the concept of terror. Film is a significant art form of the twenty-first century, which gets a great deal of exposure in our society. Theatres in the United States are constantly advertising the newest genre film. Due to its widespread exposure, this art form has a greater ability to reach the masses with narratives that reinforce or question ideology. Films, especially genre films, also have a great deal of loyal followers. Film, thus, is a significant transmitter of culture, especially genre films. This paper seeks to prove the connection between ideology and film by highlighting the change in ideology after the events of September 11th. The paper will analyze the conservative and progressive nature such an art form poses. It will also demonstrate how such a medium is confronted with new ideologies, such as the changing culture of fear, and adapts in response to the change. Through the horror genre, one can map society's causes, solutions and preventative measures for the creation of terror in our lives. Moreover, this paper seeks to claim film as a significant art form. Film functions as an educational and cultural work of art. Films, especially genre films, convey significant messages which keep viewers returning for multiple exposures. Although genre films are considered the least prestigious of all forms of film due to their repetitive, formulaic construction, theses films teach us a great deal about our culture and even ourselves. Therefore genre film is not only significant, but a powerful means of revealing our culture