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Gender Dichotomy in Horror Characters

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Gender Dichotomy in Horror Characters Gender Dichotomy in Horror Characters Hsien-Te Kao, Carissa Tang, Anita Jain California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Abstract The United States has increased the awareness for gender fluidity through social expressions and movements. The horror community as a subspace of American society reflects the practice of gender fluidity. The horror community utilizes the diverse platforms of book, film and the internet to create horror characters and stories. Slenderman was a gender neutral horror character developed in 2009 that transformed into a gendered character through fanfictions and fan arts. We discover the gendered transformation of Slenderman from comparison analysis of original and fan-based Slenderman in addition to fanfictions text mining. We examine the history of horror characters with the analysis of Frankenstein, Freddy and Ring and text mining on the word selections between female and male author in 100 horror books and 100 horror movie scripts. We discover the existence of gender binary structure throughout the history of horror characters. The gender dichotomy in the horror community reveals the inconsistency between the practice and awareness of gender fluidity in the United States. Keywords: gender dichotomy, horror character, text mining 1. Introduction the woods and stabbed her 19 times in a blood sacrifice to earn Slenderman’s protection according to the police The horror community has successfully created fa- report [6]. One of the girls discovered Slender Man in a mous horror characters in book and film that establish Minecraft video, a sandbox game, and became engaged numerous outbreaks of fear. The Frankenstein, a crea- with Slenderman fanfictions on Creepypasta, a collec- ture of an unorthodox scientific experiment, was a clas- tion of user-generated horror fan sites [17]. She told sical horror character in 1818 that played on the fear of the police that Slenderman really exists from the evi- scientific experiment on human body and resurrection dences on Creepypasta, and the polices found more than [24]. The signature horror character was replaced in 50 drawings of Slenderman with phrases like “NEVER 1984 by Freddy Krueger of A Nightmare on Elm Street. ALONE” and “HE STILL SEES YOU” in the bedroom Freddy was known for the psychological and physical [21]. The public became concerned of the violent in- torture on his victim in their dream, and he represented fluence from the internet horror community after this the fear of a serial killer, unknown in a dream and dark- stabbing case, but they failed to recognize the gender ness [23]. In 2002, a Japanese supernatural horror char- dichotomy in the horror characters. Slenderman is one acter Ring stormed the United States with a massive of many iconic horror characters that reinforces gender fear of television [18]. A horror character Slenderman dichotomy through its story and character. emerged from the internet in 2009, and it started from the fascination of photoshopped pictures and fanfictions The original creation of Slenderman was a gender [19]. A horror character has transformed dramatically neutral monster without a story, and a new type of Slen- from a scientific creature in book or film to a darkness derman emerged from fanfictions and fan arts after the creature on the internet. We are becoming attractive original became popular in the horror community. The to the horror characters because of the contradiction of internet horror community integrates their individual pleasure caused by the interchanging emotional spark of gendered experience into their Slenderman fanfictions fear and thrill. and art works and collectively created a collective Slen- Our behaviors are affected by these horror characters derman with gender binary images and stories. This unconsciously. On May 31, 2014, two 12-year-old girls process reflects the fans subconsciously applies gender in Waukesha, Wisconsin allegedly lured their friend into binary into their stories and characters, even though the society has increased its awareness in gender fluidity. portrayed through the story. These three horror char- The analysis on the history of horror characters in terms acters reveal how horror characters have changed from of Frankenstein (1818), Freddy (1984) and Ring (2002) 1800s to 2000s except for the gender stereotypes. reveals the similar gender binary structure in charac- ter and story development compared to the Slender- 3.1. Frankenstein 1818 man. The history of horror characters since the 1800s Victor Frankenstein and the monster are two male shows the continuity of gender stereotype in the horror characters that contribute to the gender dichotomy in community. This result reflects the inconsistency be- the book. Victor is described as an intelligent, ambi- tween the practice and awareness of gender fluidity in tious and innovative scientist that challenges the bound- the United States. ary of science by creating a monster from human re- mains. Men are often associated with science and cre- 2. Methodology ativity compared to women [22]. The monster is eight- foot-tall male creature that is intelligent and sensitive, We study the gender stereotypes in horror characters and he want to integrate into society by learning hu- to reveal how gender binary is expressed visually and man social patterns. He can analyze, understand and contextually in horror book and film. We collect 100 adapt social patterns because men are cable of com- horror books and 100 horror movie scripts with equal plex thinking [16]. Victor does not admit that he cre- male and female author for both categories, and apply ated the monster even when his youngest brother, best text mining to show the existence of gender dichotomy friend and wife were murdered by the monster. Victor in horror book and film. Our text mining method is does not admit he is wrong becuase men do not believe based on unique word count in male and female author their decision is wrong [8]. The monster becomes an- written works, and we only consider a word if it exceeds gry toward Victor from being abandon, and he uses his the unique word count threshold and does not appear in massive strength to revenge Victor. Men do not accept both male and female author written works. We estab- rejection and respond negatively through aggressive be- lish the unique word count threshold at 20, since we haviors [14]. The personality and social interaction of assume roughly 80% of the gender dichotomy in horror Victor and the monster follow the gender stereotypes for book and film comes from 20% of unique word occur- men. rence based on Pareto principle. We define a male word The female characters as a whole reinforce the gen- as a word that satisfies the unique word count threshold der binary in the book through their personality and in- and appears only in male author written works, and we teraction with other characters. Caroline Beaufort is a define a female word similarly. We use text mining re- mother that dies from taking care of her adopted daugh- sult on male and female words to show the existence of ter Elizabeth Lavenza devotedly when she is sick. Caro- gender dichotomy in horror book and film. Transiting line contributes selflessly to her family because women to an internet horror character, we examine the origin of are expected to serve her family without questions [11]. Slenderman and Slenderman as a collective character. Justine Moritz is a happy grateful servant that represents We collect 100 anonymous Slenderman fanfictions and kindness in the Frankenstein family. Justine represents apply text mining to reveal the selection of words. We women are natural house workers and they enjoy these use the text mining result on Slenderman fanfictions to tasks [1]. Justine confesses for the death of William show the creation of an internet horror character corre- Frankenstein under crowd pressure, and the monster is sponds with the gender dichotomy in horror book and one that set her up. Her confession shows that women film. cannot protect themselves under pressure and stand up for themsevles against the crowd [4]. Elizabeth Lavenza waits patiently for Victor’s attention, but she is also mur- 3. Gender Stereotype in Horror Characters dered by the monster. Women are stereotyped as they need constant love and attention from men [9]. The fe- We investigate three iconic horror characters, male characters act according to the gender stereotypes Frankenstein (1818), Freddy (1984) and Ring (2002), for women. and their story to understand how gender stereotypes were integrated into horror book and film and charac- ter in various time period. We focus on the develop- 3.2. A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984 ment and social interaction of male and female charac- Freddy Krueger is the main character that creates the ters in addition to how the main horror character was gender binary in the film. Freddy brutally murdered 2 small animals at a young age. Men are often described Rachel’s role shows how gender stereotypes for women as aggressive and brutal to show their manhood [3]. are integrated in a horror film. Freddy kidnapped and murdered 23 children from 1975 Anna Morgan and her adopted daughter Samara are to 1977. Freddy is demonstrating his power through the horror characters that enhance the gender stereo- massive killing similar to how men prove their mas- types. Anna, a horse breeder, become depressed af- culinity through power control [27]. Freddy became ter being involved in the mysterious massive deaths of a demon after his death and revenge on the parents of horses. This shows women are emotional and cannot Springwood. Freddy is angry and want a violent re- get pass a failure in life [23]. She suicided due to de- venge correspond with men respond with only action pression. Anna’s death is connected to how women are not reason under anger [7].
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