Representation and Ideology - Analysing an opening sequence 'Amityville Horrors'

Representation and Ideology – Analysing an opening sequence

 

 

What social groups are represented in this sequence?

Throughout this opening sequence, social groups are represented in stereotypical and anti-stereotypical ways. One stereotypical attitude is the action of the young daughter, stereotypically, in the face of danger such as the storm present in this opening, young girls are seen to shy away from the terror. This is reinforced by the young girl, seemingly clasping a teddy bear close to her chest and cowering in a small cupboard. When meeting her possessed brother, stereotypes are opposed. The younger sister seems to take initiative by asking ‘What’s wrong, Danny?’. However, rather than the older brother stereotypically looking after and sheltering his younger sibling from distress, he anti-stereotypically, kills his younger sister, after juxtaposingly telling her he ‘loved’ her.

 

What values and beliefs / ideological discourse are evident?

Many values and beliefs are reinforced as well as anti-stereotyped throughout this opening. Usually, the family is seen as a kin ship tied, closely knit family who try to care for and be there for each other. However, this is contradicted by the antagonistic action of the older brother who kills the rest of the family. The nature of this attack though is carried out in a fairly anti-stereotypical fashion. The slow and lethargic movements around the house represent a possessed and relaxed attitude which is anti-stereotypical of the ‘killer’s values because they usually act in a hurried and surprising fashion, startling the victim before killing them, adding to the visceral pleasure for the audience. This makes the attack very anti-stereotypical in the fact that the possessed antagonist killed them in a effortless and emotionless way, looking as if he wasn’t enjoying it, which was represented by a tear rolling down his face when killing his younger sister. This is again anti-stereotypical as the antagonist clearly had an emotional side and didn’t look as if he wanted to do it, or felt sympathy, again connoted by telling his sister he ‘loved’ her before shooting her.