The Cultural Construction of the Serial Killer in Horror Film (1960-1980): Michael Myers and Samuel Loomis in Halloween (1978)
Abstract
The serial killer cannot only be understood as a criminological classification. It is also a necessary discursive construct in order to maintain the social order. Their monstrosity has served to reinforce the role of the psychiatrist/criminologist in protecting society. Our analysis is based on cultural studies methodology and interdisciplinarity, as well as on film studies and history from the period in question. Furthermore, the sample of seventy titles analyzed in the present work has enabled us to observe the existence of several narrative trends. Amongst the main results, it is noteworthy that monstrosity is based on the same hierarchical order as the hegemonic normalcy.
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