Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 13:33:41 +0800
From: "Andrew Albert J. Ty" <andrewty-AT-i-manila.com.ph>
Subject: Re: deconstruction and horror


Crossing my fingers so as not to get lost in the discussion...

I agree with Douglas's need to distinguish between self-reflexivity and
deconstruction, the former being a modernist notion while the latter is
post-modernist. A film like Scream 2, which I enjoyed nevertheless, is
self-reflexive in, say, how it reiterates that "sequels suck" (an attempt perhaps
to preempt some of the negative reviews it got). I think the review Eric read was
probably using "deconstructing" in the loose manner that even "postmodern" is
used nowadays.

I'm not entirely sure about my assessment, but I think an interesting example of
deconstruction and horror is the Evil Dead essay on Bruce Campbell's site
<http://www.bruce-campbell.com/evil/ed-essay.html>. In this case, we have a
process where conventions are actually subverted...seemingly with little use of
self-reflexivity (not counting the Elm Street-Evil Dead series of mutual
homages). In any case, just check out the essay, which I think might be a good
example of what Eric is looking for. I think.

Andrew


DHHunter-AT-aol.com wrote:

> Eric wrote,
>
> >I recently read a review of this fall's Halloween H20, in which the author
> >refered to the recent trend in contemporary horror film (i.e. Scream,
> >Scream 2, Halloween 2) of _deconstructing_ the genre of horror.
>
> You asked for random thoughts so here's one:  Isn't there a big difference
> between self-reflexivity and deconstruction?  The self conscience posing of a
> film like Scream 2 seems to me to be less representative of a deconstructive
> operation than it is of the more cynical side of postmodern pop culture.  If
> the goal is to understand the consequences of such an act (what ever it is to
> be called) I think one important starting place is to question if the
> operations in the films mentioned actually have the charaecteristics of
> deconstruction.  If they do then a starting place might be to re-examine the
> tentsion between Lacan and Derrida.  Not that this should define the process
> but, if I remember correctly, Lacan had an investment in not being described
> as a deconstructor.
>
> just a thought no biggie
> -Douglas
>
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