Assignment 2: Essay Proposal (5%) ✓ Solved

Assignment 2 Essay Proposal (5%): This assignment is an essay

Assignment #2: Essay Proposal (5%): This assignment is an essay proposal for your term paper, Assignment #3: Final Essay. This assignment consists of three components on 2 pages:

1. Page 1: A Title - come up with a unique and creative Title for your proposed essay. Centre your Title, and format the rest of the page so it looks exactly like the MLA guidebook’s example on page 3.

2. Page 1: Underneath your Title, state your thesis in ONE SENTENCE only! Your thesis statement should respond to your chosen topic in clear and explicit language. Your thesis statement should be presented as a single, grammatically sound sentence. The rest of the page will be blank.

3. Page 2: Create a Works Cited page that lists the following authorized sources for your proposed essay: the two films you are comparing, the course reading identified by your chosen topic, and any other course materials you think you may utilize in your essay. Follow the MLA guidebook pattern for each source very carefully.

Your proposal must address one of these two essay topics:

Essay Topic 1: For this essay topic, compare Black Christmas to an American slasher film of your choice. Your essay must examine similarities and differences while making an argument about Canada’s role in shaping the slasher genre. Essays on this topic MUST utilize Sara Constantineau's article “Black Christmas: the slasher film was made in Canada.” You may choose any American slasher film you wish, but I suggest Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978).

Essay Topic 2: For this essay topic, compare Heaven on Earth to Deepa Mehta’s first feature film, Sam & Me. Your essay must examine similarities and differences while making an argument about South Asian diaspora in Canada. Essays on this topic MUST utilize the interview with Deepa Mehta by Sukhmani Khorana.

Academic Integrity: Students are NOT permitted to work together. If your proposal is significantly similar to a classmate’s, you will both receive a grade of 0. You may only use the course materials posted to Canvas to complete this assignment.

Paper For Above Instructions

### Title: Understanding the Influence of Black Christmas on Slasher Films

Black Christmas, directed by Bob Clark in 1974, is often regarded as one of the earliest examples of the slasher genre, establishing several tropes that subsequent films would follow. This essay proposes to compare Black Christmas with John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), a hallmark in American slasher film history. My thesis statement contends that Black Christmas played a crucial role in shaping the slasher genre in North America by employing unique elements of Canadian culture and addressing contemporary social issues, which are subtly echoed in Halloween.

### Introduction

The slasher genre has undergone significant evolution since its conception, often mirroring societal fears and cultural narratives of the times. The Canadian film Black Christmas is instrumental in this evolution, predating and influencing the widely acclaimed American slasher film Halloween. This paper aims to analyze the similarities and differences between these two films, illustrating how Black Christmas not only serves as a precursor to the American slasher genre but also provides a critical commentary on issues of gender, violence, and moral panic, thus shaping the genre’s future direction.

### Thesis Statement

By centering Canadian cultural nuances and perspectives on gender dynamics, Black Christmas redefined horror tropes that were later adopted and adapted by American filmmakers in Halloween, making evident the transnational influences that played a role in genre formation during the late 20th century.

### Body

In establishing the groundwork for the slasher genre, Black Christmas presents a unique interpretation of traditional horror storytelling through its emphasis on psychological tension and character development. The sense of dread that permeates the film is not merely derived from its narrative but is amplified through its settings—a sorority house during the holiday season—creating an unsettling contrast between holiday cheer and horror. Similarly, Halloween utilizes an ordinary suburban setting to cultivate a sense of realism and impending doom, yet it is Black Christmas that innovatively intertwines sexual politics and horror, introducing themes such as reproductive autonomy and vulnerability in a patriarchal society.

The roles of female characters in both films are pivotal to their narratives. Black Christmas not only features strong female leads but also critiques societal expectations placed on women. The protagonist, Jess, grapples with the pressures of relationships and reproductive choices during the film, reflecting feminist concerns often overshadowed in male-centric horror narratives. In contrast, Halloween portrays its female characters within a more traditional framework of the 'final girl' trope, where only the most virtuous and innocent survive. This dual approach allows for a more profound exploration of gender dynamics in horror, surfacing critical conversations about agency and survival.

Both films also utilize the technique of point-of-view shooting, eliciting a voyeuristic perspective that aligns the viewer with the killer's gaze. However, Black Christmas employs this device to challenge traditional gender roles, allowing the audience to experience the psychological terror through a feminine lens, while Halloween often reverts to a male perspective that reinforces patriarchal structures of power and control.

Moreover, the thematic representations of violence and morality differ significantly between the two films. Black Christmas juxtaposes its horror elements with a critique of societal norms, challenging the audience to reconsider their perceptions of victimization and guilt. Conversely, Halloween reinforces a moral dichotomy, presenting a clear delineation between innocence and guilt, which perpetuates the slasher trope of punishment for sexual promiscuity. This divergence in thematic exploration showcases how both films reflect and contest cultural tensions surrounding morality and violence in their respective contexts.

### Conclusion

In conclusion, the analysis of Black Christmas and Halloween reveals that while both films significantly contributed to the evolution of the slasher genre, Black Christmas stands out for its nuanced portrayal of gender issues and cultural commentary. By examining the aesthetic choices, narrative structures, and thematic concerns present in both films, it becomes evident that Black Christmas not only shaped American slasher conventions but also enriched the narrative vocabulary of horror cinema. Thus, this comparative study underscores the importance of recognizing diverse cultural influences in the development of cinematic genres.

References

  • Clark, Bob. Black Christmas. 1974.
  • Carpenter, John. Halloween. 1978.
  • Constantineau, Sara. “Black Christmas: the slasher film was made in Canada.”
  • Khorana, Sukhmani. Interview with Deepa Mehta.
  • Mehta, Deepa. Sam & Me. 1994.
  • Mehta, Deepa. Heaven on Earth. 2008.
  • Film Studies: The Basics. Routledge, 2020.
  • Blame It on Hollywood: The Complete Guide to Movie Tropes, 2019.
  • The Horror Genre: A Critical Guide. Oxford University Press, 2018.
  • Gender and Horror: The Politics of Fear in Film. Palgrave Macmillan, 2021.

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