This dissertation will examine film genre and in particular the Horror genre during the 1930s. The question of what defines the genre and how it becomes defined is brought up and in answering it I will look upon the themes and the history surrounding some of the biggest pictures of the decade. Much of the studies into genre, had been previously been rather broad and even the ones that focused upon the horror genre, they too lacked the focus solely towards the Horror genre in the 1930s. This piece, analyses the horror genre of the 1930s with use of genre theory and also the thematic structure and historical information regarding the films.
The study presents that the Horror genre is defined by the era, with the 1930s and the issues surround the decade structuring and influencing the genre, from the advancements in technology to the importance of social commentary within the Horror genre. The study elaborates that particular issues and political matters found their way into the genre and helped to define and structure the genre.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Just a word of friendly warning
Chapter One
Review of literature
Chapter Two
Horror moves into Hollywood in the 1930s
Chapter Three
Gender and Sexuality in the 1930s Horror genre
Chapter Four
The Politics of the 1930s Horror genre
Conclusion
To a new world of Gods and Monsters
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation examines the Horror film genre during the 1930s to determine how the era’s unique historical, social, and political climate defined the genre’s narrative structures, character archetypes, and thematic content.
- The influence of the 1930s socio-political landscape on cinematic horror.
- Genre theory and the establishment of "Hollywood Horror" conventions.
- Representations of gender, sexuality, and the "Other" in classic horror films.
- The role of Universal Pictures and technical innovations (sound, make-up) in defining the era.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter Two: Horror moves into Hollywood in the 1930s
In order to begin with defining Horror in the 1930s, I will start at what most academics (e.g. Doherty, Wells and Jancovich) consider the beginning - Tod Browning’s Dracula (1931) - which paved the way for subsequent films and also starred one of the most famous Horror actors of all time, Bela Lugosi.
After the great success of many Hollywood silent horror films in the 1920s (such as Lon Chaney’s box office successes The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Worsley, 1923 - The Phantom of the Opera and London After Midnight - Browning, 1927), Universal Pictures - and more notably the son of Universal founder, Carl Laemmle Jr. - were eager to create more epic horror films particularly after The Phantom of the Opera’s triumph in 1925. Laemmle Jr. wanted to produce another epic horror film and in he had his eye on a Universal production of Bram Stoker’s gothic horror novel; Dracula (1897). However, a large spanner was about to be thrown into the works for Laemmle Jr. In 1929 the Wall Street crash occurred and America entered what it is now called the Great Depression (Hark). Universal did not have as much money to utilise in the productions as they once did, meaning Laemmle Jr. could not produce a lavish and epic Dracula to echo some of the pictures of the 1920s. Nonetheless, he still wanted a Universal produced Dracula (Soister, 2005) and Laemmle Jr. had to find a cost effective way to recreate the Stoker novel for cinema screens the world over.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: Outlines the research focus on the 1930s horror genre, detailing the author's fascination with the genre and the academic approach to analyzing classic film history.
Chapter One: Review of literature: Examines existing academic discourse on 1930s cinema, including the evolution of film technology and the definition of horror genre theory.
Chapter Two: Horror moves into Hollywood in the 1930s: Analyzes the rise of Universal Pictures' "Golden Age" of horror, focusing on key films like Dracula and Frankenstein and the impact of the pre-code era.
Chapter Three: Gender and Sexuality in the 1930s Horror genre: Investigates the binary representations of gender, the "Other" in horror, and the subversion of sexual norms in films like Bride of Frankenstein.
Chapter Four: The Politics of the 1930s Horror genre: Discusses how political and social anxieties, such as the Great Depression and class antagonism, were encoded into horror narratives.
Conclusion: To a new world of Gods and Monsters: Summarizes the legacy of the 1930s horror cycle, explaining how the era itself remains the primary defining factor for the genre's lasting impact.
Keywords
Horror, 1930s, Hollywood, Universal Pictures, Dracula, Frankenstein, Genre Theory, Gender, Sexuality, Great Depression, Cinema, Film History, Monsters, Censorship, Social Commentary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
This work fundamentally explores the Horror film genre during the 1930s, specifically how the socio-political context of the decade helped shape and define its unique cinematic conventions.
What are the central themes of the work?
The core themes include the impact of the Great Depression on film narratives, the construction of gender roles, the subversion of sexuality, and the influence of early sound technology on horror.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how the 1930s era "anchored" the horror genre, transforming it from low-culture entertainment into a medium that reflects deep-seated societal fears and political issues.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study utilizes a close textual analysis of film narratives and iconographies, grounded in established genre theory and historical research on the Hollywood studio system.
What topics does the main body cover?
The main body treats the establishment of Universal's horror "Golden Age," the gender dynamics of protagonists and monsters, and the integration of political and social critiques into fantasy-based horror.
Which keywords characterize this study?
The work is characterized by terms such as 1930s, Hollywood Horror, Universal Pictures, Genre Theory, and socio-political commentary.
How did Dracula (1931) contribute to the genre's popularity?
Dracula is identified as the spark for the 1930s horror craze, establishing iconic character archetypes and demonstrating how sound could be used to enhance the "monstrous" atmosphere.
What role does the pre-code era play in this analysis?
The pre-code era allowed for an uncensored exploration of sadistic scenarios and social disorientation, which the author argues provided a unique freedom that later films lacked.
How is the "monster" viewed in this study?
The monster is analyzed as an archetypal "Other," representing repressed societal energy and defying traditional human categories of sexuality and morality.
Does the dissertation discuss social issues beyond horror tropes?
Yes, it explicitly links horror films to real-world issues such as the Great Depression, class antagonism, and the rise of fascism in Europe during the 1930s.
- Quote paper
- Christopher Hartmann (Author), 2011, Establishment of a Genre. Hollywood Horror in the 1930s, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/207706
