Account for the popularity of one genre of your choice. Illustrate your answer with examples.

Altman's Before and After theory with repeititon (knowing pleasures) and variation (keeps genre fresh and interesting). Producers make money, says Rick Altman and then outline audiences pleasures - vicseral, intellectual, sadistic, masochistic -

Ways in which slasher genre has developed. Psycho to Scream.

Repetition is shown through the conventions of the genre e.g. masked killer, unreliable authority figures etc. Variation. How the genere varies - examples. These changes reflect the zeitgiest.

Changes in technology going from normal steadicam to special effects and franchisment of Nightmare on Elm Street

Postmodernism with intertextuality in "Scream" reinvigorating the genre by deconstructing the genre. Appropriation of Slasher/Horror conventions in metal death bands and video games. Crossover audiences - Teens. Juvinilisation.

Repetition +Variation + Audience pleasures +
Postmodernism = reinvigorating the genre = popularity.