Traumas of womanhood : approaching collective trauma in horror movies

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to show how film and the horror genre have been portraying female trauma, how horror movies can portray women’s trau-matic experiences and emotions authentically with the help of visual language and symbolism, and why specifically the horror genre is vital for such a portrayal. Psychoanalytic theories, as well as visual analysis and feminist film theories, were applied to evaluate the different approaches modern horror films have taken in said portrayal. In connection with this main topic, the question of how trauma can impact individuals who have experienced real-life trauma was assessed.

Materials from books, articles, and interviews were utilised for this research. Additionally, a survey was conducted for the practical part of this thesis. The following three movies were analysed based on how they connect to the theoretical framework and how they present female characters and their trauma: The Substance (2024), Bulbbul (2020), and Raw (2016). Different scenes from each movie were chosen in order to thoroughly examine the visual language of the films and their characters. The theoretical framework, as well as a survey about the traumatic experiences of different women, were used as the foundation for the practical portion, a photographic installation, of this thesis to show the author’s personal, genuine approach as a woman on how to portray female trauma and women’s complex emotions in art.

This thesis concludes the importance of visual language, specifically the gaze, presentation of female characters, and the symbolism of blood, to representatively portray women and their traumatic experiences in film. It also underlines the importance of the horror genre for this portrayal, since it allows for complexity in character and can have a cathartic effect for the viewer through extreme or abject imagery. Moreover, the movie analyses serve as an example to give a positive future outlook for women and other people who deal with intersectional trauma and discrimination, to reclaim their own stories, and to be able to share them without distorting their sense of self or their experiences. Finally, this thesis highlights the importance of diverse representation in film and finds that horror movies can be an important method for some trauma survivors to navigate their own experiences and feelings. Its potential needs to be recognised as such, and more research in this field is suggested.