How does your media project represent particular social groups?

In both pictures below (taken from the opening scene of ‘The ring’ & the opening scene of my horror film) the social groups of young females are portrayed. By making the setting of the scene a bedroom, it helps portray the specific social group because stereotypically young females spend a lot of their time in their bedroom.

During both films the social group of young females are portrayed to be weak and naïve because in my horror opening the main character allows the nightmare to control her and scare her, then in The Ring the girls believe the stories they have heard and start to fear a number of things, such as the phone ringing.

The main characters in both of the films are young women; this allows the audience to have an insight to the characters behavior because due to stereotypes of women the audience will assume the characters are the same. For example: helpless, needy, sweet & innocent.

The setting being a bedroom in both films shows the audience that the characters are just normal typical young women doing everyday, normal things until the action takes place. In my horror opening the main character is just sleeping normally until the nightmare begins and she becomes distressed. In The Ring the two girl main characters are just talking and watching TV when they talk about a story where if you watch a tape you die after 7 days. This portrays the social group of young women to be venerable and an easy target

From research I found that the age group who watch horror the most is 15-24 year olds. Therefore the main characters in both films are within this age group. Meaning that this specific social group can relate to the target audience in many different ways.

The costume in my horror opening for the main character was typical pink, girly bed wear to help portray the social group of young women. In The ring the two main characters are wearing some sort of smart work clothing or uniform, also pink, as it’s a stereotype for feminine women. In the setting for my film, in the picture above the audience can see that the bed cover is brightly coloured and flowery, this helps portray the social group of young women. This is also done in a similar way in the picture from the opening scene of ‘ The Ring’. This is due to the pink patterned bed cover. The lighting in both pictures is very mysterious to help show that something is about to happen and show that the social group of young women are helpless. The make up for the two characters in The Ring is very much the same for my main character in my film. This is due to it being very natural, showing that the social group portrayed are very sweet and innocent.

In both opening scenes the camera shots are always focused on the two girls in The ring and the girl character in my film. This shows that they are important and shows the audience what ever is about to happen will involve them. This portrays the social group of young women to have the main role in both films.