Kiss of the Vampire

Question 1

Product context of the kiss of the Vampire

Answer 1

• Produced by Hammer film productions and was distributed by Universal
• Hammer film productions saw many other successful horror movies such as Frankenstien and the Mummy

-

Question 2

How does the media language in Kiss of the Vampire create meanings

Answer 2

• Serif font of the title creates connotations linked with the wooden styling could mean a stake and the sharp Vs dripping blood represents that.
• The full moon is a recognisable narrative of the genre which is a strong signifier
• The painted poster image is highly conventional in the films time period and links to many other gothic horrors in the 1960s.
• The dark gloomy, black and brown colour palette reinforces the conventions of a gothic horror. E.g. visual signifers such as the attacking bats, the vampire and blood.
• The poster lists the highest paid actor to the least too.

Question 3

How can Roland Barthes- Semiotic theory be applied here

Answer 3

• Suspense is created through the enigmas surrounding the relationship between the male and female vampire- due to the word kiss
• Semiotic code could be applied with the conventional associations with horror such as bats and blood.
• The symbolic codes of horror such as darkness and fear are usally reinforced through symbolic signifers such as full moons, bats and the submissive gesture code the male has.

Question 4

How can Levi Strauss theory be applied to the media language of Kiss of the Vampire

Answer 4

• Through the vampires and their victims
• Through the romantic connotations of words such as ‘kiss’ opposed to the connoations of the vampire as a monster

Question 5

What are the political and social contexts of the Kiss of the Vampire

Answer 5

-The 60s were seen as the 2nd wave of feminism for women. Due to the birth control pill, equal pay and more equality overall in society

• Women challenging the older stereotype of women being a passive victim. Which can be seen in the encoding of the poster

Question 6

How are represenations of women constructed in the Kiss of the Vampire

Answer 6

• Both women are wearing pale light material dresses to reinforce their feminity by highlighting of their feminity by their curves and the revealing skin.
• The gesture code of the women on the left is the stereotypical passive victim of the ‘monster’. With his power being highlighted by holding her with one arm
• The second womens gesture codes are more agressive as the pose of the male victim is on his knees with his head back suggesting he is vulnerable therefore the women appears as dominant

Question 7

How can Stuart Halls theory of representation be applied to the Kiss of the Vampire ?

Answer 7

• The images of the castle, bats, capes and dripping blood are all part of the share conceptual road map- The audience is actively encouraged to decode the generic icongraphy

Question 8

How can David Gaunletts theory be applied to the Kiss of the Vampire

Answer 8

The female acts as a role model for women struggling against the male opperssion or desperate to be seen as equal as the men

Question 9

How can Van zoonens theory be applied to the Kiss of the Vampire

Answer 9

• Assuming the female is playing the co-antangonist role shows a contribution to social change by playing non-tradtional roles but can be argued with the passive female victim