KOTV

Question 1

Who produced KOTV?

Answer 1

Hammer Film Productions

Question 2

Who distributed KOTV?

Answer 2

J. Arthur Rank and Universal.

Question 3

What was KOTV intended to be?

Answer 3

2nd sequel to 1958 Dracula, even though the film’s script makes no reference to Stoker’s character.

Question 4

What other “Monster Movie” franchises was Hammer successful with by 1963?

Answer 4

“The Mummy”, “Frankenstein”

Question 5

What, historically, did 1963 see the early stages of?

Answer 5

“Beatlemania”, “swinging-sixties”, assassination of JFK and Soviet Union launching the first woman into space.

Question 6

What could the 1960s audience be familiar with?

Answer 6

Codes and conventions of “monster movie” film posters.

Question 7

What are the codes and conventions of “monster movie” film posters?

Answer 7

Composition, fonts, representation of “the monster” and its usually female victims.

Question 8

What connotations does the title create?

Answer 8

Capitalised serif font linked to vampire film genre with its “wooden” styling and the blood dripping from letter Vs “fang”.

Question 9

What does the conventional painted main image link to?

Answer 9

Christopher Lee’s Dracula, being in colour (anchored by the text “In Eastman Colour”) connotes this is a modern telling of an older story.

Question 10

What does the gloomy grey, black and brown colour palette reinforce?

Answer 10

The film’s dark, scary conventions.

Question 11

what does the red highlight colour do?

Answer 11

it draws attention to the attacking bats, the vampire and the blood- all key visual signifiers for the genre.

Question 12

How are stars conventionally listed?

Answer 12

Higher paid, male actors first, and in order of fame.

Question 13

How is suspense created?

Answer 13

Enigmas of connoted relationship between male & female vampires (emphasised by “kiss” of title).

Question 14

How can Barthes’ Hermeneutic Code be applied?

Answer 14

The fate of the 2 victims, enigma and suspense is created.

Question 15

How can Barthes’ Semantic code be applied?

Answer 15

Image of bats and conventional association with vampirism and horror.

Question 16

How is Barthes’ Symbolic reinforced?

Answer 16

Horror darkness and fear reinforced through signifiers e.g. moon, male victim’s “submissive sacrifice” gesture code.

Question 17

How can binary oppositions be applied?

Answer 17

Opposing representations of vampires and their victims, romantic connotations of “kiss” opposed to stereotypical “vampire” monster.

Question 18

How was the 1960s good for women?

Answer 18

Start of sexual liberation, contraceptive pill 1960.

Question 19

What were women doing in the 1960s?

Answer 19

Entering paid workforce, feminists equal pay, end to sexual; harassment and equality in wider society.

Question 20

When was equal pay legislation passed in America?

Answer 20

1963

Question 21

What could be argued to be encoded in this poster?

Answer 21

“Older” stereotypes of women passive victims of men, modern “male fears” of women challenging male dominance.

Question 22

What do the dress codes reinforce?

Answer 22

Both women play dresses, light material. Reinforce femininity highlights curves and flesh.

Question 23

What is the gesture code of the woman on the left?

Answer 23

Stereotypical passive “monster” victim. Power highlighted by holding her by just one arm.

Question 24

what is different by the 2nd woman’s gesture codes?

Answer 24

Barring teeth, arm raised fist-like whole being bitten by bat: more aggressive.

Question 25

How does the male “victim” of the 2nd woman help represent her in a non-stereotypical way?

Answer 25

Submissive pose (on knees, head back, throat exposed).

Question 26

How is the vampire uncharacteristically fearful?

Answer 26

Gesture codes- arms thrown across body defensively, protecting from female vampire?

Question 27

What elements form part of the “shared conceptual road map”

(Hall representation)?

Answer 27

Castle, bats, vampire’s cape and dripping blood. This gives meaning to the “world” in poster.

Question 28

What is the audience actively encouraged to do?

Answer 28

Decode the familiar generic iconography (elements of shred conceptual road map)

Question 29

What does the female vampire act as? (Gauntlet’s identity)

Answer 29

role model for women struggling against male oppression, or desperate to be seen as equal.

Question 30

How does the female vampire contribute to social change?

Van Zoonen’s feminist

Answer 30

By assuming “co-antagonist” role, she contributes by representing women in non-traditional roles. Passive female victim reinforces these.