College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2025-04-26 12:10:33
Major
English
Honors Course
ENGL 482
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2025
Abstract
This research explores gender representation in horror films as it moves away from representation shaped by the male gaze and, instead, showcases social values related to current feminist movements. While the horror genre is largely considered to be lacking complex messages or social commentary, many contemporary horror films actually utilize well-known tropes to cultivate a larger discussion on social issues. With the rise of the slasher film in the 1970s and 1980s, the character of the Final Girl was popularized. These final surviving female victims are usually defined by a constricting set of rules; however, newer trends in horror films have begun to subvert the trope, highlighting women’s experiences, conveying female empowerment through sexuality, and even tackling larger social issues spanning beyond gender.
Research Sponsor
Elizabeth Rhoades
First Reader
Hillary Nunn
Second Reader
Jennifer Hebert
Honors Faculty Advisor
Elizabeth Rhoades
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Divine, Abby, "Dismembering the Final Girl: Examining the Shifting Trope in Contemporary Horror Films" (2025). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1966.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1966
Included in
English Language and Literature Commons, Film and Media Studies Commons, Women's Studies Commons