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"I Won't Let Anyone Come Between Us" Representations of Mental Illness, Queer Identity, and Abjection in High Tension

Wise, Krista Michelle
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1395416795

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Popular Culture.
In this thesis I analyze the presence of mental illness, queer identity and Kristeva's theory of abjection in Alexandre Aja's 2003 film High Tension. Specifically I look at the common trend within the horror genre of scapegoating those who are mentally ill or queer (or both) through High Tension. It is my belief that it is easier for directors, and society as a whole, to target marginalized groups (commonly referred to as the Other) as a means of expressing a "normalized" group's anxiety in a safe and acceptable manner. High Tension allows audiences to reassure themselves of their sanity and, at the same time, experience hyper violence in a safe setting. Horror films have always targeted the fears of the dominant culture and I use this thesis to analyze the impact damaging perceptions may have on oppressed groups.
Becca Cragin, Dr. (Advisor)
Marilyn Motz, Dr. (Committee Member)
47 p.
Film Studies
High Tension; Alexandre Aja; horror; slasher; slasher films; queer identity; Julia Kristeva; mental illness; queer representation; mental illness representation; cultural studies; film studies; Bowling Green State University; Krista Wise; Popular Culture

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wise, K. M. (2014). "I Won't Let Anyone Come Between Us" Representations of Mental Illness, Queer Identity, and Abjection in High Tension [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1395416795

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wise, Krista. "I Won't Let Anyone Come Between Us" Representations of Mental Illness, Queer Identity, and Abjection in High Tension . 2014. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1395416795.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wise, Krista. ""I Won't Let Anyone Come Between Us" Representations of Mental Illness, Queer Identity, and Abjection in High Tension ." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1395416795

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.