Clayton George Wickham - final thesis

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perspective experience, and ultimately defining generic orientation and providing
momentary visceral shock.
In Jason X’s sparing use of the eye/camera, it specifically develops generic
definition, which is significant to the inter-generic nature of the narrative. The film
largely utilizes science fiction genre aesthetics, and the eye/camera is only used in
sequences when a horror aesthetic is appropriate to the narrative, as in Jason
sneaking up on Crutch, which reminds the viewer of the potential threat Jason
represents, both to individuals and to the entire ship, as Crutch is the pilot. It is
therefore significant that, aside from the overt iconography of the series 17 , the
eye/camera is the primary aesthetic device used to orientate the viewer within the
horror genre while the dominant aesthetic belongs to the science fiction genre.
These eye/camera shots provide an extreme sense of contrast to the science fiction
sequences of the film, strictly shot from an omniscient third person perspective 18 .
The horror and science fiction sequences are set apart largely by the use of the
eye/camera in Jason X, and the vulnerable eye/camera positionings, through this
contrast, are intensified by the relative rareness of eye/camera usage.
Eye/camera usage and design in these films becomes a primary example of
design based on monetary and business consideration, as initially pointed out by
Sean Cunningham. Based on the success of the first film, which adapted an aesthetic
to model the financial success of Halloween, the eye/camera became a prominent
17 It is important to note that the iconographic elements of the Friday the 13 th franchise are filtered
through the science fiction genre: Jason’s hockey mask is made metallic with a design reminiscent of
Futurism, and the Camp Crystal Lake sequence is placed within the context of a virtual reality
hologram.
18 One example of third person perspective in Jason X can be seen in the sequence involving his DNA
reconstruction, which is shot through a series of tripod mounted close ups and medium shots, along
with smooth tilts and tracking shots.