Assignment 1-3-2

Jeffrey Sussex

September 13, 2012

Professor: Brushaber

The article that was reviewed was “What Can You Do in Your Dreams? Slasher Cinema as Youth Empowerment” by LJ DeGraffenreid.  The main points of this article are the hidden sexual meanings that are placed throughout the movie series Nightmare on Elm Street.  The author makes several arguments that the sexual scenes are really forms of teen empowerment.  The author believes that the series really show a positive message for teens when it comes to sexual awareness. Now let’s look at the analyses of the article.

Throughout the article it is suggested that Freddy Krueger the leading character in the Nightmare on Elm Street series uses the power of dreams to control and tap into the mind of the youth.  It is suggested that many of the scenes within the movie are sexually based. 

Throughout the movie scenes such as the boiler room, white nightgowns, and infant’s cry all symbolizes the sexual innocence. Changes appear within the movie making one believe that the characters are dealing with the changing from a child to adult with sexual challenges and changes in desire and need.  The scenes that occur during dreams are viewed as desires acts not acted on during the waking hours but are brought out during dreams. 

Later in the series it calls for the group of adolescents to work together in order to defeat the evil Krueger.  The teens are forced to network and join each other in order to survive.  They work together and in the end this is how they come together to overpower and win, in essence stay alive. 

I agree with the authors overview when it comes to the group coming together in order to defeat the Freddy.  I feel this is true in everyday life that they are forced to come together in order to face the world.  On the other hand the author gave several examples of symbolism that they felt represented sexual encounters.  I don’t agree that all of the symbolism ties back to sexual encounters.   I feel that the movie series may have had certain parts that would lean towards have hidden sexual meaning, but for the most part it was a horror film used to scare people watching.

In conclusion I agree that the topics covered in this article are important. I do agree that team work and support network is visible within the movie.  The group empowerment does prove to be an important aspect of teen life.  Teen sexual awareness and understanding is important.  It is also important that teens understand they can come together in order to help each other.  I did not however agree that these important topics are actually addressed in the movie series Nightmare on Elm Street.

Reference:

What Can You Do in Your Dreams? Slasher Cinema as Youth Empowerment
DeGRAFFENREID, L. J.
The Journal of Popular Culture
Volume 44, issue 5, p. 954-969. October 2011.