My "Adventure To The Center"

Context and Gap: My research project contributes to the academic conversation about modern-day sexism within films, especially slasher films. By testing to see how realistic the movies are, I am able to compare the 10 female movies and 10 male movies to the idea that "One in nearly every six serial killers in the U.S. is a woman,” (Female Serial Killers)." This piece of data allows me to take the data I obtain from watching the different movies and apply them to this conversation of media and the idea that females are portrayed differently in media than men, especially when people don't ever expect a serial killer to be female. It also allows me to further my journey into the next chapter which takes me on to the hardest part of my journey, the journey to the center. Not much research has been done on this area of a topic when you add specificities into the mix, which created a way around the obstacle, the volcano. I was able to find a gap in research comparing how realistic male and female movies are allowing myself to find a safe passage around the volcano to further my journey. 

Process: In order to contribute to this academic conversation, I applied a method of watching slasher films produced in the 1960's-modern day. I gathered all of the fictional slasher films I could find for males and females, and randomly selected 10 for each gender through a randomizer. Once I had established my plan by mapping out what I would do, I took action and began my journey past the volcano, and into the cave that will take me to the center. I began researching and talking with my mentor, Agent Debby Michaels, to come up with a list of potential precursors or tendencies of serial killers. I ended up making a list of 10 dangers while exploring, Stress/Trauma, Abusive Childhood Mental and Physical, Loneliness, Abusive to animals/pets, Committing small acts of arson, Lack of remorse/guilt, Need for control, Predatory behavior, and Impulsivity. Each of these adds up to 10 points, and as I watch the movie I check off if the movie hits the point. Once the movie is over, I write an explanation of my findings in the movie and convert the score into a percentage to easily apply it to the conversation through comparison. 

Progress: After prepping and planning the journey to the center, it was finally time to make the leap as I started with the first movie American Psycho. This movie lead to a percentage being 70% realistic and helped show that my plan would work and that it was possible. I had not started my descent, and there was no turning back, so I kept going. I then watched The Clovehitch Killer, receiving a score of 50%. This movie opened my eyes to an implication in my plan. We never physically saw him kill anyone in this movie so it is more of an assumption that he committed the crimes, making the descent a slippery slope. However, as I furthered my journey, I began to realize that I was going to complete my journey safely. Everything began to go smoothly, and my hypothesis that male movies will be more realistic started to shine through and prove true. As I approach the final chapter of the journey to the center, I came upon the movie, Silence of The Lambs, and was challenged with an issue. There were two serial killers, do I only pick one? Both? None? I was startled and didn't have room for mistakes. I decided to do both killers and list them seperately, however they will both only be apart of this movie, and not adjust the number of 10 male serial killer movies. This had led me to finally make it to the center. After, I adventured out of the center to the end of my journey with only 4 movies left to watch, all being female. This brings me up to date, and provides my progress so far, how much I have left, and what feedback I have given mylself. This journey has truly taught me so much, and I can't wait to get to the end, where I can say I traveled to the center of the earth.