Keywords

Horror, Catharsis, Saw, Rhetoric, New Materialism

Abstract

This project positions splatter (a subgenre of horror films that centralizes gore) as applicable for sociopolitical critique and emotional catharsis, disrupting the narrative of splatter as a solely shock-based enterprise. The project utilizes the Saw franchise as a corpus, which reignited audience interest in extreme horror in 2004, rejuvenating splatter film releases since their stagnancy throughout the 1990s. This research seeks to answer why Saw captured the attention of audiences and returned the splatter subgenre to the 21st century, utilizing psychoanalytical film analysis, sociopolitical analysis, semiotics, content analysis, and archival research as methodology and drawing on Aristotle’s Catharsis and Rhetorical New Materialism (the study of object agency and relationships between humans and nonhumans) as theoretical frameworks. The project innovatively engages Rhetorical New Materialism, demonstrating how splatter transforms bodies and abstract concepts into narrative-driven material objects. By applying these methods and theories to elements seen in the franchise, it is discovered that Saw and splatter films alike channel themes of morality, power, bodily vulnerability, and vigilantism, therapeutically reflecting the frustrations and anxieties of American viewers. This thesis addresses the psychological impacts of consuming extreme horror from a therapeutic perspective, explores the ethicality of uplifting splatter as a tool for emotional wellness, and destigmatizes splatter by highlighting its scholarly value - ultimately defining the subgenre as a non-traditional form of unruly rhetoric - while bridging the fields of horror, film studies, and rhetoric.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Scott, Blake & Wheeler, Stephanie

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

Writing and Rhetoric

Identifier

DP0029376

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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