Aging & Social Change: Twelfth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Sociologist Kenneth F. Ferraro defines ageism as, “Prejudice and discrimination against older people based on the belief that ageing makes people less attractive, intelligent and productive.” These beliefs, widely shared in Western society, are rooted in an ideology seeking to dismantle power structures for maturing adults. Cinema upholds stereotypes about growing older, portraying aged characters as dissatisfied, or resorting to extreme antics to maintain youth. Or, they are simply rendered invisible. The horror genre is not immune. According to a 2016 study by industry consultant Stephen Follows, the average age of the lead in a horror film is 38. The genre all too often scales its core viewership towards much younger ages, alienating an important audience. Unfortunately, it is the aging actress who suffers most. The roles offered to women are too often relegated to one-word descriptions such as “hag” and “crone.” The mature female body became a source of ridicule and shame, generating an internalized terror. However, this is changing, and as audiences grow older, the genre film is beginning to offer positive reflections of what it means to be a mature woman facing insurmountable odds. For example, Insidious is a popular franchise fronted by a woman in her seventies. And, Jamie Lee Curtis’ return as Laurie Strode in the Halloween series was greeted with open arms and strong box office. My study charts the transformation from crone to strong, powerful older woman, what that means for spectatorship, and to look ahead at where we should go from here.