Media Diary week 2

American Horror Story

American Horror Story is an American TV show that started in 2011 and is approaching season four soon. America Horror Story is a strange series in that every season is a different story with different characters and a new location although the show does tend to use the same actors. Prominant in the show is Evan Peters, Jessica Lange and Sarah Poulson along with a few others.

Season one is titled 'American Horror Story: Murder House'. When a new family, Vivienne, Ben and daughter Violet, move into a new house, they soon realise that the house has a dark past which migh add to the reason why it was so cheap to buy. During the season we meet Tate Langton, a troubled teen patient of pyciatrist Ben who, strangely has made a lot of of young female viewers swoon, maybe because the show depicts him as a character who is vunerable but dangerous at the same time. We also meet next door neighbour Constance who seems to know more about the house that she first lets on.

The show explores the stereotypical genre conventions of a horror film very cleverly, it does not just delve in to the nitty gritty blood and gore, it allows time to get to know the characters and establish a main plot, we as an audience begin to develop real feelings and emotions for the characters. This is partially due to the excellent writing by Ryan Murphy but also due to the absolutely incredible acting from the cast, in partiuclar, my favourite, Evan peters, who aswel as the others pprtrays each character with such a realness that it makes the show great.

Paired with the sensational acting, spooky staging and camera angles, and a chilling soundtrack, the show really gives off a creepy aura that compliments the dark humour in the show, making for an addictives and brilliant viewing experience. Plus, the fact that each season is never the same as the last keeps you constantly interested and allows the see the variety of roles the recurring actors can play. Season two is 'American Horror Story: Asylum' set in a 1950s mental institution, season three is 'American Horrow Story: coven' set in a modern day school for witches and finally, the upcoming season due to air 21st October is 'American Horror Story: freakshow', the plot is unknown.

I would saw that American Horror Story is aimed at teenage to younge adult females, 16-25 years old. I think it is aimed more at the indie type of girl because of the show's strange nature more likely appealing to those who enjoy the weird and wonderful. I stumbled upon this show after hearing about it on social networking sites from time to time and scrolling throught netflix. I think that problems such as self-harm, bullying, sex, violence, rape etc being tackled in the show sparks the interest of the younger generation as it seems to be very relavent in a lot of lives.

Some people may not like this show because, like i said, some subjects presented aren't very light hearted, the show does not tip toe around the more risque sujects, it goes straight into them which may put a lot of viewers off or even offend them. The show is not for the light hearted because of this reason and the fact that it is a horror show, with each episode being like a short horror film therefore can cause chills in the bravest.