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WebAIM: Testing with Screen Readers: Questions and Answers

Very nice and informative FAQ on testing webpages in screen readers. Note the 2nd from last question in this FAQ.

The Shark That Chewed Up Hollywood`

This article is a look back at Jaws 20 years after it revolutionized the industry. While the film was very important at the time for its media attention, the concepts that went into Jaws would be long lasting. Jaws became the first blockbuster as a result of the advertising campaign and all the hype leading up to its premiere. By drawing so much attention to the film, the risk of the film would be minimized, while it could have major potential for drawing in huge crowds. According to the article, another key element that went into the popularity of Spielberg’s Jaws was the simple plot concept. Spielberg was reported as saying, "If a person can tell me the idea in 25 words or less, it's going to make a pretty good movie." The story of Jaws is simple and straightforward, and as Pevere points out, the final one third or so of the film is simply three men on a boat, attempting to kill a shark- as basic as it comes. This idea, mixed in with impressive technology and the occasional comedic relief works to make Jaws the first Hollywood blockbuster. As opposed to other articles on Jaws, this piece fails to mention the power of Spielberg’s images and the effects they had on viewers, perhaps a source of the films success. Instead the article focuses on the power of this recipe for a profitable film that Spielberg seems to have created with Jaws and will continue to reuse in future box office hits such as Jurassic Park. This article is unique because it is exploring Jaws more as a machine and not as an individual work of art. While it was greatly successful, Pevere breaks it down to its core and finds it to be simplistic. According to him, the simplicity, the media attention, and the technology worked together in order to draw in huge crowds and this concept is reproducible. Contrary to many other pieces, this article doesn’t find the attraction to sharks as a cause for the film’s popularity. Many other articles discuss the fear audiences felt so that it impacted them in their own lives while this one looks at it from the other side, explaining that perhaps the reaction came about for other reasons.

The Shark That Chewed Up Hollywood`

Selachophobia: A Brief History

This is an interesting article taking an in-depth look at the history of the shark and its role in society. Miller claims, “Every seaside civilization in human history has somehow incorporated the shark into its culture.” Starting out as respected gods, with centuries they came to be known as schurks in German, which translates to villain and is likely where the English name comes from. Sharks have always been fascinating to humans, as their great power has been mind-blowing. When a captain brought a dead shark back to London in the 16th century, the general public was amazed. Although shark attacks were rarities, in 1916 the United States experienced quite a few and they became the talk of the summer, leading Woodrow Wilson to declare a “war on sharks.” The article points out that humans always seem to make entertainment out of tragedy when it comes to sharks, as was the case in the summer 1916 as well as the summer of 2001, when shark attacks were constantly in the media. This reaction to real shark attacks is very similar to that of Jaws. For whatever reason, shark attacks have been very appealing to humans, and we get entertainment out of them no matter how terrifying they appear. This idea seems very odd, as intuition would make us think that when individuals can hardly look on that the movie won’t be successful or it will only interest a certain audience. Jaws, however, was considered a family movie and had a PG rating, looking to attract all age groups and all kinds of people. This article implies that Jaws was able to reach out to all these groups of people and be so successful because of the human interest in sharks which has been prevalent for hundreds of years. As much as it pains us to watch these horrible attacks, there is something profound about these creatures that still makes us want more.

Jaws

This article discusses the relationship between Jaws and the growing phenomenon known as selachophobia. Virtually non-existent prior to the films release, selachophobia is a phobia in which individuals are scared for their lives every time they step foot in the ocean. In some instances, individuals are so irrational about their fears that they cannot even go into a harmless bathtub without thinking they will be eaten. Although the idea of shark attacks had been prevalent since 725 B.C., Jaws put these ideas out there for millions to see in a seemingly realistic setting. Previously it had seemed a myth, however the shark Spielberg created was the size of a true great white that really did roam the water. The reality of the situation is brought to its height in Quint’s dramatic portrayal of his experience on the U.S.S. Indianapolis, a real ship wreck that lost hundreds at sea, many the result of shark attacks. All of a sudden shark attacks didn’t seem so far fetched-they were undeniably all over the ocean and a real life example had been provided. These aspects, blended with the brilliant suspense and terror scenes in the film worked to greatly heighten the fear of sharks. Many of us have an extremely mild case of selachophobia, in which we think about the possibility of sharks when we step in the ocean, however we can overcome this fear. For some though, this fear hit closer to home and had a more profound impact on their decision-making after seeing the film. According to the source, this fear not only would keep individuals out of the water, however it also would be a leading cause of the backlash against sharks. These individuals sough revenge against sharks, which would be evident in the decline in many species of sharks and the potential extinction of certain types.

Jaws At 30

This article tackles the pros and cons of Jaws from a nature standpoint. Although the film led to an increase in shark killings, this article is quick to point out that the increased attention in sharks was also beneficial. “After the film's release, interest in sharks skyrocketed, resulting in increased funding for shark research.” With increased funding came increased knowledge, and scientists were able to learn more about sharks than ever before. As a result, we are beginning to learn more about the relationship between sharks and humans, and are beginning to understand that shark attacks often come as a result of sharks falsely thinking that humans are a predator. The article draws a clear distinction between educated scientists and common movie-goers. Even though the results continue to provide more conclusions that sharks aren’t out to get humans, the average person still views sharks as extremely dangerous. According to the article, “The reputation remains entrenched in the public psyche 30 years after the movie's release.” While scientists are using the benefits of Jaws to get more in-depth knowledge, the average person isn’t putting this information to its full use. Many people still suffer from a fear of sharks, while they really shouldn’t be so scared. It speaks wonders of Jaws that 30 years later it can still be so persuasive that it to a large extent overrides the research of scientists. This truly shows the power of Jaws and how it was able to adamantly convince beach-dwellers that they shouldn’t feel safe when they step foot in the ocean.

JAWS Reconsidered

This is an informative piece written by a conservationist who has spent his life researching sharks as a result of Jaws. The article effectively addresses both the positives and negatives that came from the film. While the author is clearly biased as a conservationist, he raises many interesting points. For starters he notes the huge increase in brutality against sharks that stemmed most certainly from the movie. The movie regarded great white sharks as “sea-going homicidal maniacs lurking just out of sight off your local beach, ready to shred your very own personal body into strips of bloody flesh or to simply gobble you whole.” Because of the film’s power in portraying this idea, many vigilantes made it their own mission to get revenge. In this sense, Spielberg’s portrayal of sharks was disastrous for the shark population. The author claims, “JAWS has been strongly condemned as the impetus for the shark slaughtering obscenities of the past and the disconcerting scarcity of White Sharks in the present.” This is not supported with data, however, many would agree with these claims as Jaws brought sharks into the spotlight. With that being said, the article still concludes with a pro-Jaws stance, claiming that shark research has taken great strides since 1975 mostly as the result of Jaws. By drawing so much attention to sharks, many wanted to learn more. As a result, individuals such as the author took up learning about sharks as their lifetime goal. The increased attention and funding would lead to a much greater understanding of sharks, in which scientists have been able to discover that sharks aren’t out to harm humans. So although the immediate consequences were harmful to many species of sharks, years later the film has helped us to better understand sharks and learn that we shouldn’t be so scared.

Nightmare and the Horror Film: the Symbolic Biology of Fantastic Beings

This is an in-depth look at horror and science fiction films involving a monster. The article doesn’t focus on Jaws, however it gives an interesting interpretation about many ideas prevalent in Jaws and how they appeal. Carrol says, “the horror and science fiction film poignantly expresses the sense of powerlessness and anxiety that correlates with times of depression, recession, Cold War strife, galloping inflation, and national confusion.” The nemesis in Jaws is an uncontrollable creature, something out of the public’s hands. The author rationalizes that these unmanageable situations were telling of the current situation of the country in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. The helplessness that individuals were going through could be seen on-screen and as a result people were drawn to this. Carrol refers to films such as Jaws as nightmares, something that one has no control over, yet is forced to watch. He is providing a bleak interpretation of this time period, however this is his rationale for why a film such as Jaws was so successful during this time. This can be interpreted to mean that people feared the current state of their country, for any number of reasons including the Watergate scandal, the oil problems, or the Cold War. All of these situations were out of the publics control, similar to the way the audience had no way of controlling what would come next. In this sense, the monstrous character in Jaws was very realistic, and as a result people took it so literally. Perhaps this would be the reason so much action was taken against sharks going forward and the film was so moving to the general public.

Jaws (1975)

This review is a very well written piece that does a great job breaking down the aspects that make Jaws the masterpiece that it is, but also pointing out its flaws. This article is worth noting because it explains how Jaws left such a shock on viewers and why it was so powerful even after audiences left the theater. There are many horror films in many genres that haven’t had nearly the same impact as Jaws and this article provides a possible explanation. Nesbit attributes the films success to the way Spielberg was able to set up scenes and master the art of suspense. It wasn’t only the gruesome images that had a lasting impact on the viewers, but also the element of surprise and not knowing exactly when the dreadful images would come. This is a very important aspect to Jaws that made the film so influential. Everyone knew at some point there would be bloodshed, yet the road there wasn’t so simple. Spielberg used the prevalent theme song to build up the threat of violence, however its portentous tune didn’t necessarily mean something bad was immediately coming. It was his way of putting the audience on the edge of their seats. Numerous times he would intentionally mislead the audience, hyping them up for extreme violence, only to be children scuba diving or adults horsing around. This technique added another dimension to the film, and added to its overall power. If the film relied solely on freaking out the audience with shark attacks there’s no way its impact would have been felt the same way that it was. As Nesbit points out, “Spielberg doesn't serve up mass quantities of blood and gore. He knows it's the anticipation of horror that brings suspense; there are relatively few killings.” This technique works to make the ocean seem so gripping; every time it is shown there is the potential for something terrible to happen, yet it is unlikely. Perhaps this is the lasting image that led to such an increase in the fear of sharks, as people could relate to shark attacks likely not occurring, however there would always be that mystical possibility.

The Big Fish at the Box Office

This Washington Post piece by Manny Fernandez describes the “bedlam” that took place after the release of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. This article is an interesting look at the effects of Jaws on the summer of 1975, both on and off screen. The film dominated the summer, as people of all ages were anxious to see the vicious shark and often times were willing to buy tickets way above face value. Not often can a ticket normally sold for $2.50 at the box office be worth $8 outside the theater, however this demonstrated the enormous demand to see the first big Summer Movie. Douglas Gomery called the phenomenon “shark mania,” where people were obsessed with the movie and couldn’t help but to enjoy the fear that Jaws was instilling in them. The film’s horror had lasting effects, as “people wouldn’t go out much deeper than waist-deep” into the ocean after seeing the film. Even though shark attacks have always been uncommon, Spielberg’s film was jaw dropping to viewers and certainly gave them something to think about. The mechanical shark devised by Spielberg generated quite a bit of excitement among movie-goers as sharks were being put in a new light that would be difficult to forget for the remainder of the summer months. It is very interesting the role Jaws played in causing fear among beach dwellers, as shark attacks have always been unlikely. People were drawn into Jaws for its appeal and enjoyed being frightened on-screen, however it is clear that when the audience saw Jaws there was something deeper that was drawing them in, as evident by the incredible viewers responses.

The Fear Jaws Instilled

Jaws became a Hollywood hit immediately upon its release in 1975. There are many reasons for its stunning success, one of the most important being the fear it instilled in audiences. It worked so well because of the power director Steven Spielberg had over audiences to keep them constantly scared of the shark images that would come next. This power worked not only to make Jaws so popular at the time, but also to have long term effects. The following articles touch on how Spielberg worked to make the film so effective as well as the films impact long after viewers saw Jaws, with a focus on the perception of sharks.

Jawsmania: The Great Escape

This 1975 article, entitled “Jawsmania,” explains the effects of Jaws’ success throughout the United States. Aside from the obvious benefits for Universal Studios, which included a line of spin-off products, there was also an important impact on beach communities. Following its’ release, there was an immediate increase in the number of shark sightings, as everybody seemed to be more on the lookout for sharks. When a 14 year old girl was attacked by a sea animal, many assumed it was a shark, however the police chief claimed it likely could have been a bluefish. In Georgia, swimmers killed a sea creature when they saw its dark form underneath the surface- it turned out to be a baby whale. Because this article is written in the summer of the film’s release, it is very effective in illustrating the power the film had on its viewers. The article also details the theater going experience, as Jaws was so powerful that it made individuals faint and others leave the theater every time a shark came on the screen. Spielberg’s scenes worked so that no matter what kind of water real swimmers would later swim in, they would be thinking of Jaws. Shark-free beaches would now have swimmers trembling, and one man even commented that, “My wife won’t even go into the goddam swimming pool anymore.” Accounts such as these show the truly stimulating effects Jaws had on its many viewers. Obviously Jaws was too a large degree responsible for all the commotion surrounding sharks that would follow, however Newsweek hints at the idea that it was Spielberg’s power in manipulating the audiences that really accomplished this. Most shark movies wouldn’t have the impact Jaws had, however the way Spielberg put the film together made it have the lasting impact. One crucial aspect of this power came from the fact that it wasn’t only gory images that would shock the audience. Instead, Spielberg constantly used the element of surprise and anticipation to confuse the audience and not allow them to feel comfortable anytime the ocean was being shown.

Spielberg and the Global Monster / Gabilondo, Joseba

In this article, author Joseba Gabilondo discusses Steven Spielberg’s three highest grossing movies: Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park. Each of these three movies shares something in common with the others – non-human protagonists. Gabilondo addresses the influences of these three characters and how Hispanic and world cultures are affected by the globalization of Spielberg’s “monsters.”

Gabilondo begins with a discussion about how the shark, alien, and dinosaur, all seem to dominate the other characters in Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park, respectively. Furthermore, he points out that the main characters tend to be “white, masculine, heterosexual Anglo-American.” Consequently, when these characters eventually expose of or send away the associated “monster,” the stereotypical role reemerges in the spotlight of the film.

The effect of this process, Gabilondo writes, “...is a globalization that parallels that of America’s neo-imperialist supremacy.” For example, the shark in Jaws could be reduced to just a national problem (“man against nature”), thus excluding other nations from the situation. However, the alien in E.T. is most certainly a problem that must be applied globally. Finally, Jurassic Park actually takes place outside of the U.S., portraying Spielberg’s eventual globalization of his “monsters.”

According to Gabilondo, Jaws was not intended for audiences abroad as much as Spielberg’s later films, which is a logical conclusion because as he gained more experience and success, Spielberg was able to expand his horizons and produce movies with global appeal.

Movie Stars, Big Budgets, and Wide Releases: Empirical Analysis of the Blockbuster Strategy / De Vany, Arthur and Walls, W. David

In this scholarly paper, Arthur De Vany and W. David Walls discuss, among many other things, how the studios used the “blockbuster” strategy in which advertising, box office ranking, and movie stars play integral roles in a film’s success. They acknowledge Jaws as the first movie to employ this technique on a national level, using television advertising in addition to a nationwide release.

According to this theory, the opening of the movie is the most important event in a film’s life. Producer Robert Evans compared it to a parachute jump, “If it doesn’t open, you are dead.” De Vany and Walls believe that if the theory were true, the choices of early movie-goers directly affect the decisions of people who see the movie later. Furthermore, a strong opening weekend or week can lead to a “dominant position in the film market.”

Jaws is indeed a strong example of the “blockbuster” strategy of marketing because it was the highest grossing film at the time (dominating the box office), and created a national buzz about the film, which included television advertising. However, Jaws was somewhat different in that it did not have any big stars, but rather quality actors on the rise in the industry.

There are people who refute the “blockbuster” strategy and argue that the success of a film depends almost entirely on the early audience of the film and how those moviegoers express their opinions to friends, family and acquaintances. In closing, De Vany and Walls agree that the aspects of a successful film depend both on a strong opening as well as positive feedback from the early viewers.

"Cross the Fin Line of Terror": Shark Week on the Discovery Channel / Papson, Stephen

This article focuses on sharks and how Americans’ views on sharks have evolved since around the 1970s. Author Stephen Papson writes about how the use of documentary films on Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week 90” has shaped the terror-filled relationship between humans and sharks. Papson also acknowledges Jaws as the first movie to “elevate the shark to celebrity status.”

As Papson states, it is easy to be mislead by the manner in which sharks were represented in early films due to the fact that many moviegoers’ first shark encounters occurred while watching one of those films. In Jaws, Steven Spielberg uses an oversized replica of a great white shark in conjunction with various “Hitchcockian devices” with which to involve the audience in the film while simultaneously maintaining a certain sense of reality so as to not lose the viewers.

However, 1971 marked the first significant contribution in film pertaining to sharks, particularly the great white shark -- Peter Gimbel and James Lipscomb’s documentary “Blue Water, White Death.” Many early films that involved sharks, including Gimbel and Lipscomb’s film, regarded sharks as evil man-eating machines. It was Spielberg’s Jaws that first cast sharks in a different light. The shark in Jaws was given “personality and internationality” which in turn led to the international media coverage of new shark encounters (including Time Magazine’s June 23, 1975 cover page). The opening scene, in which the audience experiences the action from the shark’s perspective, draws on humans’ primal fear of being attacked and eaten by a shark.

As one can see, Americans have been educated on the nature of sharks primarily through documentary film, but movies like Jaws helped in attaining global coverage of shark activity that eventually led to the production of “Shark Week 90,” giving Americans a trustworthy source of information on sharks.

Open Wide: Jaws and the Summer Blockbuster / Surowiecki, James

In this article, James Surowiecki analyzes the marketing scheme of big Hollywood films like Jaws. In doing so, he looks at how blockbusters have been marketed since Jaws first opened in 1975. Among the factors discussed, the opening weekend and the behavior of the moviegoers are the most important.

In 1975, Stephen Farber, a movie critic, wrote that the success of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws was due to an “aggressive media blitz” that utilized prime-time television advertising along with an unusual national opening weekend at over 400 theaters across the country. Farber believed that audience members were manipulated into seeing the film and that the studio executives controlled what they wanted people to see.

As Surowiecki writes, Hollywood wanted to believe that the success of Jaws could be imitated by employing the same marketing strategies because there were huge profit opportunities. The studios believed that by giving certain films “a big enough push out of the gate” that enough people would go see it without regard for the actual quality of the movie’s content. This is called a “non-informative information cascade” in which the actions of the later moviegoers are based on the early moviegoers, who were persuaded to see the film due to the massive advertising campaign. Unfortunately, there have been many blockbusters that bring in large profits early on, followed by mediocre numbers in the following weeks (i.e. The Matrix: Reloaded).

However, as De Vany and Walls state in their in-depth study of what makes a blockbuster, they find that a big budget and expensive advertising campaign may make it possible for a big opening; its success truly depends on how the audience rates the film. This strategy has garnered some media criticism, but Surowicki argues Hollywood is sensible because this method increases revenues in a shorter time so that they can remove the film from theaters in order to keep a larger percentage of the profits.

The Psychological Appeal of Movie Monsters / Gordon, Rachel

In this article, the psychological appeal of monsters, demons, and other intimidating and scary creatures is analyzed and studied using 1,166 surveys from people with ages ranging from 16-91. Overall, the most frequent stated reason for liking the monsters was due to the superhuman powers and the “ability to show us the dark side of human nature.”

Movie monsters in horror films became more prevalent when the Production Code was abolished around 1960, Hollywood found new freedom in being able to shock and awe its audiences. Along with the new found autonomy in the horror genre, new technological advances made it easier to produce realistic special effects. The shark in Jaws is an excellent example of how Hollywood used technology to produce one of the top 25 scariest monsters in movie history (according to the study in this paper). However, as horror films became more gruesome and realistic, it was the younger audience members that became hooked; older members started to stay away as the amount of shock overshadowed the suspense in horror films.

Jaws is a portrayal of an excellent balance between both shock and suspense, and consequently the shark was in the top 25 movie monsters for all three age groups in the study: young, middle, and older. Additionally, the shark’s carnal behavior allows the audience to view some shocking footage that not many people experience. Thus, it is not a stretch to assert that Jaws is, in part, considered such a remarkable film because it appeals to people of all ages (including both males and females).

The Movie that Created the "Summer Movie" / Rafferty, Terrance

In this New York Times article, Terrance Rafferty explains why he believes that Jaws was the first summer movie to cause the summer blockbusters that this generation has come to know all too well. He argues that Jaws gave studio executives the idea to target youth audiences during the summer months and even compares Hollywood to Amity, the setting of the film.

It is easy to see why Jaws was such a hit when it opened in the summer of 1975 because it was filled with drama, action and above all – horror. It was the first American film to earn over $100 million and the studios made certain not to miss out on the huge possible profits awaiting them in the summer blockbuster area. Previously, older audiences were the aim for action movies, but the younger generations quickly became the target for this genre. Rafferty jokes that the executives must have seen dollar signs after seeing the immense success of Jaws. He also feels that in today’s context, one could compare the mayor not wanting to close the beaches to how the Hollywood studio executives refused to remove box office duds like Speed 2.

Although Jaws is a great movie, Rafferty states that although some people are quick to criticize it because it was such an impetus for some awful summer films released after Jaws, they should realize it was the studio executives who are to blame. Spielberg even made apologetic comments on how the film affected the industry, trying to downplay how ingenious his use of terror and suspense really were.

Rafferty puts it well when he says that Jaws should not be blamed for its lackluster descendants because if all of the summer films were of equal quality, nobody would be complaining.

From "Jaws": A Lovable Scientist / Etzioni, Amitai

In this article, Amitai Etzioni focuses not on the monstrous great white shark, but “Hooper” the oceanographer played by Richard Dreyfuss. Hooper is likened to Dr. Strangelove in his methods with which he tracks the shark. Using these views, Etzioni argues why Hooper is the best role in Jaws.

As opposed to how the traditional scientist is depicted, Hooper integrates emotion and feeling into his job. For example, Etzioni recalls the scene where he shows his humanness after seeing the dismembered girl, but is able to still fulfill his job requirements by collecting the necessary information to help hunt down the shark later in the film.

On the other hand, Etzioni also describes how the other roles in Jaws are somewhat cliché, lacking substance. The mayor cares about the profits from the tourists instead of the safety of his beaches and the police chief shows incompetence when deciding whether or not to follow the mayor’s unethical orders. It is apparent that the nature of these characters further highlights the positive qualities of Hooper, which in Etzioni’s eyes makes him a heroic figure in Jaws.

Possessing the innate traits necessary to capture a man-eating shark, Hooper plays the role of hero while still upholding certain standards from the scientific community. Etzioni also includes in the end of his article that the character of Hooper may not be embraced by all of the scientific community, but he is easily accepted by the audience, as he is the only one capable of ending the terror caused by Jaws.

Filmsite.org: Jaws (1975) / Dirks, Tim

On this website, one can find in-depth information pertaining to some of the biggest films ever produced. However, I am going to focus on the 1970s section because Jaws can be found on the page where the movies from 1975 are located. In addition to critiquing the film, reviewer Tim Dirks gives a detailed explanation of major scenes and key dialogue.

Dirks describes Steven Spielberg’s Jaws as a “…masterful, visceral and realistic science-fiction suspense/horror-disaster film” and even compared it to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Additionally, there is a list of five sources that Dirks tells us both Benchley and Spielberg used in the writing of the book and the making of the film. With these resources, one can easily draw parallels to Moby Dick or even 19^th-century literature.

Furthermore, there is a section that includes information and notes on how the production schedule was delayed and other such details. Along with these facts, Dirks also writes about the setting in which Jaws takes place – Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Perhaps one of the best features of the article on the film is that Dirks includes the historical significance of how Jaws was released nationwide with the aid of prime-time television advertising. He also states that the film was an impetus for future “blockbusters” that were to be released in the summer. The film Jaws is obviously an important Hollywood film, and this website gives one an excellent starting point from which to begin collecting information or data.

Video Game Makers Mining Hollywood's Past / Gaudiosi, John

This article has to do with video games that are based on movies and the profitability of these games. In particular, many video game companies are looking to acquire licenses for older, successful movies. The reason behind this is that the companies, like Electronic Arts and Buena Vista Games, see a huge potential market in selling video games based on popular films because they can market the games to the people who loved the movie.

However, as P.J. McNealy, video game analyst at American Technology Research, states, it is sometimes a difficult decision whether or not to make a game based on a new Hollywood movie or an established “Hollywood intellectual property” with a built-in audience. Games such as “Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon” had minimal success because the audience that appreciated the movie did not necessarily want to play the game.

The movie Jaws is a good example of an older movie that had huge success, thus Majesco decided to produce a game based on the film. Additionally, the release date was timed with the release of the 30^th anniversary edition of Jaws. By combining these two products, the company hoped to see interest in one market lead to interest in the other (i.e. video games and DVD).

The Vice President of Majesco stated in the article that “By adding the Jaws license, one of the best-known movies of all time, we instantly gave our game a better chance to reach the mass-market gamer, while allowing us to delve more into character and story.” Players will be able to control the man-eating shark as well as experience a different story line based on the blockbuster hit. The video game market adds another reason to the lengthy list of why Jaws and other popular action movies are able to have such lasting impacts on audiences because the games offer more action and information to the fans of the original films.

Why Movie Horror Lives On / Cantor, Joanne

In this article, Joanne Cantor discusses Jaws along with other famously frightening films that have scared audiences for years. Among the reasons cited by Cantor and her research, emotional impact is a recurring topic.

The responses that included Jaws all had similar analysis of the effects of the film on the viewer. As Cantor notes, many of the students wrote about how the film personally affected them as opposed to others. There were two main categories of emotional effects: those that occurred when the subject was awake and those that took place during “bedtime” hours.

Movies such as Poltergeist, The Blair Witch Project, and Scream share such characteristics, which may be one reason why all of these films have had such documented success in the industry. In particular, Jaws had the most influence on people in the water, with 65% of viewers reporting interference with swimming. Additionally, 43% of the 83% of viewers who cited life-changing effects had ongoing problems from Jaws.

In her conclusion, Cantor explains that in addition to the emotional effects from Jaws, there might be an evolutionary reason for why people are so affected of traumatic experiences (i.e. horror films). She cites LeDoux’s theory that we have accurate memories of these experiences so as to identify life-threatening situations in the future and act quicker and more rationally.