Audio Describing the Horror Genre: “Creating Fear in the Viewer”

Abstract

Much research on audio description (AD) has been developed in the field of Translation Studies (FRYER, 2016; ORERO & MATAMALA, 2016). However, there are few bibliographic references regarding AD of the horror genre (MICHALEWICZ, 2015). With the aim of promoting a discussion about the translation of particular characteristics of the horror genre, eight audio describers were interviewed about their experiences with horror AD. Thematic analysis was adopted as methodology, and nine themes were selected based on bibliography on horror in cinema (CHERRY, 2009) and on the answers of the interviewees in order to guide our reflection on the topic: 1) Genre; 2) Effect; 3) Language; 4) Cinematographic Language; 5) Content; 6) Soundtrack; 7) Silence; 8) Voice; and 9) Prosody. According to the interviewees, the horror genre influences the work of the audio describer in many respects.