The context in which a text is produced, that is the multitude of factors `outside' the text which significantly determine its meaning (i.e. the time, place and values of the society in which it was composed), have an important influence on the reception and representation of the genre of which that text is a part. An example of such an occurrence is the horror genre and the way in which it has varied and taken numerous forms throughout time and in different cultures.

In order to be defined as a text from the horror genre, certain characteristics are usually required, yet due to the constantly changing values of society throughout time, not to mention the divergent values of different cultures around the world, these characteristics are not only relatively broad, but open to manipulation and appropriation as a result of the different time and place, as well...