--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I enjoy turning things on the audience. I…" description: "\"I enjoy turning things on the audience. I really like working in genre because people come into the films with certain expectations. They know the trop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/ari-aster-15271_cinema_i-enjoy-turning-things-on-the-audience-i_232164.jpg" --- # I enjoy turning things on the audience. I really like… ![“I enjoy turning things on the audience. I really like working in genre because people come into the films with certain expectations. They know the tropes so well that, when you turn on those, it can be shocking because there's a complacency that comes with watching those films.” quote by Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/ari-aster-15271_cinema_i-enjoy-turning-things-on-the-audience-i_232164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/ari-aster-15271_cinema_i-enjoy-turning-things-on-the-audience-i_232164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/ari-aster-15271_cinema_i-enjoy-turning-things-on-the-audience-i_232164.jpg) > “I enjoy turning things on the audience. I really like working in genre because people come into the films with certain expectations. They know the tropes so well that, when you turn on those, it can be shocking because there's a complacency that comes with watching those films.” [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ari Aster explains that subverting audience expectations by playing with familiar tropes creates surprise and highlights complacency in genre viewers. **In simple terms:** Subverting expectations shocks complacent viewers. Key Takeaway Use familiar tropes then twist them. Themes genre filmmaking audience expectations subversion storytelling surprise Mood playful provocative Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - Film directing - scriptwriting - marketing campaigns - creative workshops Key Concepts Narrative manipulation psychology of expectation cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance surprise with respect for genre fans? - What tropes can you safely invert? A Different Perspective Audience may feel alienated if twists are too jarring. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [My films typically veer towards the darker side, and I enjoy turning things on the audience. I really enjoy working in genre because people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/my-films-typically-veer-towards-the-darker-side-and-i-enjoy-turning/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [When I walk in the door sometimes, I'm already an anomaly. Because I'm working in a genre that African-American's don't typically engage in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-grevioux/when-i-walk-in-the-door-sometimes-i-m-already-an-anomaly-because-i-m/) [Kevin Grevioux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-grevioux/) > [My theory on genre is that while there are people out there who believe that genre tells people what to read, actually I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/my-theory-on-genre-is-that-while-there-are-people-out-there-who/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Rap is like any other genre: There are the people who are very creative with it and do remarkable things... and then there's that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/rap-is-like-any-other-genre-there-are-the-people-who-are-very/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [When I was starting out, science fiction was a little genre over there, which only a few people read. But now -- where are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/when-i-was-starting-out-science-fiction-was-a-little-genre-over-there/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [The joy of making a genre film is that you have audiences in that place, and it's a perfect place to start because all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/the-joy-of-making-a-genre-film-is-that-you-have-audiences-in-that/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [When people talk about how parameters can generate really good work, there's no better example than working within a genre in film. That's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oneohtrix-point-never/when-people-talk-about-how-parameters-can-generate-really-good-work/) [Oneohtrix Point Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oneohtrix-point-never/) > [I really enjoy working in genre series, because you really have to create the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-august-richards/i-really-enjoy-working-in-genre-series-because-you-really-have-to/) [J. August Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-august-richards/) > [The great thing about working on a genre show is that you can basically have a season finale where every character is left destroyed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/the-great-thing-about-working-on-a-genre-show-is-that-you-can/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [I love working with genre. And to me, the Victorian novel is the flourishing ancestor I'm always trying to access when I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-love-working-with-genre-and-to-me-the-victorian-novel-is-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I want to make my music a genre that people can immediately identify: something that never existed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ji-hae-park/i-want-to-make-my-music-a-genre-that-people-can-immediately-identify/) [Ji-Hae Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ji-hae-park/) > [When punk began to be a genre, people were going to go out and try to mine it. Some of the better groups, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/when-punk-began-to-be-a-genre-people-were-going-to-go-out-and-try-to/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [I often wonder why we don't have an English word for 'genre.' People on arts programmes always have to use the word and invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/i-often-wonder-why-we-don-t-have-an-english-word-for-genre-people-on/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) > [I know it's dangerous to say you want to do something different with a genre because people always take that as an insult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-pinborough/i-know-it-s-dangerous-to-say-you-want-to-do-something-different-with/) [Sarah Pinborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-pinborough/) > [Audiences are very sophisticated and they know the nuts and bolts of the genre - certainly with horror more than others I think. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-shearsmith/audiences-are-very-sophisticated-and-they-know-the-nuts-and-bolts-of/) [Reece Shearsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-shearsmith/) ## More by Ari Aster > ['Hereditary' is unabashedly a horror film. In a lot of ways, it's in dialogue with other horror films. But I do know that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/hereditary-is-unabashedly-a-horror-film-in-a-lot-of-ways-it-s-in/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [My films typically veer towards the darker side, and I enjoy turning things on the audience. I really enjoy working in genre because people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/my-films-typically-veer-towards-the-darker-side-and-i-enjoy-turning/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [I have more fun talking about other movies than talking about my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/i-have-more-fun-talking-about-other-movies-than-talking-about-my-own/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [The joy of making a genre film is that you have audiences in that place, and it's a perfect place to start because all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/the-joy-of-making-a-genre-film-is-that-you-have-audiences-in-that/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [I love the horror genre. I consider myself a genre filmmaker. I love genre, but I think there's a certain amount of complacency that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/i-love-the-horror-genre-i-consider-myself-a-genre-filmmaker-i-love/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [The nice thing about a horror movie is that people go in looking to be unsettled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/the-nice-thing-about-a-horror-movie-is-that-people-go-in-looking-to/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [I graduated from the American Film Institute in 2010, where I studied as a director, and came out with a few features I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/i-graduated-from-the-american-film-institute-in-2010-where-i-studied/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [I don't necessarily consider myself a horror filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/i-don-t-necessarily-consider-myself-a-horror-filmmaker/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [I found that the things I am afraid of most are things for which there are no obvious remedies. Like, what do you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/i-found-that-the-things-i-am-afraid-of-most-are-things-for-which/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [One reason I think I am able to work with such dark material is the fact I was never really discouraged from making this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/one-reason-i-think-i-am-able-to-work-with-such-dark-material-is-the/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [Most horror films are made very cynically, and they're usually made by studios for an audience that they know is there, no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/most-horror-films-are-made-very-cynically-and-they-re-usually-made-by/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [Sometimes you want pain to be acknowledged and not whitewashed - or erased by some exceptionalist point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/sometimes-you-want-pain-to-be-acknowledged-and-not-whitewashed-or/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [I like to play with transgression and upending conventions, and I like the idea of rooting genre films in character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/i-like-to-play-with-transgression-and-upending-conventions-and-i-like/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [I know that I put a lot into 'Hereditary', and I'm proud of what it is. Beyond the fact that the film takes its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/i-know-that-i-put-a-lot-into-hereditary-and-i-m-proud-of-what-it-is/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [When I was 13 years old, I was obsessed with horror films. I even had, like, a binder that I filled with badly copied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/when-i-was-13-years-old-i-was-obsessed-with-horror-films-i-even-had/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) [Explore all 43 Ari Aster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I enjoy turning things on the audience. 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