Humankind has explored the relationships between people and their different dynamics through fiction for centuries. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 film, ‘Rear Window’, is no exception. Hitchcock directs the film to display multiple and dynamic relationships throughout life. As it highlights the varying connections between lovers, neighbours and friends, viewers are reminded of the 50s normality of gender roles, the feeling of community and isolation, and marriage.
Rear Window tackles the restraints of gender roles in the 50s and explores the toxic masculinity displayed when women are empowered. Hitchcock emphasises this through the couple Jeff and Lisa, who are consistently in disagreement. “Let’s face it, Lisa… you aren’t made for that kind of life. Few people are.” This is said to reiterate the fact that Jeff believes Lisa, because she is a woman, should not and is not cut out for his line of work. Lisa is, however, adamant to prove him wrong. The 50s were a time when women were considered less skilled in fields of work. During the war, however, women took up many jobs that men were in. Once the men came back, their masculinity was threatened by the rising era of women working.
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Jeff is a main contributor to the fact, aside from his broken leg, we don’t see him interacting with the community other than spying on them. His interactions are only true with two characters, Lisa and Stella. Miss Lonelyhearts dinner for two and the Mr Thorwalds closed-off nature. “You don’t know the meaning of the word “neighbour”.” This moment, when the dog is killed, shows the neighbours as they watch, onlook, but don’t do anything. This is what Hitchcock wants to show. Even though they are neighbours, they do nothing but watch each other as events unfold and rarely do anything about it. Community and the feeling of isolation are reminders of the relationship that neighbours have with each
These towns, each with its unique characteristics and inhabitants, serve as a microcosm of society. They reflect the diversity and complexity of human nature, with people who are flawed, kind, helpful, and accepting. Through their interactions with the people in these small towns, Emily and Sloan experience the power of human connection and kindness. They learn that true identity transcends labels and appearances, and it is the genuine connections and relationships that bring out the best in
Women had to take on the men’s jobs because they left to go fight in the war. Women’s fashion choices had to change to accommodate their needs because of their new jobs. Their lifestyles changed as a result of the war. Women realized that the deserved more than what they were getting. They were doing the same jobs and they wanted equal pay and equal rights.
hurt with Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bill Murray in the comedy Caddyshack, and see life from the eyes of mob henchmen, Tom Hanks, in the crime and gangster film Road to Perdition. American cinema has used Alfred Hitchcock to create fear for many years like it was displayed in the horror film Psycho, has allowed us to sing in dance with the cast in the musical Chicago, and check out, momentarily, from reality in many science fiction films. American cinema has taken us back in time as we rode horse-back with our western heroes John Wayne and Clint Eastwood or put on the badge with the brothers of the law in Tombstone. Some of the greatest impacts from the world of cinema have been from films that covered war.
“Another reason, the simplest, the ugliest, was that this hitherto peaceful congregation of neighbors and old friends had suddenly to endure the unique experience of distrusting each other; understandably, they believed that the murder was among themselves…” (pg. 88) Holcomb have been described as a town out in the countryside in which everyone knew each other. Before the murders of the Clutter family, there was a sense of security and comfort among the people of Holcomb. The significance of this quote shows the people’s loss of innocence and the sheltered lifestyle they once had. After the tragedy, they are forced to realize the true nature of humans.
What all weird neighbors share in common is that they are acting “weird” to the standards of society. In this society having books is considered strange and illegal. Beatty, one of the firemen tries to convince the woman to leave the house by telling her "You know the law," said Beatty. "Where's your common sense? None of those books agree with each other.
That was because, in the late 1950s, the only people that were supposed to work were men. The intention that men got was to do the incomes and taxes and bring wealth to the family. But women were just looked at as helpers for their husbands. This is why women wanted to do more with their life than be seen as a housewife by the world. Women wanted more advantages than men because they
Capote hints at the change in this neighborhood through foreshadowing, he also emphasizes it through the repetition of the word strange. This town is losing the normality that it had and it isn’t just neighbors becoming strangers to each other but the town becoming a stranger to its occupants. In a time of need where they should be able to lean on each other to heal they will feel as though they can’t trust anyone, a message that Capote works into every bit of the book because he saw how the town didn’t only lose the Clutter family but they lost the trust they had in their town until the case was
While the 1920’s and 1950’s have many things in common, there are also a lot of differences. While in the 1920’s America was in isolationism to try and avoid the war, they were also providing more job opportunities for women. While also facing the issue of prohibition that started in 1920. In the duration of the 1950’s America was involved in many world affairs, and caused women to lose or quit their jobs due to veterans coming home and the political trend being a stay - at - home mother. Civil rights movements are also going on during this time period.
In addition, the book makes a bold statement about the breach of trust that can occur when a violent crime strikes a small community. In the small community of Holcomb, the breach of trust occurs solely when the Clutter family was murdered. The Clutter family was thought of very highly throughout their community, and most everyone was extremely fond of their company, so it was an enormous shock that a family that felt so safe and secure would endure this kind of tragedy. For example, in the text it states,"But afterward the townspeople, therefore sufficiently unfearful of each other to seldom trouble to lock their doors, found fantasy re-creating them over and again-those somber explosions that stimulated fires of mistrust in the glare of which many old neighbors viewed each other strangely, and as strangers." ( Capote 5).
Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock is a fillm full of symbolism and motifs that provides viewers with a bigger meaning. It shows these rhetorical appeals through Hitchcok’s eyes that would not be recognized if not analyzed. Through these appeals I have recognized the window as being a symbol and marriage and binoculars as motifs. After understanding much more than what the eye anitially sees when viewing this film there is a fine line between understanding what is going on in the film and observing what the protagonist Jeff is viewing.
Women in the 1960s were expected to work in the kitchen and stay at home to clean. Regardless of the major change between now and then, it was normal. Many women thought this was unfair and wished they were much
1. Introduction Rear Window is a 1954 crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on the novel by James M. Cain. The film stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly and tells the story of a man who is blackmailed into spying on his neighbours through their windows. The film is characterised by its visual narrative, which uses a variety of camera angles and movements to create a sense of suspense. Conflict and resolution are also important elements of the film, and it is set in a claustrophobic setting that contributes to the feeling of paranoia.
Alfred Hitchcock 's Rear Window explores the lives of those who feel isolated within society. The 1954 film, set in the tenements of Grenwich village, depicts those who are incapable of fitting into society 's expectations, as well as those who feel isolated from common interaction with others. Moreover, Hitchcock displays how its human nature to seek comfort and deeper connection even with those who are surrounded by others. Despite depicting characters as lonely, the progression of the film illustrates how individuals can be freed from isolation. The director asserts the loneliness and struggle that comes from fitting into social mores.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window has several themes. One major theme is relationships. The lead character, Jeff Jeffries, a photographer and committed bachelor, is involved in a relationship with Lisa Fremont, a model, although the relationship has some tension due to Jeff’s lack of commitment. When Jeff is confined to his apartment recovering from a broken leg, he begins spying through his rear window on his neighbors in a nearby apartment. Through her frequent visits, Lisa is drawn into this spying as well.
The film has one main set and this aids to the audience’s exclusive identification with L. B. Jeffries. The set of the entire film is in Jeffries’ apartment, which creates a bias towards the character’s world. The only character, whose life we are actively inside of is that of L. B. Jeffries, and that’s evident because we are in his apartment looking outside of his window, and relating to his perceptions about what’s going on in the set around him. The set creates a restricted atmosphere to the world beyond Jeffries’ apartment and back courtyard. As an audience, the only pieces of the set