The practice of voyeurism is a debatable subject often criticized negatively for its perverted motives. Yet, through both Woolrich’s “It had to be murder” and its film adaptation Rear Window, the reader can be led to see a celebration of voyeurism rather than a critique. Jeffries is indeed given the most reasonable excuses to stalk his neighbours as his cast takes away his freedom of movement and the murder he tries to solve also gives him more reasons to spy on his neighbours. However, Jeff is greatly saved from being entitled as a Peeping Tom by the coincidence of Thorwald’s wife’s murder. As a matter of a fact, the timing in which Jeff is stuck in a cast and the woman is murder is nothing but a coincidence, neither Hitchcock nor Woolrich
The hunt for the Clutters’ killers, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, mesmerized the nation and left a lasting impact in Kansas, drawing journalists from across the country to the rural outpost on the Kansas prairie (Huffington Post). An unremarkable New York Times article, which was considerably small and short, at approximately 300 words, grabbed viewers and drew the audience. The column reported the Clutter family murder in the tiny farm town of Holcomb, Kansas on the Great Plains. “Popular headlines surrounding the Clutter family murders were often along the lines of ‘Wealthy Farmer, 3 Of Family Slain” with a photo of Herb Clutter which left residents in shock and dismay that a horrific crime marred the serene and presumably safe landscapes
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.
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.
Rear Window Argues that people should mind their own business. Do you agree? Rear Window, a 1954 romance/murder-mystery by the renowned golden age director Alfred Hitchcock, is a film that explores a multitude of themes and genres through the voyeuristic gaze of protagonist L.B. Jefferies. Jefferies, or ‘Jeff’ as he commonly known throughout the film, is a middle-aged bachelor recently hospitalised due to his high-risk career as a photojournalist. This hindered condition serves as an important foundation on which the movie is built upon as Jeff’s forced lifestyle being in a wheelchair causes an abrupt stop in his usual high intensity way of life and causes him to quench his boredom in other ways, predominantly watching the other residents in his apartment complex through the ‘rear window’ of his apartment.
Alfred Hitchcock successfully performs suspense and shock in a number of ways. One way was when he reveals that the cop is following her, making us think that he found out concerning the money she stole. Another way is when we see Norman staring through the hole, examining her as if he is waiting to make his move. The last technique that Hitchcock constructed suspense is when we identify a shadowy character gazing at her take a shower, making us wonder who it could
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.
With Rear Window (1954), Alfred Hitchcock proved himself to be one of the best directors of suspense thrillers filled with mystery and humour. He himself called the film his most cinematic one because it was told only in visual terms (Morrow), but it was also a challenging “editing experiment” as the entire film was shot from one place, Jeff’s apartment that overlooked his backyard. The Film follows L.B. Jeffries “Jeff” (James Stewart), a photographer confined to a wheelchair in his apartment after breaking his leg at work. He spends his days watching his neighbours and eventually suspects that one of them killed his wife. His caretaker, his girlfriend Lisa and his detective friend, at first unconvinced of his suspicion, eventually join him in his voyeurism and help him to solve the crime.
The idea of similarities among all people, an underlying connection, is expressed by Hitchcock when Lisa in Rear Window argues with Jefferies, saying, “There can't be that much difference between people and the way they live! We all eat, talk, drink, laugh, sleep, wear clothes --“. When she says this, Lisa has a lamp light shining from the upper right side of the screen to indicate the truth of her argument. There is also an instance in Rear Window where the ability to understand a person sprouts empathy. Jefferies is sitting in the dark, after Lisa leaves angry, when the piano man comes home.
Deviance and Transgression In the little narrative “The Man Who Knew Belle Starr”, author Richard Bausch provides the reader with a thrilling suspense story that takes an unexpected turn of events. In Bausch’s story “The Man Who Knew Belle Starr” the actions of the characters can be understood in terms of Chris Jenks’ theory of transgression as well as sociological theories of deviance featured in Debra Marshall’s video “Crime and Deviance: A Sociological Perspective.” While both characters are both deviant and criminal, Belle Starr demonstrates agency and coherence in her violations against the law making her a proper transgressor; in contrast McRae’s un-reflexive and immature behavior separates him from a transgressor The story starts
The Boarded Window - A short story written by Ambrose Bierce was acclaimed for its sudden and surprise ending. It was meant for contemporary audiences who could relate to bizarre forms of death and the horror of existence in the real world. His literary reputation also lied on such short stories which had reference to super natural elements. This story deals with a man whose life completely changed after the happening of a bizarre event. He had loved his wife a lot that her death turned him around.
In the film Rear Window, the director, Alfred Hitchcock uses a variety of techniques to create suspense and leave viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the film. Hitchcock uses a good assortment of tempo to create thoughts in the viewer's mind. He slows down the pace to create anticipation, and speeds it up to show a change in intensity. In the ending scene of Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock uses changes in pace and tempo, lighting, and a short term deadline to constitute an immense atmosphere of suspense in the viewer's mind.
The film reflects on the fact that the audience assumes the role of voyeurs to the screen exhibition because it plays on emotion through the character of Hugo and his
She argues that the act of moviegoing satisfies these voyeuristic desires in people. She writes, “The mass of mainstream film portray a hermetically sealed world which unwinds magically, indifferent to the presence of the audience, producing for them a sense of separation and playing on their voyeuristic fantasy,” (pg. 186). In this essay, I will further discuss her viewpoints on cinema and voyeurism, and how it connects to the film Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock. Rear Window is a film that follows the
In all his work, from his first films in the United Kingdom to his last American films, Alfred Hitchcock has produced an own style that has influenced, consequently, not only in the rest of the filmmakers but also in society. As shown in the Exhibition HITCHCOCK, BEYOND THE SUSPENSE
Anthony Minghella’s film ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ is a psychological thriller that deals with the charming yet manipulative Tom Ripley who is sent to Italy to retrieve the rich, spoiled playboy Dickie Greenleaf. Through clever manipulation of symbols such as mirrors/reflection and clothing, the audience is invited to explore a central theme in the film, being the dangers and consequences of living life a lie. Through the use of these symbols, Minghella provides the audience with a compelling view of what similarities can be drawn from the film and modern day society Mirrors and reflection were one of the key symbols that the director employs to magnify the pivotal theme of the dangers of living a lie. The first example where we see this