How does Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ construct representations of gender (referring to mise-en-scene, editing, sounds and camera angles.
Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was a British film director and producer and created many different techniques including suspense and psychological approaches for the thriller genre. By this he gained a successful career in both silent and early talkies. Hitchcock decided to move to Hollywood to gain a different experience in film. Hitchcock constructed himself as a very distinctive but recognisable directorial style mainly using the idea of hydroid genre using a mix of different genres to create a unique and different film. He created the use of a cameras made to move in such a way that mimics a person, this focused the audience in such a way that engages the audience in a form of voyeurism. He created his shots to maximise the feeling of anxiety, fear and empathy and used innovative film editing which was widely used by other directors. Many of Hitchcock’s films have twisted endings and thrilling plots featuring murder, violence and crime. Hitchcock directed more than fifty films over his six decades and was named one of the greatest film makers of all times. ‘Psycho’ is a 1960 American thriller film directed by Hitchcock himself. The film depicts the encounter between a secretary (Marion crane) hiding at an abandoned motel after stealing forty thousand pound from her employer. And the motels disturbed manager (Norman bates) and the after mouth of his encounter.
The use of mise-en-scene in the first scene reflects the idea of the blinds being closed which resembles the idea of unknowing. This could resemble the secrets kept or the privacy exposed and the use of exploring the idea of behind blinds the idea of isolation and being trapped, and how both sexes are dominant here and both are in control. The use of the two shot implies the intensity of the convosation and how the couple are foreshowed as intimate. The use of the zoom into the window reflects the foreshowing of the idea of being trapped and not being in control of what is going to happen. The opening of the thriller uses non-diegetic sounds the use of the sharp and disturbing sounds suggest that the characters are on edge and are not in control and will foreshow what is going to happen.
The use of the window only being half open here suggest the typical technique Hitchcock would use to hide as much away from the viewer as possible. The close-up of the money suggests the idea of suspense, greed and temptation and put us as the audience in the situation of how we would react. Us knowing that Marion is a female character we sympathise with her as we know that through other influences we know she is a troubled and trapped character. The use of the shot reverse shot used in the convosation of talking about a possible marriage between both characters this creates the idea of the tense mood and the typical stereotype of a female figure being a zombie bride and the typical male figure being relcutive against any possible marriage. This is reflected by the use of the stuttering tone and agitated front he puts forward.
The use the diegetic sounds accompanies the foreshadowing of the stabbing motion of the death of Marion later in the film. The use of the contrast between Marion wearing the white clothing at work here resembles her innocence and feminine charisma whereas with the contrast when she is on the run she is placed in darker clothing here this could resemble her change of personality from a typical women to an un-lady like character as she is now a criminal which reflects her guilty condense. The use of the pan of the angle shot across the open town and landscape represents the idea of now her identity has been snapped from her as we associate a criminal as a male gangster not a typical American secretary.
The use of the long pauses in between the shots suggests the comfort ability and in terminates attraction between Marion and Sam. The shot of Sam opening the blinds suggest the idea of the male sex being dominant and the use of the diegetic sounds suggest what is going to foreshow. The police man is wearing glasses the use of this could resemble the idea of not allowing anyone to know who he is, this idea reflects the idea of hiding his identity. The use of the shot reflects the idea of us as the audience point of view as if we are watching her. Her vulnerability as a woman shows through and the idea of chaos and suspense is unravelled. The use of non-diegetic sounds represents her mind and what is trying to convey what is going to happen and the idea of her panicking because what she has done is against what a typical lady would not do. The diegetic tone here mimics her personality and creates the idea of danger is always on the horizon.
The use of mid shot, to close-up to extreme close-up resembles her as a women, the use of the zoom reflects the idea of weakness, and how women were seen during this era, here we sympathise with Marion as us as an audience we are put in the perspective of the watching her, this makes us feel very uncomfortable and therefore thrown into feeling sorry for Marion, although she has done wrong, we still feel sorry for her as she is portrayed as a innocent, confused lady. The use of zoom reflects on the idea of the closer the shot becomes the closer the police man is to finding out why Marion is acting suspicious, this is reflected by the over the shoulder shot of Marion as we feel as if we are in the car with her, and as a audience because we are put in the position of knowing what she has done, the use of the over the shoulder shot here reflects the guilt we feel.
The use of the over should shot with the sales man could symbolically show that when you are in vision with her face her background is dark, closed in and cramped this could suggest that she is trapped. The idea of the sales mans over the shoulder shot contrasts as his is open, light and this could suggest his freedom. The close-up and confidence of Marion shows she is in control and then the change of atmosphere creates chaos as the rain takes the power away from her.
During the film, Hitchcock places the view of Marion in the mirror, this suggest that she is always being watched. This reflects on the idea of Norman being attracted to her as she is seen through the mirror as an innocent beauty. When you associate a mirror, we think of vanity this could link in with the idea that we cannot see the scene directly we can only see it through the mirror, as an audience they are unaware we are in visible sight of seeing what is going on. Through the mirror we see Marion as an innocent character and for a moment we forget why she is running away, because of the character she uses towards Norman the motel owner is a sweet, homely lady. The use of the tense quick cross cut here reflects on the idea of reminding the audience of the reality, she is a criminal on the run. This is reflected through the use of the camera moving closer to the face, showing Marion become more and more uncomfortable, the use of the 180 degree rule links in with the idea of making us as an audience also feel uncomfortable as they are unaware we are watching them. The use of the rain conveys the diegetic sound as the rain is seen as uncomfortable and annoying the idea of over-powering as Marion here feels comfortable, the use of foreshadowing is used throughout. The use of the mise-en-scene here suggests that the rain is chaotic and becomes a blurred vision for Marion. This makes us uncomfortable as we know, that from now on her life will become a blurred vision.
The use of the mise-en-scene when Norman is choosing what key to give Marion, he goes to select the third key, down to the second key and then chooses the first key finally. This reflects the idea of a countdown on how long Marion will have left. This reflects on the idea that three is a unlucky number, two is a even number and therefore could feel lucky. He then moves to the first one, he claims ‘it’s the closest’.
The crow above Marion’s head is used to constantly watch her, it is lead to believe that she is in control, but the bird will always dominate her. The idea of the crow being the leader of the pack. This conflicts with the idea of male vs. female. The idea of moving of the camera here could suggest the idea of death and the idea of Marion will become what the bird is, nothing. The use of the zooming closer could resemble that Marion is Norman’s prey, the use of the non-diegetic sounds when Marion mentions the mental institute for his mother, Norman becomes angry and therefore because the sounds does not match the feelings of Norman the feeling of uncertainty arises.
The use of the low angle shot of Marion reflects on the idea of her feeling as if she is in control and making her believe. The use of the mise-en-scene of the candle could be symbolic reflecting the idea of a countdown of her life, as the candle will eventually burn out, this reflects on the idea of foreboding. The use of the light reflecting onto Marion here suggests her innocence and the shadow on Norman here suggest the conflict between good vs. evil. The idea of the naked pictures of the ladies on the wall, are shown here conflicts with the idea of Norman’s fascination with Marion, the idea of putting the undressing scene of Norman watching Marion through a hole undress, puts us as an audience of the edge, as we are put in the perspective of a murder. The idea of watching someone undress is uneasy and therefore makes us feel uncomfortable. The use of mise-en-scene presents to us that Norman is the sinister one.
His mother is referred to as a stuffed bird, this could resemble what type of character Norman is as he presents women as a bird, this reflects on the time period that ‘psycho’ was produced in. the use of the bird shot of the showing of the wings covering the lights reflect him here as a male as he is seen as a predator.
The book is always open the use of mise-en-scene here suggest his intelligence and how he looks so innocent, and vulnerable but how the idea of contrast between innocence and him always being one step ahead. Marion signs her name in the book as ‘Samuels’ but her last name is ‘Crane’ a crane is a bird, and therefore suggests that she is going to be a predator for Norman with his obsession for birds. The idea of Marion being a predator for Norman suggests the idea of women being a predator for men. The lack of respect shown for women here suggests the era.
The use of the show scene makes us feel uncomfortable as the shower is a personal place, us as an audience feel as if we are intruding upon her. The use of the shadow in the background reflecting on the tiles suggests the foreshadowing of what is going to happen. the use of the shot only revealing half of her fingers suggest the idea of only half of her is alive, as she is not whole as she is dying, the position we are put in as a audience only reveals a mid-shot, Marion’s body is not central in the shot this conflicts the idea of disorientation and the idea of us as an audience we are invading her personal space, this reflects on the idea of the shower scene as if we are intruding upon her. The use of the dissolve from the plug-hole to her eye could suggest the idea of voyeurism; we are therefore placed into Norman’s position, as if we are watching her. The use of the transition between the shots reflects on the idea of religion and death. The use of the diegetic sounds of the ‘dun dun’ reflects the idea of her heartbeat slowing down as if her heart is giving up, the use of the camera following the blood go down the drain could be symbolic for her life fading away. The use of the vulnerable shot of her curled up, makes us feel as an audience sorry and uncomfortable for her as she is a lady, naked and dead on the floor, this makes us feel uneasy.
There are constant moments of Norman looking submissive this reflects on the idea of his mother being confide in the house and Marion is dead, and the constant battle between male and female as he is trying to sustain the dominant role as in control. The use of the verbal spiring of the detective and Norman. The idea of the detective is winning as Norman portrays himself as a nervous wreck.
The idea of the door opening and light coming from the door reflects the idea of showing hope, the use of the contradiction here suggest that nothing good will happen, the use of the lace curtains placed in the house could suggest that Norman is family man, and the idea of keeping his mother there reflects this. Norman is constantly seen as chewing, when someone chews we would associate nerves. Norman presents himself as a panical character, and therefore not a dominant male. The use of the colour of clothing for norman from the typical dark colours then the contrast to white is a subliminal message for Hitchcock that something is going to change. The idea of Norman believing that he is winning. The use of the non-diegetic sounds of the harsh sound and then the quick switch to the diegetic sound of the detective being stabbed could suggest the idea of Hitchcock playing with the structure of the film, as this was not meant to happen and the idea of being out of control is portrayed.
When Marion’s sister and Sam arrive, they enter the room Marion was murdered in the use of the light in the bathroom, represents the idea of religious connotations and how she is now an angel and the idea of heaven and hell, the idea of hell conflicts the motel. The use of the doorway which separates Norman and same presents the power struggle between Sam and Norman but Sam is closer to the camera and therefore could suggest that he as a male is in more control and therefore throughout the novel Norman is seen as a weak male figure which could reflect on the idea that he was trying to be the father and husband his father never was, and his obsession with women, which reflects the idea of that is why he wanted to stuff his mother and keep her ‘still alive’.