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Hitchcock Objects: As Subjects of Desire and Horror

Howard Blair

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Published in Hitchcock S Objects As Subjects: The Significance Of Things On Screen

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Hitchcock's Objects as Subjects: The Significance of Things on Screen

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3767 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	204 pages

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time. His films are known for their suspense, their psychological depth, and their visual style. But one of the most striking things about Hitchcock's films is his use of objects.

Objects are not merely props in Hitchcock's films. They are central to their meaning and effect. Hitchcock uses objects to create a sense of atmosphere, to build suspense, and to reveal the characters' inner lives.

In his new book, Hitchcock Objects: As Subjects of Desire and Horror, film scholar David Bordwell examines the role of objects in Hitchcock's films. Bordwell argues that objects are not merely inanimate things in Hitchcock's films. They are active participants in the narrative, and they often have a profound impact on the characters' lives.

Bordwell discusses a wide range of objects in Hitchcock's films, from the mundane (a glass of milk) to the iconic (the shower curtain in Psycho). He shows how Hitchcock uses objects to create a sense of unease, to build suspense, and to reveal the characters' inner lives.

For example, in Vertigo, the titular object is a painting of a woman named Madeleine. The painting is both a source of desire and a source of horror for the film's protagonist, John "Scottie" Ferguson. Scottie is obsessed with the painting, and he becomes increasingly unhinged as he tries to find the woman who inspired it.

The painting is a powerful symbol of Scottie's desire for Madeleine. It is also a symbol of his fear of women and his inability to accept reality. The painting is both beautiful and terrifying, and it ultimately leads to Scottie's downfall.

Bordwell's book is a fascinating and insightful look at the role of objects in Hitchcock's films. He shows how Hitchcock uses objects to create a sense of atmosphere, to build suspense, and to reveal the characters' inner lives. Hitchcock Objects is a must-read for anyone who is interested in Hitchcock's films or in the role of objects in film.

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Hitchcock Objects: As Subjects of Desire and Horror is available now from all major booksellers. Free Download your copy today and immerse yourself in the world of Hitchcock's objects.

Hitchcock's Objects as Subjects: The Significance of Things on Screen

5 out of 5