Description |
256 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm |
Contents |
1. Introduction: Dial "M" for Mother: A Freudian Hitchcock -- 2. Sometimes a Cigar is not Just a Cigar: Shadow of a Doubt -- 3. Cast-ration by the Rear Window -- 4. NTILEVER: Vertigo -- 5. ROT in North by Northwest -- 6. Disrespectful Respectabilties: Psycho -- 7. The End of the World: The Birds -- 8. A Mother's Love: Marnie -- 9. Pota-toes: Frenzy -- 10. Afterword: Other Hitchcock Films |
Summary |
"Dial "M" for Mother: A Freudian Hitchcock is an analysis of a number of Hitchcock's major films - Shadow of a Doubt, Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, and Frenzy - from a distinctly Freudian psychoanalytical perspective that explores the latent, psychosexual meaning of Hitchcock's films. Although a number of issues dealing with psychoanalysis are considered (primary narcissism, dreams, the uncanny, and Oedipus complex, etc.), the primary focus here is on the figure of the mother and her various surrogates (e.g., Freud's "Madonna/Harlot" theory)." |
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"The book is primarily concerned with the latent content that explains not only the relation of the various parts of any one film, but the relation of the various Hitchcock films to each other. Building on the important, related work of feminist film criticism, this book argues for a middle position between those who would denounce Hitchcock's view of women and those who would celebrate his strong female protagonists by arguing that these women are functions of a strong mother image that is central to all aspects of the director's work, and the reason for its uniquely comic, violent, and pessimistic worldview."--BOOK JACKET |
Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 248-252) and index |
Subject |
Hitchcock, Alfred, 1899-1980 -- Criticism and interpretation.
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Motion pictures -- Psychological aspects.
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LC no. |
2007032749 |
ISBN |
9780838641330 (alk. paper) |
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