Psycho - Scene Analysis

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Scene Analysis Shower scene - Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock Choose ONE sequence from ONE film studied on the module; then choose ONE reading (article or chapter) considered on the module. Analyse the sequence using the theoretical approach presented in the reading, explaining how the chosen theory enriches an understanding of the film in question. The shower scene from Psycho is one of the most renowned scenes in the history of cinema. With Alfred Hitchcock’s direction we come across some splendid camera movements and techniques which will be discussed in detailed analysis in this essay including V.F. Perkin’s reading based on Psycho in suggestion of the Montage theory alongside the help of Carol J. Clover’s essay “Her Body/ Himself” suggesting similar to the Feminist theories of framework for horror films. As the feminist film theory suggests, “While male victims in horror films may shudder and scream as well, it has long been a dictum of the genre that women make the best victims. “Torture the women!” was the famous advice given by Alfred Hitchcock.” The infamous shower scene from Psycho begins with Marion (Janet Leigh) flushing away the calculations of the money she had stolen. As she takes of her robe and steps into the bath a medium shot is maintained with constant close ups of the shower itself creating noise of constant flow of water which forbids viewers to hear any other sounds and pay attention to it. Marion stands in the shower purifying herself, washing away the sins, with the shower curtain in her background while she seems as a very minor element of the scene; our attention is grabbed towards the shower curtain where a shadow appears slowly as the noise of the door is blocked out on purpose due to the noise caused by the shower. The shower curtain plays a very important role in this scene as it is being used not only as a prop, but now a motif.
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