Hitchcock as philosopher / Robert J. Yanal.

Yanal, Robert J. .

Hitchcock as philosopher / Robert J. Yanal. 0786422815 (softcover : alk. paper) series Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., c2005.
Call#: Van Pelt Library PN1998.3.H58 Y36 2005

Hitchcock as Philosopher, by Robert J. Yanal, examines a number of Alfred Hitchcock's works in the context of psychological and philosophical themes. The book particularly addresses 12 significant works, chosen for their depictions of complex and detailed characters. Through thoughtful examination, the director's films use these characters to reveal "general truths" about how and why people act the way that they do. After an introductory chapter, the content is divided into three distinct sections, each of which addresses a particular philosophical topic. These areas are "Deception," "Mind," and "Knowledge." Within each section, one chapter is spent introducing the philosophical subject, and the remaining chapters are devoted to interpreting a particular film. Throughout the book, Yanal uses comparisons to such important philosophers as Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Wittengenstein, explaining their individual contributions to philosophy in the process. In summary, this is a book devoted to showing how Hitchcock's works, besides serving as mere entertainment, are thoughtful presentations of philosophical beliefs.

Rear Window is the subject of Chapter 13, the first chapter in the section on "Knowledge." The chapter primarily addresses the moral complexity of the film's main characters. The two connected major topics of this section are the ethics of peeping and the value of marriage. However, the conclusion of the chapter presents the important counterargument to the idea that the film is reflective in its attempt to comment on the audience's own voyeurism. Yanal points out that while Jeff is watching "real" people who value their privacy, the audience is aware that they are actually only watching actors who are meant to be observed. However, the author does accept the fact that the audience is meant to be excited by the possibility of murder. In that sense, Jeff and Lisa are analogous to film-goers, seeking exhilaration in a situation where one should really be hoping that no crime has been committed.

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Hitchcock as philosopher / Robert J. Yanal.