Psycho Film Oral and Assessment

Self-Evaluation

I think I deserve a 16-20 on my piece. My actual grade would probably be around a 16 or 17. I think I spoke clearly and loud but there were many flaws in the piece such as awkward silences and stuttering and the many uses of "umm.." and "uh..." to be honest. When I was speaking I think I hit all the points I wanted to but I felt rushed at times because I knew there were specific topics I absolutely had to talk about. I think my analysis of my extract was fairly detailed. I went into some insight about what actually happens in the scene and why, in my opinion, it was chosen to be incorporated in the film. I think I talked about some topics better than others and these lesser ones were more vague and didn't sound as professional. I went into detail about the historical part of the film as well and through this I hit on some of the sociocultural points in my notes. This was a great experience and I learned a lot from it.

Kim's Evaluation

I definitely think Kim's piece deserved a 21-25 on the higher end of the rubric. It was presented really really well and it was very coherent and easy to understand  She hit on all the points she needed to and I actually learned a lot from it. I liked how she knew what she was saying and she sounded very insightful in this response. It had excellent analysis from when Marion in the film purchases her car to the time when she "stumbles on the Bates motel". She explores the casting and how Hitchcock wanted to include blondes as sympathetic and pure characters in his films. She talks about symbols such as the highway in her oral and the importance of characterization and once again she is very intelligent about the small details in her piece. She talks about the lighting in the scene and how it can be symbolic of Marion's character as well. She talk about the individual shots in the scene and also the musical scores and sound effects with a ton of insight about them. Overall, her analysis was excellent and I hope to be able to speak like her when it comes time for my oral Senior year.

Narrative and Film Extract

Psycho is constructed in a linear narrative pattern with touches of a uniqueness within the story. Psycho is organized by plot sequence. The film is based primarily on cause and effect. We see an event such as Ms. Crane stealing the money, then we see the consequences of it and her motives and what she plans on doing in the future. This example of a MacGuffins helps to propel the plot and these shots are part of the films most interesting scene where she is running away. It is also based on time sequence because we never jump to flashbacks or the past other than when Norman tells us of his past. The way in which Alfred Hitchcock presents this order of events is really interesting because of the events that happen in his characters lives. For example, Marion Crane is killed very early in the story. For me it was actually like two movies joined together, one being a sequel to the first. When she is killed, the protagonist eventually dies and the rest of the story is very entertaining which was was not common in this era. Foreshadowing plays a large role in the movie. I found some quotes that highlight foreshadowing, after a second time of seeing the movie, are “We all go a little mad sometimes,” “A boys best friend is his mother,” and “I must have one of those faces you can't help believing". All of these quotes serve to help the reader create thoughts about the present and use these hints to learn more about what happens later on in the story. Also, there is the famous example of the bird scene when Marion and Bates first meet at the motel. 


The nature of the our engagement with the story is very interesting because Hitchcock is able to create such a reaction that it impacts the viewer. This is truly evident in the character Norman bates who is the owner and operator of the Bates motel. This is where Marion stops the night during her escape because she has been driving for countless hours and there is a storm on the same night. When we meet Norman, Hitchcock creates sympathy for him because he is a lonely character. Also, we are told that the poor guy lives with his “mother”. What could be worse than that? He is very courteous and shows a lot of respect and kindness towards his newly introduced guest. He  For example, the audience can build sympathy for the character of psychotic murderer Norman Bates. He talks very politely and shy and we gain a sense of trust in him and we know nothing can possibly be wrong in this character. But soon we realize that is exactly the case. We see his attraction towards Marion when he asks her if she would like to spend the night with him and have dinner together. Then we learn about his darker side when the shocking murder, well not really shocking to the audience of the time because Hitchcock was known widely for his thriller films, takes place. After this, there are many hints that tell us more about his true identity such as his obsession with birds and taxidermy. We also learn about his mother who is really him in the end. He has literally gone psycho and has mental problems which allow him to think he has two different personalities  within his single scrawny body.

 
The casting and the nature of the relationships in the film can be explored in the film's narrative and themes. The casting was very important in the film. Hitchcock used Norman’s seemingly innocent and shy character for a reason which was to create suspense and make that final twist when we realize who the actual murderer is. Yes, its the mama’s boy people. Marion and her really friendly man friend were used to show the motive for the escape. She saw an opportunity to be with him and help him out so she stole the $40,000 dollars from her boss and took off. She switched cars and then she was free. She lands at this motel, and eventually is killed there. Hitchcock wanted to use a working woman so she could be related to in the audience which would make the story more realistic. Also, the casting of the mother was very important. Even though there were no actual scenes or shots with her character incorporated, her presence was very important to the understanding of the film. Hitchcock himself, as shown in the documentary we had the pleasure of viewing in class, didn’t tell the rest of his crew about this during the production! Her character relates to the ongoing theme of lying and these absurd psychological behaviors shown in Norman Bates.

Socio-Cultural Influences in Psycho

Socio-Cultural Influences in Psycho

1. What do the film's themes say about the culture it's part of?

The themes within the film Psycho are numerous. It has become Alfred Hitchcock's most famous and valuable film and the culture it belongs to is that of America during the time period when it was made and intended to be set in. The themes revolved around central issues in this era and setting. One of these themes would be the use of money in society and its impact on characters and people of this era. It also serves to highlight the negative social events and even violent ones. Murders in the period were at an all time high due to a hike in taxes and a need for capital. Also, psychological illnesses such as the one portrayed in the movie are real and they exist today. This has to do with sexuality which poses a strong role for many ideologies and organizations and groups today. It is a very controversial issue and should be dealt with more efficiently.

2. What is the film's geographical and historical context?

The films geographical context is entirely within California and Arizona. The film was meant to be shot on just a studio area. He constructed the studio sets exactly how he envisioned the ending product of the movie. He wanted to put the characters in controlled environment as well. The hotel and house where the character Norman Bates lived and managed were on a set in Los Angeles. Paramount studios had given him a space where he could fully undergo this project. Remember, Paramount was the first and only studio to think his film could be a success so they assisted him in the distribution and screening of the film. The establishing scenes were set in a hotel in Arizona. The car dealership was the only scene other than the previous one I mentioned that incorporated the aspects and authenticity of the time period because it was actually physically at the location rather than on a studio set. The film was very low budget although it raked in many millions of dollars. This efficiency led to other filmmakers to use the tactics Hitchcock used in his films.

3. What big questions does the film address?

The film addresses the questions created by the themes in the film that relate to the culture it is in. It answers the questions about greed and dishonesty and other immoral acts such as lying and stealing.  Mr. Cassidy loses his fortune and he is very careless about them. Also it reveals that these immoral acts are faced with serious consequences that can be as monumental as the initial act of negativity. Marion is killed and through this we know that she died because of her previous acts. It also brings the issue of violence and psychological disorders, which is evident in the actual title of the film. In the issue of lying, it is shown that the truth will find its way out in some shape or form even in the most detailed and elaborate lies that may seem to work at the beginning.

4. How does the film add to the ongoing discourse?

Psycho was made in a time period when there was controversial issues revolving around censorship. The film and many films made in this era incorporated some aspects that were not known regularly to be in film. Some ideologies were not accepted and some things, based on their acceptance into society and the audience, were not shown in film. Psycho incorporated violent murders, although the actual stabbing was not entirely shown. It did depict a hand and blood spewing and then occasional shots of a screaming, squirming woman inside of a bathtub. These shots were put together to show that the woman was being killed without showing the actual violent act being committed. This did, however, cause much controversy and today it is one of the most famous and referred to part of the movie. Hitchcock also used some nudity in the film when Marion is in a bra. This idea was not all that common and society wasn't very accepting of it. In the documentary we also learn that Hitchcock was very fearful of the police. So this “dangerous” aspect was included in the film to add more suspense through the chase scene. After the film was made, people could do anything they wanted with film. Due to his previous fame and reputation, he was already allowed to pass through the censorship laws.

5. Where does it fall in the evolution of the genre? Primitive/Classic/Revisionist/Parody

I believe Psycho is a classic film in the evolution of genre. It has the techniques and aspects that are respectful to the genre. It has incorporated both old and new ideas and the entire work is done so well and truly is a masterpiece. The film incorporates an incredible amount of detail and perfection. st film Historians define classic films as those created when the Studio System was in place, that received high recognition. The film was made during the studio years, so it can be classified as a classic. This was when actors were signed with exclusive contracts that limited them to work for a specific company only. It also continues to receive great recognition and opinions  from great critics.

6. What is the film’s socio-cultural context?

The film Psycho was a monumental film. It created a new ideology within the film industry and also resolved, or went against the censorship bans and issues with what should be put in film in the era. Hitchcock influenced many other directors in the making of the film. It addresses issues that were in the American society. An example would be the issues of violence and love and psychological issues with some people. It reflected a lot on the society to which it belonged.

Sources

http://www.classicfilmguide.com/
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Psycho_(1960_film).html

Hitchcock Historical and Institutional Influences

Hitchcock Historical and Institutional Influences

1. What are the institutional factors that may be important?
a. as a production of a specific producer (i.e. Walt Disney), institution (Disney Studios), specific economic factors (Studio Film), or a political background? (U.S. politics 1959)
2. What is the film’s historical significance?
a. as a document of its time?
b. as a part of history of film?
c. as a representation or reaction to the studio system?

Psycho, by Alfred Hitchcock, is a very interesting film that is famous for being one of the best slasher horror films to ever be made. This film has influenced countless people and entertained a wide variety more. During the making or preproduction of the film, many studios would choose to not fund the film Hitchcock had great visions of. But Hitchcock was known to be a great filmmaker, “Indeed, he was flawless as an editor. In the distinctive rhythm of his cuts, alternately tightening and slackening, and quickening to a climax, we become intimately aware of his physical presence” (464). They thought that including the techniques he proposed for the film, including all of the slasher aspects of the bloodshed and murders, were immoral and extremely gruesome. They believed that audiences would not enjoy the film because it had many aspects to it that were considered controversial. “Even though the villain's body count is only two, the film's "whodunit" plot structure, knife-wielding and mentally disturbed killer, twist ending and 'stalking' camera technique proved influential on films to come” (461) This quote shows how big a role this film played and the technique within it. After going to many big studios and proposing his ideas for his film, he was given a chance. But this deal was only for the screening and distribution of the film and not the actual making or production of the film. The studio was called Paramount Studios Inc. and they assisted Hitchcock in these affairs. The profits were distributed so that the studio gains sixty percent of the revenue made from the profits. Hitchcock finally had a chance and he was a very influential figure in the industry, “They honed their craft by close study of his work, consulting the Truffaut interviews as a kind of bible of filmmaking.” (464)  Politics in the United States were becoming very difficult at this age when talking about film. Censorship laws and bans etc. forced out some genres and films that would have otherwise been huge successes in the industry. The government wanted to filter anything that might cause controversy including nudity, sexual appeal, violence, bloodshed, or incorrect ideologies portrayed within the film. This film has truly left its mark on the future for filmmaking. Slasher films such as Scream or Halloween series all have elements from this era of film and the techniques used then are still used in films that we know very well today.

Hitchcock Genre and Audience

Hitchcock Genre and Audience

1. What tradition or genre is it in?
2. What are the features determining genre or elements that tell us what type of film this is?
3. What other work might it be connected to?
4. Who made this? Why?
5. What can we tell about its’ creators?
6. How does it fit within the director’s other work?
a. Does it share significant narrative or thematic concerns?
b. Does it share particular visual or technical elements?
7. What is the film’s theme?
8. What is the target audience? How does it address its audience?

The film Psycho was a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960. The film was a suspense thriller and horror film. The genre it would belong to is known as the slasher genre that revolved around violence and gruesome events. The features in this film that determine genre or elements that highlight the type of film it is are highlighting the characters roles, music, relating events, sound effects, chase sequences, motifs, and lighting. Music can add a sense of suspense and drama especially when dealing with films of this genre. Sound effects also add to the nature of the film. The chase sequence when the woman is being chased, or is escaping, to flee to Arizona is very well thought out. In this scene she is being very worried and cautious about her actions. Motifs such as the blade or knife and also birds can add a sense of the genre because we associate them with the type of film being made. Lighting is extremely key in films of this genre although it does not have color and is only black and white. Low lighting can create a mood or tone or even atmosphere by adding an aspect of fear or something of that sort as a build up to scenes in the future. Symbols such as the birds (birds are in the first hotel scene and represent the womans name which is Crane and also talk about other characters in the story) also help to propel the plot and provide backstory if used correctly. These elements are definitely connected to other works of the same genre. The music and tone and suspense leads to a dramatic conclusion and it impacts the feeling of the film. Hitchcock was known to incorporate many suspenseful techniques in his films. He was always wanting to show the audience what he wanted to show in his thrillers and really bring them into the story to captivate them. But to fully appreciate all of his tricks and clues and hints in the story the viewer must see the movie more than just one viewing but many so they can notice all it has to bring in terms of foreshadowing and hinting and what may come in the future. Hitchcock was truly a pioneer in the industry and he incorporated his own ideas and tactics to the films he made while also respecting the techniques that were already being used in other films of the same genre. The target audience would be anyone that could handle the slasher type of films as there are many scenes involving violence and bloodshed. Younger audiences might not have had the ability to enjoy the film because it is in the horror genre. It was mainly made for young adult audiences.

Silent to Studio Golden Years

Part 1: Explore how the inclusion of sound in the movie pictures impacted the Movie Industry. Detail how it happened, who was affected, what was lost.

The inclusion of sound impacted the movie industry in several ways. In the beginning large studios opposed the idea of including sound in their films. The public was accustomed to silent films and didn’t want change. Sometimes stars voices didn't fit their roles and studios spent a lot of money to invest in their silent stars and couldn't possibly have them talk in movies. There were issues with capital, spending to build sound facilities, and the cost of making them was costly. There was a large risk in changing the status quo of the industry. There could be many failures if they added sound and since they were already making tons of money with their silent films, they saw no reason to change it. Warner Bros studios was the first to make a feature length film while incorporating sound called The Jazz Singer. The other major film studios were worried and started to do the same and soon they were making films with sound. These large studios and the audiences and the actors were all affected.

Part 2: The 20 years between 1930 and 1950 are generally recognized as the studio years. Describe what the pros and cons were of this factory system.

The studio years were a period when  MGM, 20th Century Fox, RKO, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, and Columbia dominated the film industry. The movie industry had three economic divisions known as the production, distribution, and exhibition or films. Throughout this great era of film, studios would build large and elaborate sound stages. They created land for for movie sets in the southern region of California. The studios became very efficient and productive and it was a successful era in the industry. They made sure their stars were their only and this eliminated competition from others if you had a well-producing set of actors for your films. Each studio also became famous for excelling in its own genre of film.

Resources:
http://cybercollege.com/frtv/frtv003.htm
http://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/20s-hollywood-and-soundthe-studio-system/deck/171388

5 Types of Writing

5 Types of Writing

In this article written by Karen Gocsik, she explains differences in how we interpret and react to film and its analysis. The article highlights the five ways in which you can write about film, the first being formal analysis. This type of analysis requires people to look at all the different aspects of the film and then relate them back individually to the overall picture or message of the film and how they help the overall film. When we look at the individual parts we can make sense of why the director chose to incorporate this in his film and how it helps the plot as well as what role it plays in the story being told. The next type of writing is called film history. This is essentially talking about a period in time and every film that is made has this aspect to it. The film reflects ideals of history and tells the story from this viewpoint. The next type of writing is ideological papers. This means that the film has a set of specific beliefs and ideology, hence the name. It has to do with the idea or ideas being presented or promoted and how well the film attempts to do this. The next type of writing is cultural studies of films that have aspects of a certain culture or country that it was made in. This is varied due to the many types of cultures around the world so it is interesting to see how others portray information and life. One cultures have different values, different kinds of people, and can have a totally different ideology than those of other cultures. Last but not least is discussion of the auteur which is taking the ideas that the director wanted to present and his overall vision for the film.

Shot from Gone With the Wind highlights Film History 

This ideology is representative of Culture  Studies and Ideology from a specific place 

Annotating a Film Sequence

Annotating a film sequence requires using language and diction in order to completely understand what is occurring in a specific sequence of shots. This is labeling the shots in a sequence and effects such as dissolves. Through this, you can learn keep track of the shots and look at them as a whole series and change them and add aspects that will enhance the overall product. This is beneficial to the editor and director that require this knowledge to be successful.


Thinking Beyond the Frame

Thinking beyond the frame is really looking at the effect of the film, history of the film and context, and realizing what the true vision of the director was. It is looking at why the director chose to do what he did while also being conscious of how it is being interpreted by many different kinds of people, its cultural impact, and how it relates to its genre which can highly add to your knowledge through analytical reasons for its production.