The movie 'Psycho' is not only the first slasher of the cinematographic history, but is also full of themes and filming techniques that have revolutionized the genre. Hitchcock’s classic consists of mystery, suspense, but also has a straightforward portrayal of gender roles. Interestingly, throughout the plot there is no room left for the viewer to analyze them, as the stereotypes of the sexes are set from the beginning. Ben Elliot explains: “Hitchcock is never content to let the audience draw their own conclusions about genders in his films; instead he comes out and has the characters say statements outright about men and women” (Elliot).
Moreover, Tanja Modleski observes that Hitchcock's movies are dominated by females, who on one hand seem to be liberated, but at the same time are limited in their power. According to her feminist approach on the film, the great filmmaker depicts females in a degrading way, allowing the viewer to get narrative pleasure from her victimization (1). However, she recognizes that,
“[Hitchcock] remains committed to mining his films’ less obvious pleasure, which comes from discerning moments of female patriarchal resistance and the undoing of patriarchal logic”. Therefore, it can be said that women in Hitchcock's films are the ultimate victims of the horror, but he also characterizes them as strong and independent from the dominating masculine culture.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Gender roles in 'Psycho'
2.1 Gender and identity of the characters
2.1.1. Norman and matriarchy
2.1.2. Marion and patriarchy
3. Voyeurism and gender
4. Psychoanalysis and gender-roles
5. Hitchcock's influence on other films
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This work aims to examine the portrayal of gender roles within Alfred Hitchcock’s film 'Psycho' and explores how these representations reflect the patriarchal societal structures of the era. By analyzing the interplay between character identity, voyeurism, and psychoanalytic concepts, the paper questions whether traditional cinematic techniques serve to objectify women and reinforce masculine dominance.
- Analysis of gender dynamics and character identity in 'Psycho'
- Examination of voyeurism as a cinematic technique and its impact on the viewer
- Application of psychoanalytic theory to understand character motivations and roles
- Investigation of Hitchcock’s influence on subsequent slasher and horror cinema
- Discussion on the representation of women as targets of male violence
Excerpt from the Book
2. Gender roles in 'Psycho'
In her book, Modleski analyzes that “women in classic Hollywood cinema are inevitably made into passive objects of male voyeuristic and sadistic impulses; how they [women] exist simply to fulfill the desires and express the anxieties of the men in the audience” (2). It is undeniable that the greatest cinematographer of all time has created the roles of women as victims due to some cheap sexual thrills and desires of the male-dominated audience. Looking on the example of the main male and female characters, Marion and Norman, it is easy to deduce such theory, as throughout the movie, the young woman becomes an object of unfulfilled sexual desires and thus has to be 'eliminated' by being murdered.
During the scene, when Marion walks into the Bates Motel, she instantly becomes an object of Norman's desires, which he struggles to suppress. Marion is represented in that scene as weak, lost and easily-trusting, which she also sums up by saying: “sometimes a girl deliberately steps into traps” (Psycho). Bates then spies on her and watches her undress through the hole in the wall of the cabin, which confirms the idea of Hitchcock wanting to present women as sexual objects of desire (Boyd and Palmer). Moreover, Boyd and Palmer explain that: “a key theme of Hitchcock’s films is that they tell stories 'built upon the struggle to dominate and the dread of impotence,' upon 'the form of a man's desire... to dominate the woman” (45). So here the viewer can interpret the act of killing as a final empowerment of the male character over the female.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces 'Psycho' as a transformative slasher film and highlights the intended focus on gender stereotypes and Hitchcock's specific filming techniques.
2. Gender roles in 'Psycho': This section analyzes how the protagonist, Marion, and the antagonist, Norman, embody and subvert the social norms of a patriarchal society.
2.1 Gender and identity of the characters: This subsection delves into the complex psychological states of the protagonists, specifically their struggles within the constructs of gendered identity.
2.1.1. Norman and matriarchy: This analysis explores Norman Bates' relationship with his mother and how this bond drives his split personality and violent outbursts.
2.1.2. Marion and patriarchy: This part examines Marion’s rebellion against societal norms through her extramarital affair and her subsequent punishment by the patriarchal order.
3. Voyeurism and gender: This chapter investigates how Hitchcock employs voyeurism to manipulate viewer perspectives and objectify female characters throughout the film.
4. Psychoanalysis and gender-roles: This section uses psychoanalytic theory to examine how the narrative is constructed to appeal to a masculine subject position, ensuring viewer identification with the male protagonist.
5. Hitchcock's influence on other films: This chapter discusses the legacy of 'Psycho' and how it set a template for later slasher films regarding gender-coded violence.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the arguments, reiterating that Hitchcock effectively uses cinematic techniques to reaffirm gendered power dynamics and the ultimate submission of the female character.
Keywords
Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock, gender roles, slasher movies, voyeurism, psychoanalysis, patriarchy, male gaze, Marion Crane, Norman Bates, cinematic technique, female victimization, identity, horror film, misogyny
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on the intersection of gender roles, cinematic language, and patriarchal power structures within Alfred Hitchcock’s landmark slasher film, 'Psycho'.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the objectification of women, the psychoanalytic implications of character identity, the mechanics of voyeurism, and the legacy of the slasher genre.
What is the core research question or objective?
The objective is to determine how Hitchcock’s filmic choices perpetuate traditional gender roles and whether the construction of the viewer's gaze functions as an act of patriarchal dominance.
Which theoretical or scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs feminist film criticism and psychoanalytic theory to deconstruct the narrative, character motivation, and the impact of the "male gaze" on the audience.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines character dynamics, the relationship between Norman Bates and his mother, Marion’s role in a patriarchal society, and the recurring pattern of violence against women in subsequent horror cinema.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key concepts include Psycho, patriarchy, voyeurism, male gaze, gender identity, cinematic violence, and feminist film theory.
How does the author characterize Norman Bates' relationship with his mother in the context of gender roles?
The author describes it as an intense, suffocating bond where the mother’s personality takes over Norman's, causing him to adopt female behaviors and leading to a violent rejection of his own romantic desires for other women.
What role does voyeurism play in the viewer's connection to the film 'Psycho'?
Voyeurism is presented as a technique that forces the viewer into the position of the character, allowing them to participate in the act of objectification, which the author argues is a deliberate choice by Hitchcock to satisfy a male-dominated audience.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2017, Gender roles in slasher movies based on Alfred Hitchcock’s "Psycho", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1278178
