Hitchcock and Philosophy: Dial M for Metaphysics (Popular Culture and Philosophy (27))

The shower scene in Psycho ; Cary Grant running for his life through a cornfield; “innocent" birds lined up on a fence waiting, watching — these seminal cinematic moments are as real to moviegoers as their own lives. But what makes them so? What deeper forces are at work in Hitchcock's films that so captivate his fans? This collection of articles in the series that's explored such pop-culture phenomena as Seinfeld and The Simpsons examines those forces with fresh eyes. These essays demonstrate a fascinating range of topics: Sabotage's lessons about the morality of terrorism and counter-terrorism; Rope's debatable Nietzschean underpinnings; Strangers on a Train's definition of morality. Some of the essays look at more overarching questions, such as why Hitchcock relies so heavily on the Freudian unconscious. In all, the book features 18 philosophers paying a special homage to the legendary auteur in a way that's accessible even to casual fans. Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 I The Mystery of Everyday Life 14 1 Sabotage: Chaos Unleashed and the Impossibility of Utopia 16 2 Shadow of a Doubt: Secrets, Lies, and the Search for the Truth 30 3 Rope: Nietsche and the Art of Murder 46 II Horrors without End 60 4 Psycho: Horror, Hitchcock, and the Problem of Evil 62 5 The Birds: Plato and Romantic Love 76 6 Featherless Bipeds: The Concept of Humanity in The Birds 88 7 Hitchcock's Existentialism: Anguish, Despair, and Redemption in Breakdown 102 III The Reeling Mind 112 8 Vertigo and the Pathologies of Romantic Love 114 9 Vertigo: Scientific Method, Obsession, and Human Minds 128 10 On Being Mr. Kaplan: Personal Identity in North by Northwest 142 11 Ethics or Film Theory? The Real McGruffin in North by Northwest 154 IV Hitchcock's Ethical Dilemmas 170 12 Democracy Adrift in Lifeboat 172 13 Why Be Moral? Amorality and Psychopath in Strangers on a Train 188 14 Rear Window: Hitchcock's Allegory of the Cave 200 15 Rear Window: Looking at Things Ethically 216 V What's It All About, Alfred? 226 16 Plot Twists and Surprises: Why Are Some things Improbable? 228 17 The Hitchcock Cameo: Aesthetic Considerations 242 18 Knowing When to Be Afraid: Rationality and Suspense 252 19 Shadow of a Doubt and Marnie: Entries into a Mind 266 Cast and Crew 274 Index 280 The Shower Scene In Psycho; Cary Grant Running For His Life Through A Cornfield; Innocent Birds Lined Up On A Fence Waiting, Watching These Seminal Cinematic Moments Are As Real To Moviegoers As Their Own Lives. But What Makes Them So? What Deeper Forces Are At Work In Hitchcock S Films That So Captivate His Fans? This Collection Of Articles Examines Those Forces With Fresh Eyes. These Essays Demonstrate A Fascinating Range Of Topics: Sabotage S Lessons About The Morality Of Terrorism And Counter-terrorism; Rope S Debatable Nietzschean Underpinnings; Strangers On A Train S Definition Of Morality. Some Of The Essays Look At More Overarching Questions, Such As Why Hitchcock Relies So Heavily On The Freudian Unconscious. In All, The Book Features 18 Philosophers Paying A Special Homage To The Legendary Auteur In A Way That S Accessible Even To Casual Fans. The Mystery Of Everyday Life -- Horrors Without End -- The Reeling Mind -- Hitchcock's Ethical Dilemmas -- What's It All About, Alfred? Edited By David Baggett And William A. Drumin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The shower scene in Psycho ; Cary Grant running for his life through a cornfield; "innocent" birds lined up on a fence waiting, watching -- these seminal cinematic moments are as real to moviegoers as their own lives. But what makes them so? What deeper forces are at work in Hitchcock's films that so captivate his fans? This collection of articles in the series that's explored such pop-culture phenomena as Seinfeld and The Simpsons examines those forces with fresh eyes. These essays demonstrate a fascinating range of topics: Sabotage's lessons about the morality of terrorism and counter-terrori.;Title Page; Copyright; Contents; I The Mystery of Everyday Life; II Horrors without End; III The Reeling Mind; IV Hitchcock's Ethical Dilemmas; V What's It All About, Alfred?; Cast and Crew; Index. This collection of philosophical studies of the films of Alfred Hitchcock follows the format of the hugely successful 'Popular Culture and Philosophy' series. 18 philosophers explore the deeper aspects of Hitchcock's work, in a way that is accessible and enlightening