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 Copyright Contents I The Mystery of Everyday Life 1 Sabotage: Chaos Unleashed and the Impossibility of Utopia 2 Shadow of a Doubt: Secrets, Lies, and the Search for the Truth 3 Rope: Nietsche and the Art of Murder II Horrors without End 4 Psycho: Horror, Hitchcock, and the Problem of Evil 5 The Birds: Plato and Romantic Love 6 Featherless Bipeds: The Concept of Humanity in The Birds 7 Hitchcock's Existentialism: Anguish, Despair, and Redemption in Breakdown III The Reeling Mind 8 Vertigo and the Pathologies of Romantic Love 9 Vertigo: Scientific Method, Obsession, and Human Minds 10 On Being Mr. Kaplan: Personal Identity in North by Northwest 11 Ethics or Film Theory? The Real McGruffin in North by Northwest IV Hitchcock's Ethical Dilemmas 12 Democracy Adrift in Lifeboat 13 Why Be Moral? Amorality and Psychopath in Strangers on a Train 14 Rear Window: Hitchcock's Allegory of the Cave 15 Rear Window: Looking at Things Ethically V What's It All About, Alfred? 16 Plot Twists and Surprises: Why Are Some things Improbable? 17 The Hitchcock Cameo: Aesthetic Considerations 18 Knowing When to Be Afraid: Rationality and Suspense 19 Shadow of a Doubt and Marnie: Entries into a Mind Cast and Crew 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 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. 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