Theme Of Voyeurism In Rear Window

An Analysis of Perception in Visual Storytelling and Voyeurism in Rear Window Visual story telling is a fairly modern invention. For thousands of years humans relied on oral methods of passing stories and legends, and while still images can evoke a certain element of story, the modern film is exceptional at showing its audience the narrative with purely visual image. A great deal of psychology abounds in filmmaking. A screen writer and director must be aware of how the general public perceives certain actions. Rear Window directed by Alfred Hitchcock tells its story through perspective and visual storytelling, leading the audience through a mystery with romance and suspense. The psychology of perception is a major part of this film and whether …show more content…
We see what Jeff sees and we don’t always have to wait for Jeff to verbally confirm his perceptions before we are given more information. Hitchcock knew exactly how to exploit the viewer’s imagination. We watch many stories at once while the main plot takes place. Jeff is convinced when the neighbor across the court yard goes out several times in the wee hours of the morning in the rain that something suspicious is happening. He becomes slightly obsessed with the story, as if he is watching a movie playing out just for him. He continues to spy on his neighbor, whose name is Thorvald, only to see that his wife, an invalid in need of constant care, has gone and left her things behind. We are always aware of Jeff’s high fashion girlfriend, Ms. Lisa Freemont. She is “too perfect” as Jeff puts it, and is at first hurt when Jeff thinks things between them can’t work out. He believes that his lifestyle is too hectic and unfashionable for a woman like Lisa, and Lisa sets out to prove him wrong. Throughout the film we see Lisa and Jeff’s relationship change and grow. Over the course of three days (the time frame of the film), as Jeff becomes more suspicious of Thorvald, Lisa is able to prove to Jeff that she is not just a pretty …show more content…
Voyeurism is the pleasure of watching, put simply. Obviously, voyeurism has sexual connotations as well, but in this film I believe that voyeurism is restricted to purely innocent pleasures. Jeff does not sexualize the women he views, nor does he obsess over them. They are just part of the show he is watching, each window a different channel. It is discussed many times and referred to as “spying” and being a “peeping Tom”, but the fact remains that Jeff’s boredom and his job as a photographer makes what he is doing much more relatable. He isn’t doing it because he wants to, he feels it is the only thing he has to