STRANGERS ON A TRAIN
Terms
Semiotics: Study of signs
Symbol: something which stands for something in an arbitrary way: e.g. the word "dog" has an arbitrary relationship with the animal. Each language has a different word.
sign/icon has an intimate connection betwen the referent and sign. The footprint of the dog is based in reality, not an arbitrary relatioship.
index: something like a fever which is a "sign" that the person is ill.
Trope: figure of speech/metaphor
Motif: a recurrent thematic element in an artistic work
In writing the papers it is necessary you DOCUMENT things. IN this case we are not particularly interested in what someone else had to say, but rather we are interested in what you can show from the film itself. In this particular film we are particularly interested in symbols or images or tropes or motifs which occur which bear some significance to the film
These are things which can be found in still photographs. REMEMBER THE FIRST PAPER DEASL WITH THINGS WHICH ARE NOT INVOLVED IN CHANGES, BUT ONLY THAT WHICH IS STATIC IN THE FILM - COMPOSITION (not how it changes) SYMBOLS, LIGHTING, and so on.
STRANGERS ON A TRAIN
Hitchock is a master of suspense. Remember difference between shock and suspense.
(a) shock is sudden suspense takes time.
The film is about exchanges and as a result there are many ways in which things about exchange an be shown in the film. What might they be?
AFTER THE FILM
Crosses: (in exchange things cross
Reflections: the reverse of what is seen is reflected
Circles: Things which go around
How many images of X’s are there?
Subversive: the film makes us complicit – we enjoy the crimes (can there be an anti crime film or anti war film if that is what we go to see.
How do you feel about the balloon popping scene – Did you laugh? What does that say. Of course the kid doesn’t look broken hearted about the balloon – just surprised.
1951
Hermeneutics: breaking of textual code
Cryptanalysis: breaking of ciphers (letter substitutions) and codes (word substitutions)
1951
Alfred Hitchcock