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Voyeurism In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window

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Voyeurism is a theme which is represented through many screen based works and is actively a part of society today. The theme of voyeurism in film and media is used to focus primarily on the role of the viewer, relying on cinematography and mise-en-scene to drive the audience's feelings of curiosity and visual stimulation. Due to its prevalence in society, voyeurism is a central theme in many of Alfred Hitchcock's films. His film, Rear Window (1954), is a psychological thriller which incorporates unique visual techniques, especially camera-work, to create this voyeuristic experience for the viewer. As well as film, television shows also incorporate a huge aspect of voyeurism, especially reality television. Big Brother Australia, (Southern Star …show more content…

In just four carefully choreographed shots, the opening sequence in Rear Window already introduces main characters, sets the geography of the setting and creates a subjective perspective.
This conveys the tone of the film for the audience, and the theme of voyeurism is already exposed in the first frame. The sequence begins with a slow track through the windows of the protagonist, Jeffery’s (James Stewart), apartment. This slow reveal captures the audience’s attention and creates a desire to see what will happen next. The camera then pans around the courtyard allowing the audience to get a clear idea of the neighbour’s surrounding apartments. In this scene, Hitchcock’s smooth and subtle way of pioneering the camera to mimic a human’s gaze, forces viewers to engage in a form of voyeurism. Whatever Hitchcock allows the audience to see through these windows is important, as it is the introduction to how Jeffery uncovers a murder. The camera continues to pan around the courtyard; up ladders, stairs, along beams and balconies and then makes its way back into Jeffery’s apartment. Here, the camera stops on Jeffery, sweat drops rolling down his face. Hitchcock cuts to a close-up of a thermometer and then pans back around to the courtyard until a neighbour’s opened window is in clear view.

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