The more Jeff looks out the window, the more he wants to continue doing so. The more Jeff looks out the window, the more violence he enacts and imagines. It’s human instinct to look and stare without considering that we are invading someone’s privacy. But as recent events highlight in the 21st century, our urge for stalking people on social media like Facebook, snapchat, Instagram, plays an important role because some argues that it is an erosion of privacy. This is also highlighted in the film ‘Rear Window’ by Alfred Hitcock in which Jeff seeks pleasure in looking at his neighbourhood while sitting still, in a chair all day long with his broken leg. Like the windows in the film, Facebook profiles offer an opening into a life and one through which others can observe without the observed knowing it.
Alfred Hitchcock makes this distinction in his film, that voyeurism can be dangerous. “What people oughta do is get outside their own house and look in for a change” Stella’s comments sum up Jeff’s problem and perhaps our problem. Sometimes we’d rather peek into someone else’s life than confront the problems and realities of ourselves. In saying this, this is why we are natural voyeurs. Jeff was obsessed with watching his neighbours and
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He would even fall asleep watching them, quite creepy, right? His voyeuristic behaviour has led to an obsession with watching people through his apartment window without their permission. How would you feel if you found out that someone has been watching you? Thorwald didn’t advertise his life or asked to be watched. Didn’t he? It’s not like Jeff added him on Facebook and stalked his profile to find a photo with a caption saying #murdered #my #wife. The idea of voyeurism is discussed multiple times within the film, starting when Stella (the nurse) says “We are a race of peeping toms”. We just cannot help to be curious and watch