Psycho (1960) Film Image Analyses

This certain shot comes from the scene in the film where Norman is having a heated conversation with Marion about his mother. The low angle shot gives Norman power over Marion and shows us his dominance. The use of low key lighting again creates a dark atmosphere and allows us to focus mainly on the birds and the shadows behind them; these birds of prey connote Norman’s personality type and could also reflect Marion's predicament and the fact that she is his next victim or prey. This also connects well with the fact that Marion’s last name is Crane giving a strong link between the two. Connotations are also important in this shot with the use of the famous painting ‘Rape of Lucretia’ which connotes the sexual feeling Norman has towards Marion. It is interesting that this particular piece of art is used to disguise a hole in which Norman uses to spy on his victim. This could play into the theory presented by Laura Mulvey which is known as the Male Gaze, an ideology which suggests that women are seen to be used for the benefit of males. Hitchcock may have used this as a reflection of his own sexual repression and experience of dictation by his wife, in turn representing his own recognised auteur style. There is a strong ideology of misogyny signified within this still.