Discussion – Vertigo Film Forum

This week, write at least 3 paragraphs (500 words) analyzing Vertigo, addressing PLOT, FORM, and CULTURE.

PLOT: The classic Hollywood plot opens with an equilibrium, then there is disruption of that equilibrium, and at the end of the film there is a new equilibrium. Identify the equilibrium/disruption/new equilibrium in Vertigo.

FORM: Discuss the technical and artistic achievements of Vertigo in ONE key scene. Good candidates might be the scene where John Ferguson saves Madeleine from drowning or when he later convinces Judy to dress as Madeleine Elster —  or your favorite scene. Go into depth about how the shot composition, shot type, camera movement, editing, lighting and sound create the mood or express the emotion of the scene. Refer back to chapter 3 in the textbook and Toolkit for Film Analysis for a refresher.  

CULTURE: Discuss how Vertigo both reflected and shaped attitudes about gender roles in the United States in the mid-20th Century. Who is most often doing the looking in this film? Who is looked at? How does the film represent gender and power?

INSTRUCTIONS:

Post 500-word analysis to Film Forum by 11:59PM EST, Sunday of Week 5. 

Post at least 3 100-word responses to your peers’ critiques by 11:30PM EST Wednesday of the next week. 

You will not be able to see any other posts to each question until you make your first post. You can earn up to 5 points for your original post and one additional point for each of 3 peer reviews, for a total of 8 points.