Lesson 3 - Key Issues - Some Additional Reading

Below are a list of links and articles that focus on the 4 key issues surrounding debate on Vertigo.

A critique of the critical response to Vertigo

This is a really interesting, if challenging, essay on the way in which critics have become 'obsessed' with Vertigo. The author suggests that critics of the film assume the role of Scottie and just like Scottie searching for his ideal woman, the critic is also searching for the meaning behind the Madeline / Judy split (who the 'real' woman is) and ultimately the meaning in Vertigo. The article has interesting links to feminist critiques of Vertigo and Psychoanalytical readings that focus on Lacan (so read this after those lessons! - see posts for lessons 5)

Screening the Past_vertigo and the Maelstrom of Criticism by candifilmstudies

Plot & Narrative structure

http://www.filmsufi.com/2009/12/vertigo-alfred-hitchcock-1958.html

http://narrativejourney.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/vertigo-hitchcock-1958/

Form Inversion in Alfred Hitchcock-Narrative Realism by candifilmstudies

Characters

SPARK NOTES_analysis of Major Characters by candifilmstudies

Scottie

SPARK NOTES_scottie as Everyman by candifilmstudies

female characters

costume and identity

http://clothesonfilm.com/costume-identity-in-hitchcocks-vertigo/25039/

feminist critique of midge

http://www.screeningthepast.com/2011/11/vertigo-and-the-maelstrom-of-criticism/

camera movement in vertigo

http://labyrinth.net.au/~muffin/camera_movement.html richard allen essay

http://jackferdman.com/essays_vertigo.html includes reference to most micro elements

http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupDownloadFile.asp?GroupID=171163&ResourceId=3009121 discusses Hitchcock's use of the 3 ‘set pieces’ of camera movement 

music & score https://www.equinoxpub.com/journals/index.php/JFM/article/viewFile/6834/4648

SPARK NOTES_score_soundtrack in Vertigo by candifilmstudies

General overviews of the key issues in the film

http://narrativejourney.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/vertigo-hitchcock-1958/

http://filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/study-of-single-film-alfred-hitchcocks.html

links to lots of reading and interesting Cinephile video of critics discussing Vertigo

Audience and Critical Reception

Vertigo - Critical Responses by candifilmstudies