tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345621281568717231.post9157048669238524776..comments2024-03-20T16:26:27.465-07:00Comments on sean cubitt's blog: Against the Cult of HitchcockSean Cubitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762116527377238907noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345621281568717231.post-25499338764148813432013-09-19T04:52:37.355-07:002013-09-19T04:52:37.355-07:00I am so pleased to read this. When I started teach...I am so pleased to read this. When I started teaching film in the 1970s Hitchcock was considered the great (British?) director of my father's generation and I prepared myself to be impressed. But frankly all I saw when I studied his films was creaky, old-fashioned and stiff film-making. I suppressed my initial response in order to join a community of film scholars I suppose and indeed found Hitchcock a gift to teaching: narrative structure, Freudian theory, auteurism etc. all became unambiguous for my students through his film. Nevertheless I had a cynical attitude to the rise of Hitchcock literature over the years that raised him to genius status. William Goldman's seemingly trashy but insightful 'Adventures in the Screen Trade' seemed the only balanced view I could offer students for many years but with two films out last year that re-draw the 'wickedly funny Hitch'as a dark and obsessive sadist, I hope the tide is beginning to turn to a more nuanced assessment at last.Norman Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345621281568717231.post-77399055912292748412013-09-19T04:49:59.388-07:002013-09-19T04:49:59.388-07:00I am so pleased to read this. When I started teach...I am so pleased to read this. When I started teaching film in the 1970s Hitchcock was considered the great (British?) director of my father's generation and I prepared myself to be impressed. But frankly all I saw when I studied his films was creaky, old-fashioned and stiff film-making. I suppressed my initial response in order to join a community of film scholars I suppose and indeed found Hitchcock a gift to teaching: narrative structure, Freudian theory, auteurism etc. all became unambiguous for my students through his film. Nevertheless I had a cynical attitude to the rise of Hitchcock literature over the years that raised him to genius status. William Goldman's seemingly trashy but insightful 'Adventures in the Screen Trade' seemed the only balanced view I could offer students for many years but with two films out last year that re-draw the 'wickedly funny Hitch'as a dark and obsessive sadist, I hope the tide is beginning to turn to a more nuanced assessment at last.Norman Taylornoreply@blogger.com