Psycho- authority and gender- Framing and Editing and Conclusion
In this scene we can use the camera angels to determine who has more authority between Norman and Marion, but also we can see a internal stuggle in the characters of Norman and his Mother.
When Norman is talking about his mother, the camera angle is tilting upwards towards him,this suggests that he is the currently the superior internal character. On the other hand, when norman becomes defensive about sending his mother to the "madhouse' The camera angle becomes neautral, this suggests that both characters have equal control, and that there is a equal stuggle between Norman and his mother. When Norman becomes more angered, the camera tilts slightly downwards, this symbolises that the mother has slightly more authority and perhaps is controlling him in order to reject Marion's opinion. This is true in real life, because traditionally, the mother has authority over their children, though motherhood, and suggests that authority in woman through motherhood is more or most powerful.
Thoughout the scene, the camera when filming Marion is at a neutral position, this suggests that she feeling peaceful, and not going through any internal stuggles such as whether she should return to Phoenix or not. Here the camera is very stable and she is calm when inside the parlour, maybe because she isn't thinking of escaping or she has reached a decision.
In the end the camera tilts upwards at Marion, just as she was up. This upwards view, shows that Marion is eventually significently in control of the situation.
The size of the characters on screen also seem to symbolize the level of authority they have. In the beginning both characters are equally the same size, and this shows that neigther character has dominance over the other. But this is changed, when they begin to talk about his mother. One of the shots move close up to Marion, while the angle is changed, the size of Norman's character becomes smaller compared to rest of the frame. Furthermore the bird which represents the mother ( explained previously) covers quite a large portion of the frame, compared to the smaller birds in the previous shots, this symbolizes a transition, where the mothers personality becomes more dominant. Near the end, when Norman becomes more agitated, he moves closer to a close up shot, his face covers a third of the frame, and this represents the authority of Norman, compared to the relatively smaller coverage of Marion. Interestly, the black bird is almost as big as Norman in this shot, perhaps the two personalities are equal and the opinions expressed are the same for both.
The editing in the scene is also very irregular because, normally we whenever a character talks, the cut will usually cut to a shot that feature him/her, but in this scene, the cuts occur at random points. Mostly whenever an important word or phrase is mentioned in relation to the other character. I think that this irregular and disordered cut can symbolised the overall struggle of the two characters for dominance. Finally the last cut features Marion walking out, this implies that Marion is the eventual 'winner' in the struggle for authority, further emphasising the point made earlier about Marion standing up and gaining firm control.
In the Parlour scene as a whole, the selection of shots used were all medium, medium close up and close up shots. I think that this was purposly done as this meant that in editing of the scene, the audience is given a very small idea of how the parlour looks like, i think that this highlights the uncertainty of Norman's character, and suggest that there is something that the audience doesn't know, in this case the presence of a second personality. This is very important because it makes Norman's character unpredictable, where the audience isnt aware that there can be times where he exerts control over Marion.
In conclusion, I think that this scene highlights the struggle for authority between Norman and Marian, with Marian eventually successful in controlling the situation. Also, this scene shows alot about the two personalities within Norman by using Mise en scene, and the relationship between the two. Where the mother exerts control of Norman's mind when ever the discussion talks about her mother. Furthermore, interaction between Marian and the mother's personality is shown in this scene, and from looking at the framing and editing, i can clearly see that the Mother is in control of the situation. Therefore i think that from this scene we can see that Woman has the most power through motherhood which is symbolised when the mother's personality is dominating, and is even more powerful than sexuality, which is what Marian represents. Although we do not see in this scene nor in the entire film interaction between a mother and a man with power through wealth and status. This is because Norman clearly has neither and can be seen almost powerless when he is the dominating personality, therefore is under control of both the mother and Marion.
When Norman is talking about his mother, the camera angle is tilting upwards towards him,this suggests that he is the currently the superior internal character. On the other hand, when norman becomes defensive about sending his mother to the "madhouse' The camera angle becomes neautral, this suggests that both characters have equal control, and that there is a equal stuggle between Norman and his mother. When Norman becomes more angered, the camera tilts slightly downwards, this symbolises that the mother has slightly more authority and perhaps is controlling him in order to reject Marion's opinion. This is true in real life, because traditionally, the mother has authority over their children, though motherhood, and suggests that authority in woman through motherhood is more or most powerful.
Thoughout the scene, the camera when filming Marion is at a neutral position, this suggests that she feeling peaceful, and not going through any internal stuggles such as whether she should return to Phoenix or not. Here the camera is very stable and she is calm when inside the parlour, maybe because she isn't thinking of escaping or she has reached a decision.
In the end the camera tilts upwards at Marion, just as she was up. This upwards view, shows that Marion is eventually significently in control of the situation.
The size of the characters on screen also seem to symbolize the level of authority they have. In the beginning both characters are equally the same size, and this shows that neigther character has dominance over the other. But this is changed, when they begin to talk about his mother. One of the shots move close up to Marion, while the angle is changed, the size of Norman's character becomes smaller compared to rest of the frame. Furthermore the bird which represents the mother ( explained previously) covers quite a large portion of the frame, compared to the smaller birds in the previous shots, this symbolizes a transition, where the mothers personality becomes more dominant. Near the end, when Norman becomes more agitated, he moves closer to a close up shot, his face covers a third of the frame, and this represents the authority of Norman, compared to the relatively smaller coverage of Marion. Interestly, the black bird is almost as big as Norman in this shot, perhaps the two personalities are equal and the opinions expressed are the same for both.
The editing in the scene is also very irregular because, normally we whenever a character talks, the cut will usually cut to a shot that feature him/her, but in this scene, the cuts occur at random points. Mostly whenever an important word or phrase is mentioned in relation to the other character. I think that this irregular and disordered cut can symbolised the overall struggle of the two characters for dominance. Finally the last cut features Marion walking out, this implies that Marion is the eventual 'winner' in the struggle for authority, further emphasising the point made earlier about Marion standing up and gaining firm control.
In the Parlour scene as a whole, the selection of shots used were all medium, medium close up and close up shots. I think that this was purposly done as this meant that in editing of the scene, the audience is given a very small idea of how the parlour looks like, i think that this highlights the uncertainty of Norman's character, and suggest that there is something that the audience doesn't know, in this case the presence of a second personality. This is very important because it makes Norman's character unpredictable, where the audience isnt aware that there can be times where he exerts control over Marion.
In conclusion, I think that this scene highlights the struggle for authority between Norman and Marian, with Marian eventually successful in controlling the situation. Also, this scene shows alot about the two personalities within Norman by using Mise en scene, and the relationship between the two. Where the mother exerts control of Norman's mind when ever the discussion talks about her mother. Furthermore, interaction between Marian and the mother's personality is shown in this scene, and from looking at the framing and editing, i can clearly see that the Mother is in control of the situation. Therefore i think that from this scene we can see that Woman has the most power through motherhood which is symbolised when the mother's personality is dominating, and is even more powerful than sexuality, which is what Marian represents. Although we do not see in this scene nor in the entire film interaction between a mother and a man with power through wealth and status. This is because Norman clearly has neither and can be seen almost powerless when he is the dominating personality, therefore is under control of both the mother and Marion.
posted by augi at
12:44 PM
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