This is Lit This is Lit Podcast

The one where we chat about some of the themes and symbols in Rear Window, as well as how we would tackle an essay question.

The one where we have our very first guest star, Jake, who talks all about McCarthyism and how we see this reflected in Hitchcock's Rear Window.

The one where we introduce Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window and briefly discuss the context of 1950s America, McCarthyism and Hitchcock himself.

The one where we do a holiday special even though it's not actually the holidays anymore and we chat about Alfred Hitchcock's cinematic masterpiece 'Rear Window'.  

Discussion Questions: 

- How is the social context of McCarthyism reflected in Rear Window?  

- How did Hitchcock make you reflect on your own voyeuristic tendencies? 

- Camera Shots and Angles are arguably the most important filmic techniques that Hitchcock uses, how are they used to convey Hitchcock’s overall message in ‘Rear Window’?  

- How has Hitchcock used music to ‘set the scene’ for Lisa and Jeff’s relationship?  

- How has lighting been used by Hitchcock to build suspense in the film? 

- Jeff gives many of his neighbours monikers that can be seen as sexist and condescending (eg. 'Miss Torso, Miss Lonelyhearts etc’). What does this convey about Jeff as a character and also the context in the 1950s?  

- What do you think Hitchcock was trying to convey about marriage and gender roles during the 1950s?  

End Segment: Symbols Game 

Explain what is symbolic about the following symbols... 

- Jeff's camera lens - Jeff's cast/broken leg - Lisa's costuming - The wedding ring - The temperature

The one where we break down essay prompts for ‘The Longest Memory’ and ‘The 7 Stages Grieving’.

Essay Questions:

1. How is resistance portrayed in The Longest Memory  and The 7 Stages of Grieving  and how is it received?

2. Compare the ways in which the two texts explore the possibility of social change.

3. “The future is just more of the past waiting to happen.”- The Longest Memory

“In those suitcases lies the photos of those who are dead, those nameless ones...”- The 7 Stages of Grieving

Compare the role of memory in the two texts and how grief is portrayed.

The one where almost everything goes wrong and we compare the themes from 'The Longest Memory' and 'The 7 Stages of Grieving'.  

Focus Questions: 

1. What are some of the similarities and differences in these histories of racism, or in their lingering, persistent legacies?       

2. What ideas do both texts convey about the idea of memory? How are these depictions similar or different?   

3. What do both texts display about the process of grief? How is this similar/different in each text?