Film Language and Representation

My chosen extract for my oral assessment is the parlor scene from Psycho, in which Norman Bates and Marion Crane discuss their lives and in particular Bates’s mother. Norman’s mental issues are represented by the shadows around him and the tone in his voice as he discusses his mother’s condition. It’s a conversational scene, so the two actors’ performances are very casual, and gradually getting more awkward as the conversation moves towards more sensitive subjects.

The way in which the camera is looking down on Marion at some points exemplifies the hostility evident in Norman Bates when his mother is mentioned. The camera doesn’t actually move during this scene because of its conversational nature. In addition to this, the camera is at an average distance from both actors, giving the audience the point of view of someone taking part in the conversation.

All in all, the scene doesn’t really stand out in terms of camera work, but it still has a noticeable impact on the mood.

By making the PoV of the camera like that of a person, the audience shares in the awkwardness and tension inherent in the conversation. The entire set is designed with this in mind, with everything seeming enclosed, with several stuffed birds looming over the two characters.

These birds, in fact, connect to a very common theme in Hitchcock’s films and in Psycho in particular. The birds symbolize danger and looming threats, in this case Norman’s unstable mind.

There isn’t much to be said about editing, since in a conversational scene like this there isn’t much need for any special kind of editing; it’s simply back and forth shots between Bates and Marion. However, lighting plays a much more important role, although its meaning could be disputed. For example, the singular lighting in the scene, a lamp, casts a sharp light on Norman Bates’s face. This could symbolize his two halves, one of which is a very dark individual; on the other hand, it could just be a coincidental effect of the lighting. 

In summary, the main perception you get from the parlor scene is one of tension, of hitting upon a critical secret that has only barely been illuminated. As we discover shortly after this scene, this is exactly the case.