There's the Joanna Pitman book "On Blondes". It's a sort of pop-journalism work, but may be provocative to students new to film/cultural studies. And perhaps Camille Paglia? Last time I read her monograph on The Birds, I don't remember a lot of assumed film knowledge. On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 1:12 PM, Frank, Michael <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > this question is aimed primarily at those who have taught hitchcock > courses, especially to non-specialist students > > > > in the spring i'll be teaching a hitchcock course once again . . . almost > all of the students in the class will be business majors [bentley's > specialization] and this will most likely be their only experience with > anything like a text based humanities course . . . though i've taught > versions of this course a number of times i've yet to find a book, text or > trade, that effectively introduces hitchcock's work to this audience, and > am hoping that one of you can recommend one > > > > in my experience there are two related problems in choosing a text: most > of the really interesting work on hitchcock [allen, zizek, modleski, marantz > cohen, naremore, wollen, even robin wood] is really too challenging, > especially since it inevitably takes for granted one or another of certain > foundational concepts [the gaze, psychoanalysis, representation, ideology, > etc.] that will be totally unfamiliar to the students . . . and even when i > can find isolated essays that are relatively accessible without dumbing down > the material [leitch , for example, or some of spoto] it tends to be in the > form of essays on specific films rather than an introduction to the body of > work as a whole > > > > so i'm hoping for two things: 1. a book that is a useful and > intellectually sophisticated introduction to hitchcock for students with NO > background; and 2.] essays that might be accessible to my students and deal > with more than individual films . . . has anyone written an essay on the use > of POV shots in H? or on his use of sound? or the influence of german > expressionism? or even on "the blonde"??? > > > > but i think you get the idea, and i'd be grateful for any and all > suggestions > > > > many thanks > > > > mike > > > > ---- > To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L > in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask] > -- Catherine Clepper Doctoral Student, Screen Cultures Northwestern University ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu