How Does Rear Window Represent Values And Beliefs Of The 1950S

How Does Rear Window Represent Values And Beliefs Of The 1950S

How does Rear Window represent values and beliefs of the 1950s?
During the 1950s values and beliefs revolved around the unification of the family. After World War 2 and the great depression, there was generally prosperity with high employment and money was spent more freely. Throughout the film Rear Window, several issues are explored regarding values and beliefs of the 1950s. 1950s is introduced through the bustling busyness of a block of apartments, a small alleyway hints at a noisy and unruly outside world. The Protagonist, LB Jefferies, explores the different issues of 1950s society through his voyeurism by default. The issues uncovered are encapsulated through individual characters including. We view them in a variety of mundane activities: quarrelling, gardening, exercising, talking, laughing, and crying. They all have their personal stories which are unveiled throughout the course of the movie.
Jefferies’ relationship with Lisa represents love, a happy but complicated pairing in 1950s society. The balcony couple represent individuality whilst the ballet dancer represents discontent with life especially love. Miss Torso’s societal expectations and personal expectations to find a mate are most probably the reasons pushing her to have dinner parties with countless men simultaneously. She is chased after by men in suits which seem accurate, however she chooses someone from the rest of the group. Through the pianist’s experiences, success and failure are evident throughout the course of the movie. The struggle for success that the pianist undergoes, with many failed pieces throughout the film frustrating him is a metaphor for the reality of a career. This piece of realism allows the responder to relate to the character, instead of having a complete success from the beginning. Stella, the nurse, represents the morals of 1950s society being a caring, motherly figure. A notable feature of the movie is that there are no children.
Lisa Freemont represents wealth,...