Homework Assignment 1: Auteur Theory and Hitchcock as Auteur

In her lecture before the first screening, Professor Bean offered a brief history of auteur theory.  For this assignment, you will read more about auteur theory and consider its usefulness as an analytical approach to Hitchock's films. 

Read Bordwell and Thompson, pages 38-39; Corrigan, pages 84-86; Sarris, "Notes on the Auteur Theory in 1962" and Wollen, "The Auteur Theory."  Write a one- to two-page response to the reading in which you address the following questions:
 

• What is auteur theory?  What does it mean to call a filmmaker an auteur?
• Professor Bean noted that auteur theory developed around the work of filmmakers such as Hitchcock.  Using auteur theory, what types of arguments can one make about Hitchcock's films, particularly The Lady Vanishes?  When answering this question, think about the narrative techniques (effect before cause, shift in genre, the MacGuffin) discussed in lecture.
• What are the drawbacks of auteur theory as an approach to Hitchcock's films or film in general?  What issues make auteur theory problematic?  What types of analyses does auteur theory foreclose?

Bring your typed response to class on Friday, January 7.