Psycho Image Analysis 1

 

This scene from psycho shows Norman Bates sitting in the back room of the reception. In the foreground we see a side view of Norman, and in the background we see a couple of stuffed birds. In this shot Norman shows innocence and vulnerability but we later learn that he is the psycho serial killer. The stuffed owl being a bird of prey shows a link between the bird of prey and Norman. Another link between the characters and the birds of prey is when Marion is seen eating like a bird of prey which further suggests Norman being like a bird of prey.

The lighting used in this shot is low key creating shadows on the birds of prey on the wall. The deep shadows being casted leave the audience feeling anxious because the shadows enlarge the birds and make them more terrifying. Low key lighting creates half dark and half-light areas connoting half good and half evil, which also represents Norman’s schizophrenia. in this shot Normans face is shown to be half dark and half-light as well again showing the audience two sides too his personality.