[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”http://tricityvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/TCV-Search.png” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.5.3″ animation_style=”fade” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″]
[/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider divider_weight=”4″ _builder_version=”3.14″ height=”0px”]
[/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ hover_enabled=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″]
One of the great film directors, Alfred Hitchcock (1899–1980), specialized in cinematography that placed nondescript characters in unorthodox, terrifying and unique situations. Faced with extraordinary challenges, protagonists were forced to choose a course of action that often led to additional jeopardy and tribulations. Among his over 50 directorial credits, Hitchcock’s best-known and applauded works include Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, Dial M for Murder, The Birds and Rear Window. Each contains his signature of thrills and heightened suspense – don’t go down in the basement – with a plot twist that never fails to evoke wonder, a bit of relief and enduring imagery. Use of mystery, fear, psychological trauma and unknown resolution are a formula that succeeds time and again for the “Master of Suspense”.
One of the reasons for Hitchcock’s successful directorial success is the ability for viewers to identify with a complex web of dark forces that frustrate the comfort of ordinary life. Often characters are thrown into situations that have little to do with their own well-being or desires. Anxiety and stress of external and uncontrollable factors is easily relatable for many; a far cry from many comedies and visually manipulated offerings that are easily distinguished from the reality of our own lives.
Hitchcock would be conversant with our current social, political and environmental dilemmas. In a world that is often perceived as beyond our personal control; mystery, fear and anxiety can prevail. Tackling large-scale problems – national and global – is subject to the same stress and poor decision-making process as protagonists in a Hitchcock film. However, in this film when the script of our lives is complete, the audience cannot walk out of a theater and breathe a sigh of relief. Survivors are left to deal with the consequences of our action or inaction.
Response to challenges, especially at critical, even existential threat levels, can be extreme and either begin to solve problems or exacerbate them. When as an individual we are overwhelmed, the advantage of collective response can be a saving grace. Recognition of this aspect of human behavior, also visible in many other segments of nature, can produce amazing results and corrective responses. Obstacles and differences can be addressed when resolved in an atmosphere of respect and dignity for opposing viewpoints. While suspicion, hate and fear are products of the unknown and uncontrolled, retreat from negative actions is available through knowledge and rational dialogue. Our system of government is designed to enhance debate without elevating it to dangerous and violent outbursts.
In hopefully the final stages of an extremely tense, sensitive and threatening pandemic… and in an increasingly complex association with people throughout the world, a Hitchcock-type film would reveal scenes of tension at a breaking point. The plot twist – good or bad – has not been revealed, but how characters respond is critical to the final scenes and outcome. Xenophobia, prejudice, autocracy and blame of others is not the answer.
Do we turn on each other and allow hate and misunderstanding to prevail? Are differences more important than similarities? When tension and suspicion is rampant, misinformation exaggerates differences and becomes dominant, leading to envy, hate and distrust. Those that look or act differently are easily condemned without reasonable recourse. Government, whose primary purpose is to weld disparate parts of society to serve the common good, can legislate accepted values, but relies on group consensus to enforce rules. Ignorance, chants and slogans are not an answer to real problems… we are!
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
